Arancini (stuffed rice balls) is a beloved street food in Sicily, and it was one of my favorite childhood snacks. My grandfather made them using leftover Arborio rice from risotto,... Read More
I’ve been writing in The Marina Times and talking on the radio for years about the many reasons to buy pasture-raised eggs — not “cage free,” which means only t... Read More
I remember watching my grandfather and my mother make tortellini — ring-shaped pasta they filled with cheese. It was a labor of love; not hard to do but not something you’d... Read More
When the weath-er gets crisp in the fall, I crave my mother’s clam chowder. The rivalry on the East Coast is fierce over the proper way to make clam chowder; so fierce, in fa... Read More
For the past two years in its Ghirardelli Square location, Vom Fass has offered its award-winning natural and organic olive oils, nut and seed oils, and old-world cask-aged vinegar... Read More
The sleepy, hill-surrounded area of South San Jose where my stepmother Kickie lives is suddenly hot property — thousands of new apartments surrounded by shiny shopping centers, C... Read More
When it comes to recipes and cooking, I get more questions and comments about eggs than anything else. Though even the great French chefs of today can’t confirm it, legend ha... Read More
There are certain main courses synonymous with specific holidays — turkey for Thanksgiving, ham for Easter, prime rib for Christmas — and I’ve made them all. A few years ... Read More
I say this every year but I’ll say it again: Fall is my favorite time of year, and one of my favorite fall ingredients is the glorious bounty of winter squash. These recipes ... Read More
During summers spent in Rhode Island, I remember awakening to the slightly rancid smell of tripe (cow stomach) boiling on the back burner. My Sicilian grandfather was a huge believ... Read More
People often ask for my favorite chicken recipes, but truth be told, I didn’t eat a lot of chicken growing up, mostly seafood, pasta and vegetables, which is what my mom was ... Read More
If you’re thinking of making dinner for that special someone for Valentine’s Day this year instead of eating out, you’ll want to be sure the meal is restaurant quality. Becau... Read More
Whether your family passes Pillsbury crescents or brown-and-serve rolls, the bready part of a holiday dinner is often woefully neglected. For some reason, people think making crava... Read More
Fall is my favorite time of year, and Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday (it’s like Christmas without all the hustle, bustle and hassle). Many cooks prefer the seasonal boun... Read More
Meringues are something people rarely think of making, but they’re actually a quite simple, no-fat way to satisfy a sweet tooth. The flavor is similar to marshmallows, but yo... Read More