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Naples – GT Food & Travel
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Tag: Naples

  • Making gnocchi

    Making gnocchi

    paddle rolled gnocchiSundays spent with Francesco and his family are precious. His sister and mom work away making food to feed our family, stomachs and spirits. What better gift to give your family then nourishment? I pull up a chair and watch, listen and learn. The flour is sifted and hits a smooth board. Warm water is gradually placed in the volcano shaped well. Fingers gently incorporate the flour from the sides of the well into the water.  A workable mound is formed. Cut and roll. Slice into cushions and roll on a wooden slated paddle completing the transformation into gnocchi. I am fortunate to have grown up sitting around a table most Sundays with my grandparents, parents, sister and extended family. I found that fortune again in Italy.gnocchi with meat sauce

    Simple gnocchi (no potatoes here)

    Ingredients for 2
    approximately 2 1/4 cups (300 g) flour 00
    water as needed
    pinch of salt
    pepper

    Boil a cup or two of water. Pile flour in a mound on a flat work surface. Make a well in the center of the flour. Add a pinch of salt, pepper and a few generous spoonfuls of warm water to the center of the well. Use a fork to gradually draw in the flour from the inside of the well. Continue adding small amounts of warm water until all the flour is incorporated. Shape the dough into a ball and cut into four equal pieces. Flour them lightly and cover them with a kitchen towel to keep the dough from drying out. Working with one section of dough at a time, roll into long tube-shaped strips. Cut into small pillow-shaped pieces.We use two methods to shape the gnocchi: a fork or gnocchi paddle. If using a fork, gently roll each piece along the fork tines in a downward motion. fork-rolled gnocchiIf using a gnocchi paddle gently roll each piece along the paddle in a downward motion. Repeat with each piece of dough.paddle rolled gnocchi Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once water has come to a boil, toss a heaping teaspoon of salt in and cook for 4 – 8 minutes. The will float to the top when they are done. Gently lift the pasta from the water with a slotted spoon. Toss the gnocchi in your favorite sauce and enjoy with your loved ones. gnocchi with fava bean and lemon sauce

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  • Colatura di alici – anchovy sauce

    Colatura di alici – anchovy sauce

    August is upon us. It beckons us to the sea, away from steamy city dwellings. Tourists and locals depart for the famous beaches of the Amalfi Coast, Sicily and Sardegna just to name a few. Francesco and I head to off the beaten path seaside destinations known equally for their beaches and culinary specialities. The tiny fishing village of Cetara is on our list. cetaraseaLocated on the Amalfi Coast, it is rarely visited by tourists who speedily drive by to other picturesque and overcrowded towns. Although the beach front is minuscule, the water is crystal clear and Cetara is known for its exceptional seafood and colatura di alici (fermented anchovies likened to Roman garum). The essence of anchovy is the taste that I’m after.

    anchoviescetara

    Simply put the fishy sauce is made by aging anchovies in salt. Caught between April and August, the fresh fish are immediately layered with salt and placed in wood barrels. The barrels are topped with a weighted cover. As the weight gently presses the anchovies an amber liquid is produced. It is naturally preserved by the exposure to sunlight. Once the fish is aged, the liquid is poured back into the barrels to intensify the flavor before it drips out from an opening at the bottom of the barrel. The entire process takes 4-5 months.

    Screen Shot 2016-07-29 at 7.37.02 PMThe most popular colatura centric dish is spaghetti mixed with the sauce, olive oil and crushed garlic cloves. We add a few salted anchovies and parsley to the mix. I also drip it over boiled potatoes.

    Where to order colatura di alici:

    Acqua Pazza
    Gustiamo
    Simon Johnson 
    Volpetti

    Closing image © Simon Johnson for www.simonjohnson.com – all other photography: Gina Tringali

     

     

  • Italian Adventure

    Italian Adventure

    My italian adventure began nearly 8 years ago. I packed my bags for 3 months to see if I could make it in Italy. Coming from NYC, I left with Frank Sinatra’s voice singing “if I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere…” after all if I made it in NYC 3 times over why not Rome? Despite its own unique set of challenges, I launched GT Food & Travel more than 2 years ago with the intention of expanding beyond Rome. Today, I’m happy to share the next chapter of my italian adventure  Casa Mia | Italy Food & Wine Tours. I’ve teamed up with two food professionals and friends, Elizabeth and Eleonora, to create Casa Mia, a food & wine association. casamiaOur association offers unique, local culinary experiences including food walks, wine tastings, cooking classes and in-home dining in and around Rome, Naples, Florence and Sicily with a very personal touch hence the name “Casa Mia”! GT Food & Travel will continue to offer group food tours and wine tastings in Rome, custom designed tours and dining itineraries as well as corporate event planning.

    ele_G 20140905-elizabeth

    So, all you food lovers out there planning an Italy vacation, be sure to check out the new website: Casa Mia | Italy Food and Wine Tours for private tours and our Blog for Italy travel inspiration, savvy advice and exciting food & wine adventures.

    Be sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Flickr, YouTube and Google+ plus don’t forget to subscribe to our e-Newsletter to stay up to date on upcoming news and events. And tell your friends!
  • Grilled Eel

    Grilled Eel

    January 6, the Epiphany, marked the end of the holiday season but I’m still thinking about my favorite holiday dish, capitone (female eel). I’m a bit obsessed with it. Slippery on the outside but tender, pure white and tasty eel appears on many tables across Italy on Christmas Eve.

    My traditional family recipe is marinated eel but recipes range from spit-roasted and fried to stewed and grilled. I’ve come to love grilled eel. It’s simple to prepare and delicious.

    Step 1: fire up the grill or fireplaceDSC_3657

    Step 2: place eel pieces on grill

    DSC_3662Step 3: remove when skin is crisp

    DSC_3674Step 4: sprinkle with salt and fresh lemon and enjoy!

  • Happy Easter

    Happy Easter

    It’s been quite a long time since I’ve posted. I’ve been happily traveling and have much to report. Today, I want to wish a Happy Easter to my family, friends and all the amazing people in my life. I am grateful. Here’s my Easter post from last year which lies close to my heart. Buon appetito and Happy Easter!

    Easter in Naples

    Like all holidays in Italy, Pasqua (Easter) has many traditions both religious and culinary. After 40 days of fasting for Lent, Easter Sunday arrives with enough food to feed an army. Dishes include lamb or goat, savory Easter breads with a different twist from every region, la colomba and hollow chocolate eggs.

    I am lucky enough to spend today near Naples where my maternal grandparents were born. They brought many traditional recipes from Salerno and Avellino to Boston; specialities that my family recreates for each Easter celebration; specialities that I want to share with you from this amazing region.

    Tortano Napoletana – This savory bread is made with salami, provolone cheese and lard; melt in your mouth, cling to your arteries goodness…

    Pizza Rustica or Pizza Ripiena – This dish is filled with cheese and meat and resembles a pie. Ingredients include cheeses like ricotta, pecorino romano and mozzarella and meat such as salami, prosciutto and sausage.

    Cannelloni – This home made pasta is rolled and stuffed with ricotta cheese and ground meat and topped with tomato sauce. After all, it wouldn’t be an Italian meal without pasta.

    Capretto – Goat and potatoes roasted with garlic, olive oil and white wine. This succulent dish signals spring time!

    Pastiera Napoletana – This cake is made with ricotta cheese, orange blossom water, grain and candied citris peel.

     

  • Coffee Addict in Naples – Take 2

    Coffee Addict in Naples – Take 2

    I was in Naples last week, eating, drinking and eating some more. In the countless times that I’ve visited Naples over the past 20 years, I’ve avoided Caffè Gambrinus.  Gold accents, chandeliers, bow-tied baristas (barmen).  It’s all a bit too fancy for me.This trip I reluctantly gave it a try.  I ordered a caffè strapazzato, it’s THE COFFEE to drink here. When I asked a Neapolitan friend to describe it he replied “caffè’ (fatto bello cremoso) crema di caffè’ (che si ottiene shakerando caffè’ e zucchero) e una spolverata di cacao amaro.”  I love the way Italians describe coffee.  The literal translation is espresso (made beautifully creamy), coffee cream (that one makes by shaking espresso and sugar) and a dusting of dark cocoa powder.  It lived up to its description.  The espresso was smooth and the coffee cream and bittersweet freckles clung to the porcelain cup; sweet, rich and velvety.

    It is a must try for the coffee obsessed but in the end, I’m a Vero Bar del Professore  girl.

    Caffè Gambrinus
    Via Chiaia 1
    Piazza Trieste e Trento
    tel. 081 417582

  • Buona Pasqua! Happy Easter from Naples!

    Buona Pasqua! Happy Easter from Naples!

    Like all holidays in Italy, Pasqua (Easter) has many traditions both religious and culinary. After 40 days of fasting for Lent, Easter Sunday arrives with enough food to feed an army.  Dishes include lamb or goat, savory Easter breads with a different twist from every region, la colomba and hollow chocolate eggs.

    I am lucky enough to spend today near Naples where my maternal grandparents were born. They brought many traditional recipes from Salerno and Avellino to Boston; specialities that my family recreates for each Easter celebration; specialities that I want to share with you from this amazing region.

    Let the food speak for itself!

    Tortano Napoletana – This savory bread is made with salami, provolone cheese and lard; melt in your mouth, cling to your arteries goodness…

    Pizza Rustica or Pizza Ripiena – This dish is filled with cheese and meat and resembles a pie. Ingredients include cheeses like ricotta, pecorino romano and mozzarella and meat such as salami, prosciutto and sausage.

    Cannelloni – This home made pasta is rolled and stuffed with ricotta cheese and ground meat and topped with tomato sauce.  After all, it wouldn’t be an Italian meal without pasta.

    Capretto – Goat and potatoes roasted with garlic, olive oil and white wine. This succulent dish signals spring time!

    Pastiera Napoletana – This cake is made with ricotta cheese, orange blossom water, grain and candied citris peel.

    Buon appetito and Happy Easter!


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