Aperitivo Time - Mirabella Eclano (Av)- Villa Assunta

-

While hanging out in the kitchen with Chef Mirko Balzano during a recent visit, my eyes couldn't help but be drawn to a half empty/half full glass picture sitting on the counter.  Balzano noticed my curiosity and answered my unspoken question...apple, celery, and gin.

Balzano's gin and juice would be my aperitivo for the afternoon.  A vibrant green cocktail served with a cube of  cod and potato.

I hadn't had gin since my college days.  Countless happy hours with Tom Collins and chicken wings.


Too bad Balzano wasn't tending bar back then..



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Welcome to My Home - Lunch at Antica Osteria Nonna Rosa with Chef Peppe Guida

-
Image
I've lost count as to how many times I have seen Chef Peppe Guida since we met for the first time last April .  On every occasion, from dinners at Pastifcio dei Campi to visits to Marina Yacht Club , we always ended our conversations agreeing that I needed to visit him a casa sua ...his home, his restaurant, Antica Osteria Nonna Rosa in Vico Equense (Na). I chose a Saturday afternoon to visit the chef's home, which really was just that...a home.  A renovated house dating back to the 17th century.  Chef Guida took me on a little tour pointing out where the pizza oven used to be, for example, which now is a small corner intimate dining room/wine cellar.  My eyes, however, were drawn to the family room where among antique furniture and plants hanging from the ceiling was a comfortable couch. I sat down for a while to relax,  discuss the latest news from Napoli, and talk about Guida's menu over a glass of spumante and a soft warm slice of casatiello with walnuts.  M
Read more

La Scarpetta, Pepe in Grani, Caiazzo (Ce)

-
Image
Scarpetta. ..the word alone makes one's taste buds jump for joy.  Scarpetta, little shoe, is an act of love at the end of a meal. A show of respect and admiration performedw ith a piece of great bread and the remnants of a fantastic sauce left on the plate at the end a a course. That is the spirit behind Franco Pepe' s latest pizza - La Scarpetta.   Pepe's soft pizza dough paired with an amazing ragu tomato sauce.  For the sauce, Pepe chose three tomato varieties and slow cooked them so that they fused together to make an incredible tomato sauce. This sauce is not cooked in the oven with the pizza dough, but added on top afterwards.  Then a couple of shavings of Grana Padano cheese (aged 12 and 24 months) Just one more taste of happiness courtesy of Pepe in Grani.. .
Read more

The Trailer for Episode 1 of "In the Kitchen Campania" is Out Featuring Chef Luigi Coppola of Casa Coloni, Paestum (Sa)

-
Image
If you're a foodie, then "In the Kitchen Campania" is the perfect show to satisfy your cravings. This upcoming culinary series will feature some of the most talented chefs in the Campania region of Italy and is a celebration of the rich flavors and traditions of Italian cuisine.    You won't want to miss Chef Luigi Coppola of Casa Coloni Restaurant in this episode, which premieres on my YouTube channel on January 30th .  Be sure to save the date, watch the trailer, and subscribe to our channel to stay up-to-date with all the latest culinary excitement.  Ci vediamo in the kitchen!
Read more