A number of years ago the family started meeting up at my brother's house for Sunday dinner. My brother Erick was not a good cook, the word "chef" was somewhere far off in the distance. But he worked hard to improve and he has gotten a lot better. Others chip in to varying degrees, but it's Erick's show and the show has tightened up considerably over the last decade. The timing has improved, everything is ready more or less at the same time. The dishes are more adventurous and on a couple of occasions he startled me with a real achievement.
But these Sunday dinners have become very important to all of us. They strengthen bonds that were pretty strong to begin with. The ages range from 10 to 87 and everyone has a voice, everyone has a place and everyone is an equal part of the whole. Food and family, indescribably essential.
In my old East Village days, there was a speakeasy of a cafe on my block, run by this eccentric Italian American woman from Brooklyn. She banned people, and often. I was their first and very best customer and she took up a Sunday dinner habit, we all sat shoulder to shoulder with strangers and neighbors, scarfing down her gnocchi. You told them how many glasses of wine you had at the end and they concocted a bill, numbers pulled out of the air. They were open for a year or so, and that was it - but you know, I was just explaining to my wife how a "Sunday gravy" Italian American dinner was the exact kind of event I want to do here.
Thank you Annette. I just started a fresh dough, using my personal recipe, and I am such an old Italian grandmother, I just do it in cups, not even measuring cups, just this one cup from the closet. Today I started converting it to grams, and the dough is looking fantastic. I did try to use an existing recipe all of last week, but the exact same flour, yeast, etc with my personal one is the only one that is working. funny how that happens......
Terry - menu and details should post today. It will be hosted by my favorite wine bar in town, but they only have a sink and no real kitchen (which is why we bought some portable burners). Vera will be plating with me of course! more to come....
A number of years ago the family started meeting up at my brother's house for Sunday dinner. My brother Erick was not a good cook, the word "chef" was somewhere far off in the distance. But he worked hard to improve and he has gotten a lot better. Others chip in to varying degrees, but it's Erick's show and the show has tightened up considerably over the last decade. The timing has improved, everything is ready more or less at the same time. The dishes are more adventurous and on a couple of occasions he startled me with a real achievement.
But these Sunday dinners have become very important to all of us. They strengthen bonds that were pretty strong to begin with. The ages range from 10 to 87 and everyone has a voice, everyone has a place and everyone is an equal part of the whole. Food and family, indescribably essential.
That is just LOVELY!
In my old East Village days, there was a speakeasy of a cafe on my block, run by this eccentric Italian American woman from Brooklyn. She banned people, and often. I was their first and very best customer and she took up a Sunday dinner habit, we all sat shoulder to shoulder with strangers and neighbors, scarfing down her gnocchi. You told them how many glasses of wine you had at the end and they concocted a bill, numbers pulled out of the air. They were open for a year or so, and that was it - but you know, I was just explaining to my wife how a "Sunday gravy" Italian American dinner was the exact kind of event I want to do here.
Food and family, indescribably essential. INDEED
Good luck with your event and the focciaca!
Thank you Annette. I just started a fresh dough, using my personal recipe, and I am such an old Italian grandmother, I just do it in cups, not even measuring cups, just this one cup from the closet. Today I started converting it to grams, and the dough is looking fantastic. I did try to use an existing recipe all of last week, but the exact same flour, yeast, etc with my personal one is the only one that is working. funny how that happens......
Fabulous!
Wow! Your new hometown is in for a delicious treat🥂
I cannot wait to hear more ❤️❤️❤️
Terry - menu and details should post today. It will be hosted by my favorite wine bar in town, but they only have a sink and no real kitchen (which is why we bought some portable burners). Vera will be plating with me of course! more to come....
Let me indulge in destroying the wonderful mood you created in this piece by posting this (infamous) link... :) <3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4fw3umsnwY
don't ask me why, but my damaged mind immediately went here after "Ciao Bambino" at the counter. :)
Ah, that makes more sense than you give yourself credit for! everyone wants to pretend to speak Italian.