Carlucci’s Grill

A friend was treating me to a late birthday dinner.  I hadn’t been to Carlucci’s in West Windsor (there are other branches) in a while, so suggested that.  Carlucci’s is one of those comfy Italian-American places that is well-run and dependable.  The staff is well-trained.  Fancy food is not their thing, so I am partial to their simple pasta … Continue reading →

Now that’s a salad

This is my favorite salad of the moment, based on the house salad at DeLorenzo’s Tomato Pies in the Washington Town Center, Robbinsville.  Usually it’s made with spring mix, but I had arugula at home, which went quite well with the fruit-nut story. Theirs has slices of apple, but I usually just throw in dried … Continue reading →

My First Ricotta

Mark this date!  I finally made my first ricotta at home. It’s draining now. I used whole milk, the freshest I could find (reach waaaay back and check those sell-by dates!).  It was very easy and only took a few minutes over the stove, then some time to drain. I can definitely see making and serving … Continue reading →

Artisanal Soy Sauce

I love it when someone reimagines a standby food product, making it special. Take soy sauce.  A very basic commodity that most of us take for granted, maybe looking for a lower-sodium version. But even the low-sodium is quite salty; my Japanese Marukin premium low salt soy sauce still has 460mg of sodium per tablespoon.  … Continue reading →

Asian Marinara?

The package of frozen seafood I bought at an Asian supermarket claimed to be “Marinara Mix,”  and contained cooked mussels, squid, cuttlefish, octopus, clam, and shrimp, plus some of that “krab” stuff.  It was, I believe, from Thailand (forgot to look), and everything but the name seemed to be aimed at the Asian market. Why they … Continue reading →

Panna Cotta

Panna Cotta means “cooked cream.”  If you check out the link to the Wikipedia page on this traditional Italian dessert, you’ll see a photo showing panna cotta with blackberry sauce. My friend Vesna, who made the version pictured here on the left, went that chef one better I think.  She had full-of-flavor Concord grapes to use … Continue reading →

Artichoke Ravioli and Roasted Squash

This was a hasty dinner one night, but a delicious one. I’d bought the artichoke ravioli at Trader Joe’s after tasing a sample in the store. I’m not a big ravioli person (the pasta is usually too thick), but this seemed pretty good, especially with the shaved parmesan on top, as served in store. I don’t … Continue reading →

Film for Foodies

The Princeton Public Library’s “Film for Foodies” series kicks off on November 10 with a screening of “Big Night” at 6:00pm.  “Big Night” is the movie set in New Jersey in the 1950s that made a classic over-the-top Italian dish, Timbale, famous.  (See a nice photo of one and recipe at The Hungrey Blogger.) Continuing … Continue reading →

Bellissimo

Friend Betty recently introduced me to a new favorite dining spot of hers, Bellissimo Ristorante in Hillsborough.  It’s a couple miles off Route 206, to the West, an area I’m completely unfamiliar with. That’s the amazing thing about New Jersey, go just a little out of your usual way and you’re in a whole new place!  … Continue reading →

Shout Out to Terhune Orchards

Hooray for Terhune Orchards, whose package labeling has been recognized on TheDieline.com as one of their 40 Favorite Beverage Package Designs.  The Dieline is a website devoted to quality package design from all over the world. I’ve always freely admitted that I’m a sucker for good packaging, so I really enjoy browsing this website. Thanks to my nephew Patrick for … Continue reading →