I love being Italian. Both of my parents were born in Italy and made a point of raising me to appreciate my heritage, in addition to valuing the freedom and opportunity that America provides. The Italian culture focuses on family and the everyday beauty around us. My most cherished memories involve eating for hours around […]
{also known as Salsa Semplice— Simple Sauce} This is the first type of sauce my mom taught me how to make. Every good Italian Mamma has a version. Here’s mine: This is the first type of sauce my mom taught me how to make. Every good Italian Mamma has a version. Here’s mine:
CASAGIOVE // kah-sa-JO-vay //… Sure, it’s fun to say, but why did we choose it for the name of our market? We first thought of CASAGIOVE because Zia Ninuccia, the inspiration for the market, lived and ran her market in the city of Casagiove, Italy which is located in the region of Campania. The first […]
As part of our “market research” (okay, mostly an excuse to make yummy food with family and friends) we recently threw a Ciamella party! What is Ciamella, you ask? A delicious bread that has the consistency of a bagel but with Italian flavors. {See Recipe here!} Making the bread can be quite the process— […]
A delicious braided bread that has the consistency of a bagel and a hint of anise flavor— perfect as a snack or with a simple arugula salad for lunch or dinner! This bread recipe comes from the Lazio region of Italy and has been passed down from my paternal grandmother, Cesidia Di Carlo. My cousins and I loved […]
Italian Soffritto is similar to the French mirepoix… In Italian, it means “underfried,” which refers to the fact that each element is lightly browned. It is composed of onion, carrot and celery. Some recipes call for 2 parts onion to 1 part carrot and 1 part celery, but Patricia says her ratio is probably closer […]
This is my aunt, Maddalena Santoro, or as I affectionately called her, Zia Ninuccia. She was the beloved owner of her own market in Casagiove, Italy, and the inspiration for Casagiove, California. I loved my zia. I loved the way she embraced us when we came into town, and I loved how she made everyone […]