Browsing by Category: America

I often ask myself if I have what it takes to move back to the States. With all the chaos in Italy these days for the past 3 millenia, it’s tempting to run away. But could I really live without the world’s best pizza at my doorstep? Well, if I moved to Brooklyn, I would certainly get by eating my weight in Paulie Gee’s Neapolitan-style pies. (more…)

Thanksgiving is just a week away and I’ve already placed my turkey order, arranged for cranberries to be smuggled into Italy, and begun assigning side dishes and desserts to my 14 dinner guests. This is such a fun and festive and fat time of the year I can hardly wait until November 24 (more…)

Wild nettle and pecorino pizza at Pizzaiolo in Oakland.

Without a geographic specification, the word pizza is completely generic. Of course, it conjures up the notion of sauce and melted cheese on dough. But there are exceptions that defy this definition and the texture of the crust, size and shape of the pie, cooking methods, and toppings can vary wildly from place to place. In Italy (more…)

Everyone sweating our edible fish sculpture.

Last week I had lunch with my friends Sarah and Nirav at the Slanted Door in San Francisco. Not surprisingly, while sharing Shaking beef, Lemongrass chicken, and about twenty other dishes, the conversation turned to dinner. I had an impossible list of places I wanted to hit up on my very (more…)

Nectarine tart with rose ice cream.

Earlier this month I traveled to the Bay Area for my friend Erin’s wedding. Her husband Chris is a cook at Chez Panisse and he set me up with a stage in the kitchen, one of the most incredible places on the planet. There is a mixture of permanent staff and (more…)