Tripe Di Calabria or Trippa con patate (Tripe and potatoes) Mention the dish tripe or Tripe Di Calabria (cow intestine) and you’ll get the inevitable, “oh, I don’t like tripe” or “I don’t like the texture.”  However, like many Italian delicacies tripe is misunderstood and when cooked appropriately has a wonderful flavor that is mild and subtle.  In our house, tripe is […]

Like many of the dishes we prepare here at Scordo the following Italian Bone In Prime Rib Roast was made possible by the varied items available at out local market.  That is to say, the meat looked very good presented in our butcher’s case and, more importantly, the bone in prime rib roast was on sale! Prime rib roast, also […]

We’re big fans of the classic eggplant pasta dish pasta alla norma but when we have a big appetite and are craving a pasta dish that is slightly more substantive we turn to our Eggplant Bolognese recipe prepared with large rigatoni. Eggplant Bolognese is a meal in and of itself and combines delicate pieces of fried eggplant with satisfying ground beef and tomato […]

Grilled Skirt Steak with Rosemary and Garlic and Tomato Salad In an ideal world, the home cook would head to his local market or series of specialty shops on a daily basis and simply buy the freshest and best looking meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, bread, etc. and cook meals based on the quality of available product (in a perfect world, the home […]

Steak, Italian Cooking, and Bistecca alla Fiorentina It used to be the case that when you asked any southern Italian (especially from Calabria) the last time he or she consumed steak you’d get an awkward stare in return, as beef consumption was rare in il Mezzogiorno (the southern half of Italy) and cattle were used to produce cheese and milk.  However, times […]

Stuffed pasta, of any variety, is adored in Italy and it is served on special occasions and on ordinary Sundays.  Stuffed pasta includes ravioli, tortellini, lasagna, cannelloni, manicotti, etc.  The Cannelloni with Beef (Cannelloni di Manzo) , and/or minced beef recipe below is a variation on the traditional cannelloni with ricotta / cheese recipe. Cannelloni with Beef (Cannelloni di Manzo)   […]

The Italian meatball (believed to have originated during the Roman Empire around 55 AD.) has reached legendary status here in the United States and like it’s counterpart in Italy has many variations, as well as differences in how they are consumed.  In Italy, for example, meatballs are served as a stand alone item and not eaten with pasta (although some […]

One of the most widely successful ways to cook meat on the planet is via the braising method.  The Chinese, French, Moroccons, Italians, and Swiss, for example, all have “pot roasting” traditions (Italian Pot Roast Recipe).  Braising typically involves first searing a cut of meat (usually one containing lots of tough connective and fibrous tissue like collagen) and then using liquid and […]

Cold temperatures and bitter winds have parked themselves here in the Northeast over the last 4-5 days and with cold weather comes an increase in the consumption of comfort foods for yours truly.  Comfort foods mean different things to different folks; for example, I’m comforted by the following food items: fresh bread, cheese, olives, salumi, pasta, rice, and stew!  Some […]