I was in the mood for clams this weekend. Perhaps a nod to the final days of summer….the last warm nights under my pergola, candles flickering, fountain gently gurgling, crickets chirping. Ahhh, glorious summer.  With clams on my mind, I remembered a wonderful dish that I had had while sitting overlooking the sea on the western coast of Sardinia a few years ago….teeny, tiny clams (‘vongole veraci’) fresh from the sea simply dressed in a fennel broth and sprinkled with pepper.

Continue reading Impepata di vongole al finocchietto: Peppered clams with fennel at Our Italian Table.

It has been a busy week outside now that spring has arrived!  In the summer, I have a little farmstand (or should I say farm table) with my neighbor, Nick, the farmer. We actually had a bit of mild success last year selling our tomatoes, zucchinis, peppers and flowers –  so it was time to expand the garden a bit! I am now happy to report that I am almost finished with the new garden bed.

Continue reading Spring’s First Pick (Le Primizie): Sardinian Stuffed Eggplant at Our Italian Table.

By one day. I missed seeing ‘La Festa di Sant’Efisio’ by one day. Instead I got to see plastic Sant’Efisio as evidenced by the photo on the left. I knew I should have convinced myself to come a day earlier despite all the reports of crowds. Yes, there were bleachers lining the streets everywhere, evidence of the number of people attending. But, it looked like quite a festa – there were red banners draped on every window, corner, balcony surrounding the Chiesa di Sant’Efisio.

Continue reading Cosmopolitan Sardinia: Cool, hip Ca’gliari at Our Italian Table.

Blue. Pink. Yellow. Green. Violet. Mauve. Rust. My mouth was hanging open in true amazement. I was taking my first passegiata through the amazing town of Bosa on the eastern coast of Sardinia. The crumbling, narrow medieval lanes, winding up Serravalle hill to the Castello Malaspina, were lined with homes washed in dazzling color.  I snapped photo after photo after photo. What a wonderful and unexpected feast to the eyes! As it was only April and early morning, there was still a chill in the air and a few locals hurrying about their business.

Continue reading Sardinia’s Unknown Coast: Magical, Colorful Bosa at Our Italian Table.

Mild amusement.  That was the expression on the face of the desk clerk as I approached with maps and guide books in hand. ‘Dimmi ‘ (‘tell me’) he said with a wry smile on his face.  It was my last evening on the eastern coast of Sardinia and about to head west to Alghero early the next morning across the interior of the island.  I have to admit that I was a tad nervous as it would be about a  3 or 4 hour solo drive in unfamiliar territory.

Continue reading Sardinia’s Ancient Interior at Our Italian Table.

My Italian family can eat like the best of them. And those low-carbohydrate diets would last about 5 minutes in our kitchens. My cousin, Mia and I joke that we are on the ‘Anti-Atkins diet’ – all carbohydrates, all the time. Bread and pasta are our staples. This delight of a dish from the region of Gallura allows us to stick to our diets. Zuppa Gallurese isn’t actually a soup (although it does use broth) but a cross between a lasagna and a casserole, perhaps. 

Continue reading Zuppa Gallurese: Sardinian comfort food at Our Italian Table.

I should simply not be allowed to drive in Italy. I am a danger to my fellow Italians. My solo adventures typically have me flying down autostradas trying to navigate maps, directions, a cell phone and manual transmissions all while trying unsuccessfully to stay out of the way of the wild eyed Italians who believe they are all Formula One race car drivers. (Remind me to tell you about my little accidental tour of Palermo some day.)  My arrival in Sardinia was no exception. 

Continue reading Northeastern Sardinia: Sea, sky and sheep at Our Italian Table.

In 1929, the Touring Club of Italy reported that “Whoever travels across this island even if only briefly, will take away lasting impressions and memories of a way of life that is unique in all senses….”. I am very pleased to report that things have not changed. This island holds on dearly to a fiercly independent character, guarding traditions against modern civilization.  Yet, from east to west, the island is amazingly diverse – from the glitzy yachts afloat in Costa Smeralda (Emerald Coast) to the quiet, colorful medieval zone of Sa’ Costa in Bosa. 

Continue reading Enchanting Sardinia at Our Italian Table.