If you ask an Italian their favorite place to eat they will probably say their Nonna’s (Grandma’s) house. I couldn’t agree more.
My favorite meal didn’t come from a fancy restaurant with a Michelin star and my favorite chef cannot be found judging a competition on Food Network. That’s because the best food I ever ate was in Madison, New Jersey in my Aunt Flo’s kitchen.
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The plane touched down on a rainy night in an exotic place I would later come to know as the Newark airport. Uncle Stanley was there to meet us and take us back to the house in Madison where he lived Read More
This holiday season give a gift that gives back!
Meet Reilly – our very adorable rescue dog. He’s sweet, loyal, smart and super cute. Abandoned as a puppy by his previous owners, Reilly lived as a stray before ending up at the shelter. His luck took a turn for the better when Lowell adopted Reilly, giving him a forever home and a happy ending.
You can help shelter pets like Reilly by choosing a gift that gives back. Just stop in and pick up something from TSP’s line of stylish baking accessories. Cookie cutters, spatulas, and muffin cups that help homeless animals? Absolutely! For Read More
Our simple, two-ingredient balsamic and strawberries dessert is a sophisticated, easy healthy dessert that you can assemble in under 5 minutes. All you need are fresh strawberries and a good quality balsamic vinegar. Unlike supermarket versions, which are great for salad dressing, high quality balsamic is syrupy and sweet with a light acidity and tons of depth of flavor. It’s perfect drizzled on berries (and grilled vegetables and meats). Here we’ve pictured our Malphigi Balsamic, made only from grape must and aged for 8 years.
The “recipe” is super simple – cut your strawberries into bite-sized pieces, drizzle with the balsamic and Read More
We all want to have an elegant presentation for our dinner guests, but we don’t always have the time for baking or preparing complicated desserts. Dinner often takes a lot of energy, leaving precious little time for appetizers, let alone dessert.
So what do you do? This entertaining hack provides an answer.
All you need are some bulk truffles, a tray, a few small bowls and some votive candles. Pick up the truffles when you’re shopping for the rest of your dinner items and keep them in a cool place. They stay good for weeks. Read More
If you’re like us, you love your stainless steel pots and pans. They transfer heat well, provide a great sear on anything you put in it, and take a beating from metal utensils without hardly blinking. But over time, no matter how thoroughly you wash them when you’re done, they can get brown and splotchy – particularly if you cook on high heat with minimal oil. The splotches don’t usually affect cooking in the pan, but certainly prevent it from looking like new.
Luckily, there’s a really simple way to restore the shine to your stainless pans, using something you almost certainly have laying around your kitchen – baking soda.
I’m about to confess something that will shock the conscience of Italian families everywhere – I am the descendant of Italian immigrants and never cooked an ounce of Italian food until I was over thirty. There, I said it. For those who grew up in and around Italian neighborhoods, such a confession is hard to believe. When so much of Italian culture is based on culinary traditions and inspiration from childhood memories of cooking with family such an anomaly is unfathomable. I guess I was a late bloomer. But this is not about me. It’s about cooking with Gus – my Italian grandpa – Augusto Ricardo Ciriello.
My grandpa Gus Read More
Summer is in full swing and that means patio cocktails, poolside drinks, and dining al fresco! Our pick for stylish summer entertaining is the lemon basil collection by Michel Design Works!
The lemon basil design embodies the effortless chic of the Italian lifestyle. Bright lemons evoke the sun drenched cliffs of the Amalfi coast. And what could be more quintessentially Italian than sprigs of fresh basil? This cheerful design forms a casual yet sophisticated table setting your guests will love!
Appetizers or cookies make a lovely presentation on the wood or metal trays. Stylish serveware and coordinating paper napkins make outdoor entertaining Read More
We love to entertain! Hosting is at the heart of what we do at The Italian Cowboy. So, to say we were excited when we found Pacific Merchants would be an understatement! We knew this was a 
perfect go-to line for entertaining and serving. The warm tones of the wood provide the perfect backdrop for elevating the every day into a special occasion.
Last minute guests? No worries! The three bowl and platter set is your new best friend. Grab some nuts, olives and gherkin pickles from the pantry and fill up the three bowls. Your guests will think you’re Read More