SF Seder From The Roman Ghetto

SF Seder From The Roman Ghetto

I’m jazzed. San Francisco’s own world-famous Italian cook, teacher and author Joyce Goldstein is preparing a Seder at Perbacco on April 10. The roots of this meal are in Square One, Goldstein’s sorely missed Jackson Square restaurant. She first served a Seder meal there in 

Battle of the Chefs in North Beach

Battle of the Chefs in North Beach

My friend Viola Buitoni hails from Perugia in the region of Umbria. Viola is a wonderful cook and Italian culinary teacher and she’s hosting Battaglia dei Cuochi, the Battle of the Chefs, this Monday March 19 at the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club on Stockton overlooking 

St. Joseph’s Day Is Coming! Make Zeppole

St. Joseph’s Day Is Coming! Make Zeppole

March 19 is St. Joseph’s Day, also Father’s Day in Italy. It’s the time of year to make a special sweet, Zeppole di San Giuseppe. You find zeppole all over Italia this time of year. Each region makes them in their own way. In North 

North Beach Farmers’ Market Is Back

North Beach Farmers’ Market Is Back

I missed the Sunday North Beach farmers’ market since the tents were rolled up last October. But spring has sprung and the market re-opened last Sunday. It’s in a new location on Powell between Union and Columbus right across from Washington Square Park. This is a much 

Pizza Championship In Vegas Next Week

Pizza Championship In Vegas Next Week

Do you have what it takes to be a World Pizza Champion? I just may have to fly to Vegas for the World Pizza Championship & Games on March 13 to find out. Everyone in the pizza biz will be there. There are 5 events in the 

A Permanent Pop-Up In North Beach?

A Permanent Pop-Up In North Beach?

Permanent Pop-Up. That’s an oxymoron isn’t it? Pop-up food purveyors pop up for a short while and then go away to pop-up somewhere else, right? Well that’s not the case with Chubby Noodle, the permanent pop-up restaurant at the Green Street bar Amante. This is the 

Truffles at Cavalli Cafe Again

Truffles at Cavalli Cafe Again

We had lunch yesterday at Original Joe’s. (I had the breaded veal cutlet Milanese with a light lemon sauce and a side of ricotta ravioli in a bolognese sauce. Both were delicious renditions of classic North Beach Italian-American fare.) Original Joe’s bombolini puff pastry with vanilla 

CSI in the Kitchen

CSI in the Kitchen

Have you ever craved a dish your Mama made for you? Did you eat a dish in a restaurant that you just had to make yourself? Can’t get the recipe? I read an interesting article last week about everyday kitchen detectives re-creating lost family dishes 

North Beach’s Food Oscar Nominee!

North Beach’s Food Oscar Nominee!

North Beach’s own Park Tavern is nominated for the James Beard Foundation Best New Restaurant Award.

Cook with Gianni Live in North Beach

Cook with Gianni Live in North Beach

Cooking Class at Cookhouse My friend Chef Tom Herndon of Hipp Kitchen asked if I wanted to do a cooking class showcasing the rustic food of Italia. Tom teaches those with food allergies and sensitivities so I’m cooking without gluten, dairy, shellfish, soy or peanuts. 

North Beach Italian Restaurant List

North Beach Italian Restaurant List

I found a Yelp list of North Beach Italian restaurants listed 1 to 50. Actually there aren’t 50 places. Some are listed more than once and a couple have closed. Before you get to the list and all of the comments I can’t help adding 

Caponata Siciliana (Eggplant and Vegetable Cooked Salad)

Caponata Siciliana (Eggplant and Vegetable Cooked Salad)

I scored some beautiful small Italian eggplant at Union Street Produce so I just had to make caponata. I love this flavor-packed sweet-sour eggplant side dish (condimento) from Sicilia. Usually I make caponata during the summer when the eggplant and tomatoes are at their prime. I 

Washington Square Park Now Complete

Washington Square Park Now Complete

There was just one shuttered space left on the blocks surrounding Washington Square Park. Now there are none. The historic Original Joe’s restaurant re-opened in North Beach Thursday more than four years after a fire shuttered its Taylor Street location in the Tenderloin.  “Joe’s Special,” a 

Sausage and Peppers

Sausage and Peppers

I used hot and mild sausage from North Beach’s Little City Meats.

Broadway Corridor Coming Back

Broadway Corridor Coming Back

“It takes a village,” was the frequent refrain at a community meeting at Broadway Studios. The group gathered to develop a strategy to bring Broadway back. Call me crazy but after years of decline I think it’s happening. Maybe the transformation of Big Al’s sex