The Leaning Tower of Pizza

Ahh,  the great taste of Pizza. Somewhere between Queen Margherita di Savoia and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, pizza was born! From what I know, pizza is a bread. If you know how to make bread then you are set, if you don’t, start practicing. I don’t think that I could ever get sick of pizza. As my girlfriend said the other day, “there are so many great varieties!”
It’s very true. There are endless options with toppings, sauces and crusts.


The key to great pizza is the ingredients. You can’t settle for less than what you have been made for when it comes to eating food, especially in Italian cuisine. There are so many possibilities! You have to find what strikes you and go for it. Don’t be afraid of the great unknown.
 

One of the great debates has always been the crust. You have two traditions that have been battling it out. New York Style, which has a very thin crust. Then you have Chicago style, which has a deep crust and the sauce is put on the top, I repeat, the top.
So who is right..?  Personally I prefer the New york Style! This debate is infinite and I think it was made to be in that fashion!

Whatever pie you choose, make it a good one. There is nothing worse than having a crappy pizza on Friday night!  

CIAO!

Discovering Beauty...

Life is about discovering beauty. Beauty is something that we all desire. It's the reason that we drive hundreds of miles to Yellowstone National Park, or one goes out camping at the Grand Canyon. We are driven by this need, just like we have a need for water.

One of the great beauties in life is enjoying food. Particularly, one of the most amazing beauties that I discovered when I was traveling in Italy was extra virgin olive oil. It is something interesting, unfortunately in the olive oil industry there are imposters. Recently a book that I recommend that everyone should read goes into the reality of olive oil. You have to check it out!
Here is a brief preview of it from Amazon.

"The sacred history and profane present of a substance long seen as the essence of health and civilization.

For millennia, fresh olive oil has been one of life's necessities-not just as food but also as medicine, a beauty aid, and a vital element of religious ritual. Today's researchers are continuing to confirm the remarkable, life-giving properties of true extra-virgin, and "extra-virgin Italian" has become the highest standard of quality.

But what if this symbol of purity has become deeply corrupt? Starting with an explosive article in The New Yorker, Tom Mueller has become the world's expert on olive oil and olive oil fraud-a story of globalization, deception, and crime in the food industry from ancient times to the present, and a powerful indictment of today's lax protections against fake and even toxic food products in the United States. A rich and deliciously readable narrative, Extra Virginity is also an inspiring account of the artisanal producers, chemical analysts, chefs, and food activists who are defending the extraordinary oils that truly deserve the name "extra-virgin." 25 black-and-white illustrations."

                                                                          Book Description from Amazon.com

The Joy of Life!

Ahh, New Year’s Eve. A night usually filled with chips and dip, drunken parties that get out of hand and the most recognized ritual in America, watching the ball drop in Time Square. Come on, is this the best we can do? For some it might be. For others, it’s a time to celebrate life, to celebrate the beauty of family and friends. Rituals are only great if they transcend you into something new, something that changes you.

To celebrate the coming of 2012 and to celebrate my grandmothers 90^th Birthday, I put away the TV, the stale pretzels and the party hats. It was time to pull out the white table clothes, red wines and red meat and throw an elegant party. I love cooking for others, it is a delight. The menu was small yet vast with culture from around the globe. The menu included Greek Lavash, Ginger Soup, Pork Curry Crostini’s, Pork BQQ Crostini’s and Bruschetta. It was a great time to share stories and to bring in the New Year with style.  If one would like a recipe for anything. I am open to sharing!
               

                                                           Ginger Soup

                                                         Greek Lavash

Pork Curry/BBQ Crostini's