Monthly Archives

October 2018

FETTUCINE NATASHA

FETTUCINE NATASHA

There’s nothing simple about fettuccine Natasha, and not because it’s an arduous dish to prepare.  Au contraire. It can’t be labeled simple because it is decadence personified.  We’re all trying to circumvent carbs, eat healthy and shed unwanted pounds, not to mention unclog the arteries.  But there are times when debauchery calls and this pasta dish is exactly that. Sorry kids, don’t even think of replacing the butter, otherwise don’t trifle making this.   To make you feel better, accompany…

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MEATBALLS NEAPOLITAN STYLE – POLPETTE ALLA NAPOLETANA

NEOPOLITAN MEATBALLS

In Italy, the likelihood of finding spaghetti and meatballs on a restaurant menu is slim and none.  The American palate believes that it’s inherently Italian fare, since every Italian locale in the US presents a heaping dose of spaghetti in tomato sauce co-piloted with the proverbial balls on top. Only in the Southern Italian city of Naples, their meatballs, polpette al sugo, are paired with a rich tomato sauce, but never on top of pasta. And Italians are chronically in love…

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SHAKSHOUKA AND TABBOULEH – EXOTIC MIDDLE EASTERN DISHES

shakshuka

If your background is Middle Eastern, hail from Israel, Lebanon, Syria or Turkey, you’re extremely familiar with Shakshouka.  But most will be scratching the proverbial bean because you’ve never heard of it, let alone tasted it. The origins are nebulous, as there’s always the primeval dispute where a dish generated its roots.  It’s not typically native of the Levantine regions, but as with anything, there are permutations where dishes are recreated from country to country.  In Israel it’s served as…

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BANH MI VIETNAMESE PORK SANDWICH

SANDWICH BANH MI

The food truck craze has taken the world by storm. There is a food truck for every cuisine, prevalent in every city, in most every street corner and food-truck assemblies so their disciples can pinpoint their location. BANH MI– Vietnamese deliciousness that can be complicated or easy in preparation, because anything done with passion is a labor of love.  There’s a plethora of different interpretations of BANH MI from food trucks and restaurants alike, each have compiled trendy and traditional takes…

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Pantry Rat