Fine Dining Blog

One of my earliest kitchen memories is of being 5 years old, sitting on a stool and being allowed to sprinkle the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese over the layers of lasagna noodles. It was a good feeling to be helping my mother, and I was learning all about how to make one of my favorite meals. I loved being in the kitchen with both of my parents. My dad was a great cook in his own right, and between the two of them, I developed the skills necessary to be successful in the kitchen. We shared many wonderful family memories […]

I remember coming home from school, walking up to our house and immediately knowing what we were having for dinner by the delicious aromas wafting out from the front door. Mom was making gravy (what you may know as spaghetti sauce), and the enticing smell of basil and oregano lured me right into the kitchen. As a treat, Mom would slice a piece of crusty bread and spoon the gravy over it…just a little sample of the fabulous meal that was to come! Herbs and Italian cooking are synonymous in my book. Without fresh basil, oregano, parsley, sage, and rosemary, […]

If you were to ask the majority of the population in the United States what is the first flavor they think of when they eat Italian food, their response would almost always be “garlic.” This reply is most disparaging to those of us who were raised in Italian households, or those of us who have been lucky enough to have traveled throughout Italy. The flavor profiles of Italy are as diverse and tantalizing as the topography of the country itself. In the northern regions such as Milan, Parma, and Tuscany you will note that the most frequently used spices are […]