There’s something about Italians

Posted in Travel & Philadelphia by Emily | Bites & Pieces

It’s been 6 months since my husband and I returned from our extraordinary Italian adventure; where for two glorious, carefree weeks, we casually wined and dined our way across the Tuscan countryside. As I sit here on a Monday afternoon, I find myself reminiscing about that trip and how much fun we had pretending to “fit in” with the Italian culture and lifestyle. Italians have an easy-going and positive outlook on how to go about daily life. They just know how to enjoy la dolce vida, the sweet life, so it’s not surprising that 46 million people, from all walks of life, travel to Italy each year.

If you’re planning a trip to the boot-shaped peninsula anytime soon, check out this Huffington Post article from February: 15 Food Reasons Italians Are Better At Life and allow me to share a few things we learned along the way:

1. Everything simply closes in the afternoon. We learned this the hard-way early on in our trip. Many stores and restaurants can close anywhere between 2:00-4:00 pm so they can relax and enjoy lunch with their family. Be sure to plan your meals accordingly. Everyone knows a hungry woman is a grumpy woman.

2. Wander off the beaten path. You don’t need to go far, just a few blocks away from all the main attractions, you can easily find normal Italians going about their daily life. Grab an espresso or a cup of gelato and stop hurrying and start relaxing.

3. Ask for the check. Your server is not ignoring you. Italy is all about slow food. When you’re ready to leave, ask for “il conto, per favore”.

4. Order the house wine. Actually at a few of the small, off-the-beaten path trattorias we visited, this was the only option. House wines tend to be on the cheaper side – it’s not uncommon to see a liter of house wine for about 5 euros. It may not be the most amazing wine you’ve ever had, but give it a shot and keep an open mind.

5. Get the museum tickets ahead of time. While in Florence, we foolishly tried to wander in to the Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo’s David. Reality check: the line and wait time to get in was more than 2 hours long.

6. Dinner is late. If you’re an urban dweller, you’re most likely used to eating late. Dinner is typically between 7:30-10:00 pm and reservations are always a good idea. Dress is casual, but you’ll be easily identified as a tourist if you’re wearing flip-flops.

7. Breakfast = cappuccino and a pastry. This is another reason Italy rules. Sit down and eat it slowly.

8. Pane e coperto. In restaurants you’ll typically see this charge on your bill (bread and cover). Bread isn’t typically served with a meal in Italy. Bread is delivered to cater to Americans. If you don’t eat it, you can ask for it to be taken away and you may not be charged the (pane) fee. Coperto is the “cover charge” – this is the fee to sit down at the table. Also, sometimes a service fee (tip) is automatically included on the check. If it is, you don’t need to tip more unless you want to. If a service fee is not included, you can tip between 5-15%. Italians tip much less than the American standard.

9. Stand at the bar. At bars and cafes, order at the bar, especially when ordering a quick shot of espresso. You’ll be charged more to sit at a table – and look more like a tourist too.

10. Slow down. Trust me, you won’t get to see everything. A vacation in Italy should be savored. Try to ditch your American habit of trying to rush through everything. Slow down, savor and appreciate all the amazing sights, sounds and flavors.

16Apr2014

Deviled eggs – what was old is new again

Posted in Food & Drink by Emily | Bites & Pieces

Easter is just around the corner and you’re probably starting to wonder what to do with all those hard-boiled eggs you just decorated. My solution? Devil them.

Trendy restaurants all over the country have been serving up their “foodie” version of the deviled egg for quite some time now. Before this trend fades off into the sunset entirely, grab those brightly colored eggs from the fridge and a few pantry ingredients, and viola, you can have deviled eggs at home in no time!

I grew up eating deviled eggs at parties and family get-togethers – they were my mom’s signature party dish. Now she’s passed the baton to me. I’ve tried a lot of adaptations of the deviled egg, but in my opinion, Betty Crocker’s deviled egg recipe from my mom’s 1969 Betty Crocker Cookbook (1st printing, hardcover edition) is my favorite.

Ingredients //
6 hard-cooked eggs, peeled
3 tablespoons mayonnaise or salad dressing (def use the mayo!)
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper

Directions //
1. Cut eggs lengthwise in half. Slip out yolks and mash with fork.
2. Stir in mayonnaise, mustard, salt and pepper (I like to add-in a dash of cayenne and about of 1/4 teaspoon of Dijon mustard).
3. Fill whites with egg yolk mixture, heaping it lightly (to keep it retro, I use my 1970’s era Salad Shooter, but you can easily use a pastry bag or a large Ziploc bag to pipe the filling into the egg). To top them off – sprinkle a small dash of paprika on each egg. Cover and refrigerate.

Enjoy!

15Apr2014

How to create a simple, no fuss cheese plate

Posted in Food & Drink by Emily | Bites & Pieces

Let me start with a simple declaration: I love cheese! Love, love, love it! I wish there was a word stronger than love to help you understand my relationship with cheese. I don’t know who invented cheese, but I think they deserve a national holiday! I love ordering a cheese plate when I’m dining at a restaurant. Side note: Talula’s Garden in Philadelphia has an entire menu devoted to cheese. Go there and order the “World Travel – An Illustrious International Collection”. You can thank me later.

Anyway, needless to say, I love to put together my own cheese plate for small get-togethers or when friends or family visit from out-of-town. One of my best friend’s from college was visiting the other weekend with her new boyfriend, who I was meeting for the first time, so I knew a simple cheese plate to graze on would be a home run.

To keep it simple, here are a few tips to ensure you create a delicious and delightful spread.

1. Select a variety of 3 to 5 cheeses. This can depend on how much money you want to spend and how many people you’re feeding (1 to 3 ounces per person is typically a good rule of thumb). I like to select cheeses that suits everyone’s palate, so it’s safe to say a blue, a soft, a hard and an aged covers most everyone’s preferences.

2. Accompaniments are a must! Jarred condiments such as jam, chutney, honey and mustard are perfect because there’s no fuss! Honey pairs great with stinky cheeses (such as blue) and jams and chutneys really emphasize the flavor of nutty cheeses (I love fig jam with manchego…delish!). Be sure to add other accompaniments as well such as bread, crackers, dried fruits, nuts, and please don’t forget the wine!

3. Serve your cheese on one large board. You can use slate or wood (a cutting board works great). Label your cheeses, this way you don’t need to recite each variety over and over again. I didn’t do this in the above photo, guilty as charged, but it was a small group and a small selection of cheeses.

4. Set the plate out one hour before serving. Cheese is best served at room temperature. Cold cheese is muted and less flavorful.

5. If you’re crazy enough to have leftover cheese, don’t store it in plastic bags or plastic wrap. It will last longer and taste fresher if wrapped up in wax paper or parchment paper.

Enjoy!