Ciao, tutti! As I write this post, my brother and Mark are relaxing in the little village of Scapezzano, Italy – in the very house where my grandfather was born. And they are there for SIX.WEEKS!  So incredibly glad for them to be able to pull away from the daily grind back in LA and strengthen the roots with our dear Italian family.  As I write, they are in the village where our ancestors for so many generations roamed the very same streets, shopped in the very same port, and gazed out at the very same beautiful Adriatic sea.  

Continue reading Cooking Le Marche Style: Vongole in Potacchio at Our Italian Table.

When the summer heat comes swooping in, I always have a hankering for clams – a big, soupy bowl of briny littlenecks bathed in garlicky heaven.   Nothing better!

There are so many memories associated with these little morsels.

Growing up, there were summer clambakes at the Italian-American social club where huge pots of clams were fired up and dished out with loaves of crusty bread made by the local Italian bakery (of course).

Continue reading Somewhere Beyond the Sea: Sicilian Clams with Fennel Broth at Our Italian Table.

OMG! While sitting in the lounge of a hotel yesterday in San Francisco who walked in but Tyler Florence!!!! And I shook his hand! I am still so excited – he is absolutely one of my favorite Food Network stars and religiously watch his Tyler’s Ultimate show! OMG! How very exciting!

But back to reality and my humble cooking skills….this past weekend, we headed into NYC to wander around the Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy.

Continue reading Vongole al Vino Bianco and Tyler Florence! at Our Italian Table.

Let it snow, let is snow, let it snow! We had a foot of snow here last evening which gives me an opportunity to slow down and post a few recipes that have been waiting in the queue!  This simple dish is my all-time, hands-down favorite pasta – I order it at every opportunity in Italy and have had it made with tomatoes, cream and simply dressed, as with this version.  And this simple preparation is my favorite – the taste of the tender clams mingled with the garlicky broth never disappoints. 

Continue reading Linguini alle Vongole (Pasta with Littleneck Clams) at Our Italian Table.