TopPicks Index
Top 10 Favorite picnic foods and other cool things
The success of a cookout hinges upon the grill. However, even the tastiest steak or grilled chicken surved up on a plate by itself will only go so far. And then you'll need a side dish. Some of my favorites:
Top 10 Italian Finger And Party Foods
Italy has a long tradition of finger foods, tasty morsels to grab on the go: Arancini, panelle, calzoni, frittelle, or any number of things. These finger foods also make great party foods, while the many spreads and toppings people put on crostini (toasted bread) also make great dips. Much to enjoy!
Top 10 Favorite Fish Recipes
Italy has thousands of miles of bays, inlets, reefs, and beaches with all kinds of fish to choose from. Some of my favorite recipes:
Top 10 Auguri per San Valentino! Or, Happy Valentine's Day!
Valentino was, according to legend, a Christian priest who was consigned to a Roman noble by the Emperor Claudius. He cured the noble's daughter's blindness, at which point the family converted and Claudius had them all executed. Valentino first, and on the eve of his execution he wrote the girl a letter, signing it "from your Valentine." After his death a pink almond tree, symbol of abiding love, blossomed near his grave. A beautiful testament for the most romantic of days.
Top 10 Storing Summer -- Favorite Jams And Other Delights
Summer is a time of richness and abundance: Strawberries, cherries, peaches, apricots, plums and more appear in voluptuous waves. Capture them for the winter! It's easy to transform fruit into jams and jellies, which will remind you of the joys of summer every time you delve into one, and make great gifts besides.
Top 10 Dolcetti: The Wines Piemontesi Love to Drink
Winemakers tend to be a sociable lot, and if you visit a winery at (roughly) lunchtime, you may well find yourself invited to stick around for a bite, especially if it's a family-run operation. The wine will of course be from the cellar, but you shouldn't expect the flagship wine. Rather, what people dink every day, and if you're in Piemonte's Langhe (home to Barolo and Barbaresco, among others), chances are you'll be drinking Dolcetto. It drinks very well with all sorts of foods.
Top 10 Franciacorta Sparkling Wines
Though some other Italian sparkling wines are better known -- spritzy dry Prosecco and lasciviously sweet Asti, in particular -- none can match Franciacorta's depth or elegance, and indeed pundits often liken Franciacorta to French Champagne. It's an excellent wine for a special occasion in the course of the holidays, or a party if you decide to go all out, and any of these wines, which I tasted at the Franciacorta Festival this fall, will bring great enjoyment.
Top 10 Tuscan Coastal Wines Released in 2006
Though Chianti is the best known Tuscan wine producing area, there are others, including the swath of coast from Bolgheri to Piombino, which is home to some of the finest wines in the world, including Sassicaia and Masseto (Cabernet and merlot, respectively). I tasted the 2006 releases of Tuscan coastal wines this spring, and here is what most impressed me this time.
Top 10 Italian Cookbooks & Wine Books, Ctd.
Websites are wonderful, and tremendously versatile, but books have an atmosphere that monitors simply lack. Here you will find reviews of books I have liked and think you will too. They are in no particular order, and though I like them all I don't pretend to rank them, as they cover different fields. If you have a book you would like me to review for inclusion here, please contact me.
Top 9 Favorite 2004 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Nobile di Montpulciano, one of Tuscany's great Reds, is coming off two very difficult vintages -- 2002 and 2003 -- so I was quite curious to see what the 2004 (presented this spring) would be like. The vintage, like the 2004 Chianti Classico vintage, was much better balanced, and there are definitely some wines to look out for.
Top 10 Italian Grilled Meats
If you live in (or visit) the heart of an Italian city you might not realize the degree to which Italian cooking revolves around the grill. If you head out into the suburbs, however, come mealtime and especially on holidays or weekends you're certain to smell the rich aromas of grilling meats, rising up from backyard barbecues or -- if it's raining -- coming from the hearths people have in their kitchens or [i]tavernette.[/i] Some of my favorite Italian grilled meats and more.
Top 10 Favorite Brunello from the 2007 Benvenuto Brunello Vintage Presentation
At this year's Benvenuto Brunello, held February 2007, we sampled two vintages of Brunello: The 2001 Riserva, many of which I greatly enjoyed, and the 2002 Brunello Normale, which was an extremely difficult vintage that offered little to smile about. As you might expect, the wines that impressed me most were 2001s; these are wines for special occasions -- in the future. Though they are drinkable now, they will really begin to shine in 8-10 years, adding a special magic to the setting.
Top 10 Favorite Chianti Classico Wines From The 2007 Vintage Presentation
The winemakers of Chianti Classico recently presented their new wines, the 2004 and 2005 vintages. These are the wines that impressed me the most.
Top 10 Favorite Rushed Recipes
There are times when you have to cook on the run, and though pasta with melted butter and grated cheese, served with a salad assembled while the water was heating, is an option, one can do more in 20 minutes. Here are a few of the dishes I resort to when I really should be heading out the door, but want a bite first.
Top 10 Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas
Italians don't have a Thanksgiving celebration per se, perhaps because the growing season never stops: Even in the midst of winter there's something to harvest, broccoli raab in the south, or kale and cabbage in the north. Of course Italians are happy to celebrate any holiday, and here are some ideas to add to a Thanksgiving meal should you celebrate the holiday.
Top 10 Vegetarian Italian Recipes
Italy doesn't have a vegetarian tradition per se. Quite the contrary; in the past much of the population couldn't afford to eat meat more than once a week, and as a result eating meat often was a status symbol of sorts. This doesn't mean there are no vegetarian recipes, however. Minestrone comes to mind, and there are many other meatless dishes that will work very well as the centerpiece of a vegetarian meal. Add to them tossed salad and a wine (white, probably), and you're in business!
Top 10 Before Tomato? Tomatoless Italian Dishes
Roberto Benigni once did a movie in which he goes back in time and tries to stop Columbus from sailing, to keep his sister from getting engaged to the American who then dropped her. He fails, and this is good, because if he hadn't we'd be without potatoes, peppers, and... Tomatoes, which to many symbolize Italian cooking. Even now, however, there are many tomatoless Italian dishes. Here's a selection to help you choose if you either dislike or are allergic to tomatoes.
Top 10 Favorite Barberas for 2006
This year's Barbera Meeting, organized and held in Asti this summer, primarily featured wines from the 2005 and 2003 vintages, both of which are quite good. The 2003 in particular, because Barbera vines do well in hot vintages, and 2003 was the hottest in decades. Here are the wines that impressed me the most.
Top 10 Favorite Fall Recipes
As September flows into October the days shorten, temperatures drop off, and all sorts of new foods come to the market, from apples to chestnuts to black leaf kale. Italian cooking reflects these changes, becoming richer and heartier as fall advances into winter.
Top 10 Favorite Italian Summer Desserts
Desserts in summer should be light and refreshing. Cool, too, if possible, and there are many Italian options!
Top 9 Storing Summer Continued -- Pickles and More
Set some of summer's abundance aside for winter: dry tomatoes, pickle onions, make giardiera for an italian antipasto platter, and more.
Top 10 Benvenuto Brunello 2001! The Wines that Most Impressed Me
I was invited to Benvento Brunello, the annual presntation of the Brunello di Montalcino vintage. This year the 2001 Brunello di Montalcino was presented, and it is very good. Here are some of the wines that impressed me most.
Top 10 Favorite Italian Easter Recipes
Natale con i tuoi, la Pasqua con chi vuoi -- "Christmas at home and Easter with whomever you wish" is an old Italian saying. However, people have a way of returning to the hearth, and Easter is an occasion for far-flung families to reunite around a well-set table, renewing the bonds that tie. Traditions vary greatly from place to place, and here are some of my favorite Italian Easter recipes.
Top 10 Wines tasted at the Chianti Classico Vintage Presentation
In addition to writing about food, I write about wine, and attended this year's Chianti Classico vintage presentation. A fascinating event, with some exciting new developments and a great many wines, more than 400 in all. Since this is much more than I can taste in 2 days I picked and chose, mostly the vintage wines, and a few Riserve; here are the wines, in no particular order, impressed me the most.
Top 10 Lenten Recipes
Lent is the 40 days before Easter, and is designated by the Catholic Church as a period of spiritual renewal, a time to prepare to celebrate Christ's resurrection. Contrary to popular opinion it's not a time of penance, but the Church does ask that people avoid meats out of respect for Jesus's sacrifice on the Cross, and to share the hardships of the poor. This is not to say one must go hungry; fish are allowed, as are vegetables and eggs, and there are many options to choose from.