April 2021

Braised Polipetti (baby octopus) with Squid Ink Spaghetti alla Chitarra

Braised polipetti (baby octopus) is one of my hands down, all-time favorite dishes. As the octopi stew, they release much of their water content, which melds with the tomatoes and red wine to yield a slightly briny, rich and thick sauce that is nothing short of lick-the-bowl-clean delicious. Octopus can be tricky to prepare. Cook it too

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Trofie with Ramp Pesto

Trofie comes from Liguria in northwest Italy, in particular the area of Camogli, as well as areas of Tuscany bordering Liguria. They are spindle-shaped, spirals with tapered ends.  They’re traditionally made with wheat flour enriched with bran, potatoes, bread or chestnut flour and water. And, served with pesto alla Genovese — made with basil, garlic,

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Scarpinocc

This particular shape is called scarpinocc. It originated from the Lombardy region of northern Italy. Its name stems from the word scarpa, which means shoe, as this rather odd looking-shaped pasta resembles an old-fashioned wooden shoe. These scarpinocc are filled with Taleggio, a washed rind cow’s milk cheese that’s big on personality (read: creamy, smooth, salty, strong, complex,

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