andiamotrips - campania, italy with karen phillips

I had already placed my order.  I had already discussed with  Chef Ernesto Iaccarino  my menu choices for the day - a combination of  something old, something new. ..but all items that I hadn't tried before. While waiting for my  benvenuto  - I strolled around the kitchen to see what was going on.  Then I spotted it.   It  was a few feet away on one of the prep tables waiting to be placed in the oven. What's that? I asked out of curiosity. Sous Chef Nicola Pignatelli  responded by smiling and  by adding it to my menu. I'd have to wait and see for myself. I didn't have to wait too long. I was at the Chef's table, a small table for one  in the corner, right next to the pass when  Raffaele  brought me Chef Iaccarino's  Tomato Soup . Raffaele helped me break into the crispy crust - the bowl was scorching hot. It was almost a shame to break it open - but that was the only way to taste what...

I had just finished my first glass of wine and an awesome conversation with Martino Acampora , general manager of J Place in Capri.  My lunch at J Kitchen, the hotel's restaurant was off to a promising start.  A brief pause as we both looked over the railing of the hotel's terrace as my second appetizer was brought to my table. Ah, this one is my favorites,  shared Acampora... Buon Appetito , he added with a smile as he left me to my lunch and went back to care for his guests. Well...he left me with a plate of colorful comfort food prepared by Chef  Eduardo Estatico . Fresh local shrimp... creamy potatoes... an amazing combination of extra virgin olive oil and basil... shrimp eggs also known as corrallo di gambero ... amazing...

Slowly, carefully, one by one, Chef Maurizio De Riggi placed egg yolks into a frying pan.  I watched from above, seated on the spiral staircase that connected the two levels of the party boat known as Roof and Sky in Bacoli (Na).  De Riggi was one of the Fantastic Four chefs on hand to present a series appetizers using cozze , mussels. The chef, however did not turn on the burner to fry the eggs.  Instead he got out a kitchen blowtorch and began toasting the yolks from the top to form a protective crust while leaving the yolk nice and runny inside. What was the plan?  A Panino alla Carbonara - a super sandwich made with the chef's own mini sandwich bun made with latte nobile .   After placing the burnt yolk on the bun, Chef De Riggi sprinkled mussel powder on top.  He next followed it with a pancetta, mousse made with Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and a few sprigs of valerian. This ain't your mother's egg mcmuffin...

I met Chef Jesus Monedero of Toledo, Spain a few months ago at a dinner at Pastificio Dei Campi in Gragnano (Na).  The cena was pasta based, but Chef Monedero decided to kick things off with his version of a Spanish classic.  A Spanish potato omelette.   Chef Monedero Watching the chef put the dish together was informative and entertaining as he turned simple ingredients into what became our amazing appetizer that evening.  Recently I asked the chef for the recipe...and here it is. Spanish Omelette Ingredients for a 20 cm diameter omelette: ( 4 people ) 8 eggs 4 medium size potatoes 1 small onion olive oil salt It's important to use a good frying pan so that the omelette does not stick.   Peel the potatoes and onion.   Chop everything with a knife.  Saute the onions in a pan.  Boil the sliced potatoes in salted water.  When they are cooked, drain in a colander.   In a bowl, beat the eggs...

Monday evening, a half hour or so before sunset Chef Michele Grande  was behind the bar of his Roof and Sky on Lake Miseno in Bacoli (Na).  He looked pretty intense.  I was curious as to what he was up to - he and about 25 ish shot glasses. Chef Michele Grande He looked up, smiled, and when I asked what was his latest concoction, he answered - a vodka shot I think the last time I had a vodka shot was back in college...visions of happy hours and chicken wings flashed in my head. But I wasn't in college, I was in Bacoli, and Grande's vodka shot would be my introduction into an evening full of appetizers for an event entitled Apericozza during Malaze'. And the shots back then looked nothing like this... 2 mussels a dash of Tabasco sauce 5 drops of freshly squeezed lemon a shot of vodka The shots back then tasted nothing like this...

Mediterranean Cooking Congress is the plan put in place by the company By Tourist, which is specialized in publishing and communication in the field of maritime tourism and catering through the brands 30Nodi and Gusto Mediterraneo. In the context of business operations and continuous interaction with leading companies in their respective sectors, the team By Tourist has fielded a number of initiatives aimed at the promotion of the region of Campania and strengthen trade exchanges between local businesses and the other Italian regions, exports to Europe and indeed in the Mediterranean. The starting point of any project is the knowledge of the area and the material to be developed. In the field of numerous professionals and professional companies, building synergies with ongoing opening in comparison. And 'from this vision that the idea of a Congress of Mediterranean cuisine, with the active participation of 12 foreign chefs (1 per country of the Mediterranean), 12 renowned Ital...

The ingredients are few; mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, and basil.  And as I noticed on a recent visit with Chef Eduardo Estatico of J Kitchen in Capri, a simple Caprese salad can be a spectacular representation of the Campania region.   Mozzarella di bufala cheese DOP.  This one from Battipaglia (Sa), not far from the ruins of Paestum. Four different types of pomodoro for four flavorful experiences. Yellow and red piennolo tomatoes from Mt Vesuvius, San Marzano plum tomatoes, and tomatoes from Sorrento.  A few basil leaves from the chef's garden just a few yards from the kitchen's back door and the dish is ready.   When the dish arrives at your table, you can decide what you want to add.   Extra virgin olive oil?  Salt? Pepper? Or as I prefer it, just like this...

  I wrote a week or so ago about a book that I read over the summer.   La Cucina del Cuore by Chef  Alfonso Iaccarino .A book that I enjoyed so much, not only for the content but for the way it was written.  It feels as if Chef Iaccarino is sitting down with you in his garden on a wicker lawn chair sharing his stories with you personally, one on one. The pages come alive as he   discusses the importance of bread not only in his restaurant, by in his daily life as well.  How he often brings a piece of freshly baked bread with him during his travels.  How his staff gives him a pane status update  each day as soon as he enters the kitchen. Chef Iaccarino continues by talking about his wood burning oven out in the garden.  With ceramic tiles dating back to the 17th century chosen by his wife Livia.  The one lit every morning, rain or shine, to make the wide varieties of breads that end up on the tables daily for the diners from all ov...

  Overall it had been a pretty relaxing eveing.  I arrived in Caiazzo (Ce) at about 7:15 pm, in time to catch a quick tour of Pepe in Grani led by Maestro Pizzamaker Franco Pepe.  By 8 pm, the place was jam packed, but I had the perfect table.  A small table next to the kitchen close enough to enjoy the view of Pepe and his staff whip out some of Italy's best pizzas.  A small table not far from the patio door where I could enjoy a cool breeze on a hot summer evening.  A small table with Caiazzo classics - Franco Pepe's open version of his pizza a scarola calzone and a glass of Pallagrello bianco. Perfect...

Andiamo in cucina , let's go into the kitchen.  Those were the words spoken to me by Chef Michele De Martino after I'd eaten several appetizers during my lunch at Ristorante Evu earlier in the summer.  De Martino was ready to share with me a series of primi piatti , first courses that he guaranteed I would enjoy. Chef Michele De Martino Pasta e Patate - he announced.  Pasta with potatoes. My heart sank just a bit ish .  Sure, I have learned to love this pasta dish, but I always thought of it as a recipe for late fall or even winter.  When the temperature was a tad bit cooler.  Definitely not during the summer.  But I remained silent. I remained silent and watched as he prepared one of the most delicious first courses that I have tasted in a long time. De Martino diced up previously boiled potatoes and added them to a pan which he had sauteed a  little garlic and Italian parsley in extra virgin olive oil. In the meantime...