“I’m not a chef, I’m Italian”- David Rocco


Friday, December 27, 2013

Addio Italia


 
Well my friends, alas my two months in Italia are at an end…..for now. I catch my plane back home to NYC in a few hours. My time spent in Rome and Florence has really been a fantasy, a magical, wonderful experience that I won’t soon forget. I look forward to sharing my experiences with you in more depth. I am so sad to leave this beautiful country that I have considered my home these months. But, while I am sad to go, I have SO MANY exciting things coming up in 2014. I will be making some very special announcements over the next few months, I can’t wait to share this news with you all! I will be back in Italy sometime around September, so really, going back to NYC is just a long, LOOOOOOONG vacation before I come back home. Addio Italia, il mio tempo trascorso qui e stato davvero una benedizione.

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Vigilia di Natale a Roma!!





Viglila di Natale..Or should I say, Christmas Eve. I feel very blessed to be spending Christmas in the beautiful, eternal city, Roma. Christmas in Rome is magical, from the beautiful lights that line every street to the Christmas tree in front of the Colosseum, the city is dressed to the nines. I also had the joy of standing in Saint Peter’s Square on Sunday and hearing and seeing Pope Francis. Every Sunday at noon he comes to the window of his apartment to address the people and recite the Angelus. It was a very special experience for me, one that I will not soon forgot. I thought I would share with you some of the beautiful photos I’ve taken over the past two months. Some are from Florence and some from Roma. I will be posting the second part tomorrow on Christmas. Buona Festa!!!






 

 



Saturday, December 14, 2013

The Feast of the Seven Fishes at Eolo, NYC

 
Ciao mei amici! Having been involved in the food world for not even two years, I have been fortunate enough to connect with some amazing chefs, restaurateurs, etc. One of them is Chef Melissa Muller Daka, Proprietress of Pastai and Eolo, both in NYC. I had the pleasure to first meet Melissa at a private luncheon at Eataly that she planned the menu for. You may remember she was one of the first interviews I ever posted, you can read it here.


At her beautiful restaurant, Eolo in NYC, she will be hosting her fourth annual “Feast of the Seven Fishes” on Christmas Eve, December 24th. For those not familiar with the idea of - The Feast of the Seven Fishes – referred to in Italian as La Vigilia – the tradition began in southern Italy and today is celebrated by Italians around the world. There are various myths about the significance of offering seven fishes. Some believe seven fishes refer to the seven days of creation, while others cite the Seven Hills of Rome, seven sacraments in the Catholic Church or the seven deadly sins.

Their five course menu will include: A welcoming dish from the chef, your choice of a cold appetizer, hot appetizer, pasta, entree & dessert. Each course ...will offer three dishes to choose from.
 
 
Wine Pairing will also be available with each dish. For reservations, you can call 646.225.6606. If you’re looking for a different way to spend Christmas Eve or if you just don’t want to worry about the cooking this year, this is certainly the event for you. The beautiful dishes you see here are Scallops, Swordfish, Halibut and Couscous and Pasta con le Sarde, listed in the order shown. For further information, be sure to take a look at the Eolo site. If you do go to Eolo, be sure to tell Chef Melissa that La Cucina Prima Donna sent you! Buon Natale a tutti!!


 

Friday, December 6, 2013

The Return of the Cioccolata Calda...HOT CHOCOLATE!!!



Ciao! Some of you may recall a post I did last year on Cioccolata Calda, or as it is referred to in America..Hot Chocolate! Last Christmas was my first time having Cioccolata Calda in Italy and I just fell in love with it. Italian hot chocolate is nothing like the American version. It is very thick, rich and not terribly sweet. In fact, it is usually served with a pack of sugar on the side if you care to make it sweeter. It’s practically like pudding, no lie. I returned to the scene of the crime here in Florence two nights ago and got to enjoy my Cioccolata Calda once again. The photo on the top of the page is the cioccolata calda from last year and the one right below this is the same one, one year later!! It was just as delicious. I’ve listed my recipes from last year plus a new one that I KNOW you’ll enjoy…it has nutella…nuff said? Buon Appetito!!

 
Traditional Cioccolata Calda con Panna
4 ounces of good quality dark chocolate (70% or higher, I personally prefer 85%)
1 ½ cups of whole milk
1 tbsp. of cream
2 tsp. sugar
2 tbsp. corn starch
 
Add your milk and cream to a pot over medium heat, let it get warm, but do not bring to a boil. Add the chocolate and sugar and mix until melted and smooth. Add the cornstarch and continue to mix. Stir until everything is smooth and creamy. Pour into mugs and serve with a dollop of homemade whipped cream…
 
 
Whipped Cream
1 cup of cream
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Add the cream and vanilla extract to a small bowl and whisk with an electric beater until it looks like whipped cream!!
 
Paleo Cioccolata Calda
 
1 cup of almond milk or coconut milk
2 tbsp. cocoa powder
1 ounce dark chocolate (85% is better for paleo)
1 tbsp. chocolate extract
 
Add your milk to a pot over medium heat, let it get warm but do not let it boil. Add the cocoa powder and let it dissolve. Add the dark chocolate and stir until melted and smooth. Add the chocolate extract and let heat until creamy. Pour into a mug and add a dollop of whipped cream.
Nutella Cioccolata Calda
4 ounces of good quality semi-sweet chocolate
3 tbsp. nutella
1 ½ cups of whole milk
1 tbsp. of cream
2 tsp. sugar
2 tbsp. corn starch
 
Add your milk and cream to a pot over medium heat, let it get warm, but do not bring to a boil. Add the chocolate, nutella and sugar and mix until melted and smooth. Add the cornstarch and continue to mix. Stir until everything is smooth and creamy. Pour into mugs and serve with a dollop of homemade whipped cream…