The Pantry Is Now Open And It Went To Visentini's

Yes, I have reopened the pantry after a false health scare (blame the doctor , not me). The first trip back was to Visentini's Brothers in Lodi, New Jersey. This gem is an Italian food lover's paradise, filled with traditional and even unusual Italian treats from both the north and south of the country.

A friend told me about Visentini's Brothers, located on one of the town's main roads, Union Ave in Lodi. There have been Italians living in this area since the late 1800's so food shopping really is like shopping in Naples or Rome. At one time home chefs had a handful of salumerias to shop from,to buy home made pasta and cold cuts. Those stores have since closed , leaving only Visentini Brothers which is a combination liquor store, salumeria, caterer and grocery .What is unique about it is the variety of unusual products. The store  sells candele pasta, literally two foot long (!) pasta tubes that are a specialty of Neopolitan kitchens.There are also other tubular pastas of different sizes and shapes home chefs can try out too., Yes they offer traditional pastas such as fusilli lunghi, foot long strings of wavy pasta along with spaghetti , angel hair and penne. What is great about the store is that they feature staples of Northern Italy too. There is the finely ground Piedmontese polenta, along  with dried mushrooms,There are shelves full of Italian breakfast biscuits as well as San Pelligrino Mineral water along with the always tart and refreshing orange and lemon sodas.

Visentini Brothers is also a deli, and again they don't disappoint with their wide array. They have breaded eggplant, chicken and even cauliflower. This last is a must have .The florets are evenly and perfectly coated with something akin to bread "dust" than crumbs. It's not overpowered with spices so that the sweet earthy flavor of the cauliflower comes through.The artichoke hearts are another standout. They are the size of small roses almost with an earthy candy flavor. Visentini's marinates in a vinaigrette sauce that only adds to the flavor.The deli counter also offers other delicious dishes such as shrimp salad, meatballs and broccoli rabe. Those who are familiar with Southern Italian specialties will love their arancini, , the little oranges made from rice , chopped meat  and breading. Usually these are the size of small softballs but Visentinis makes theirs the size of small bowling balls. One can easily feed two or even three people. Their heroes are legendary around the area, with the store customizing them to individual tastes. The store also has an extensive catering menu which features filet mignon,, deviled eggs with caviar, and melon with prosciutto, They also a wide range of pastas to choose from, unusual for a caterer.

Visentini Brothers is the perfect stop for those who adore the Italian food. It is a great trip , full of tasty foods. and plates. Welcome back to the pantry, thanks , in part to this amazing store.

A Lush Slice Of Timpano

The pasta pie timpano is the perfect dish to make for a cozy holiday pary.It's an impressive layering sort of like lasagna and torta rustica all rolled into one. Each slice yields up a melange of meats , veggies and sauces, a filling trio of good flavors and textures.

Melissa Clark decided to try her hand at making this gem of Italian cooking adding tweaks here and there.Timpano should sound familiar to Big Night Fans, the 1996 movie about two brothers running an Italian restaurant at the Jersey shore in the Fifties.It is crown shaped dish, filled with everything good.Its' origin is Neopolitan and it means kettle drum, thanks to its  shape.  The shell has to be made from pasta. Ms Clark recommends using precooked lasagna sheets will will leave a visible seam however purists may want to make their own sheets to have a flawless top. If you do make it via the machine, then think of tinting the dough red and green This can be done by separating the dough into two equal parts and tinting one half with half a cup of beet juice and the juice from.cooked spinach leaves for the green.If you want a lovely  deep golden color use egg yolks only .

The filling can be varied, however Ms/ Clark gives a pretty good mix of ingredients.She uses sausages  and salames or procsciutto for the interior. You can also use chopped meat or meat balls.A true timpano also has eggs in it but she subs it the more colorful and healthier roasted squash. Broccoli rabe is a must, both for its burst of color and flavor. as as one onion for sweetness. Ironically there';s also more pasta in the filling, usually penne regatta, but rotelli , plain or tricolore, could easily be subbed in.Cheese is de rigeur and Ms Clark uses buffalo mozzarella and fresh ricotta. This gives the pie both chewiness and creaminess.It has to be moist too, so you 'll need one 28 ounce can of tomato sauce along with a sprig of basil mixed in..Red wine is added too although if you want you can omit it.Nutmeg and a pinch of red pepper flakes are thrown into the mix to round it out. Keep  in mind this is a labor intensive  recipe. The squash has to be roasted for forty minutes while the broccoli rabe has to be sauteed first in a garlic infused oil. The penne also has to be cooked as well and if you make the pasta sheets extra work too.The finished product is worth it, though.


Timpano is a yummy pie, perfect for a holiday party.Every slice is a rich mix of flavors and textures. Try your hand at it for some good eating.

Simple Summer Cooking

No one likes to be slaving over a hot burner or dealing with cooking an entire meal during these hot days. Yet there's nothing like a home cooked meal no matter what the temperature is. What to do?. Just simplify your winter dishes.

Everyone loves a roasted chicken. It's a nice meal to come home to, especially if it;s surrounded by all the trimmings. You can roast the bird on a grill, using the beer can method or buying a specially designed stand for it. Add instant mashed potatoes and jarred gravy that can be easily heated up. For greens go for a sauteed broccoli rabe or spinach.Pot roast is another dish than can be simplified for summer.It can be roasted on the grill, and even spiced up with barbecue sauce. The cut can also be slow cooked in a crockpot too. Serve it with barbecued or easy baked potatoes and again a jarred or instant gravy.

There's nothing like a hot pasta to come home to. Pasta itself is easy to make,simply boil water add salt and toss in whatever kind you want. It's the sauce that's always labor intensive. However you can also simplify this by melting butter over the pasta and having it con burro style. Just sprinkle Parmesan and parsley to finish it.. Another easy sauce is alia e olio, a simple mix of olive oil and garlic. If you want it spicy  then add a dash  of hot pepper flakes over it before serving, You could also saute the above greens such as broccoli rabe or spinach for a quick and very healthy sauce.

There's not hing like a hot meal even when the temps are swiftly ascending. it can still be if you just simplify the cooking technique.It's easy fixing but hearty eating.\

Celebrating Saint Joseph’s Day

Two days ago the Irish celebrated the feast of Saint Patrick , today other nationalities such as the Italian and the Polish celebrate Saint Joseph’s Day. it’s mostly a big feast on the Italian islands of Malta and Sicily where special dinners and pastries are served. Lots also Italy’s Father’s Day where dad and grandfathers are honored from Trieste to Torino, from the Alps to the Adriatic.

Last year I wrote about this days pastries which are incredible. Many love the zeppolis , the ricotta filled fried puffs along with cream puffs also stuffed with a cannoli filling. However in some Sicilian and Maltese households. However there are also other dishes served before that. Spaghetti is big but it has to be serve d with a meatless sauce or topped with crunchy breadcrumbs. Broccoli rabe can also be served , probably with the salmons balls or fried codfish, baccala that the Sicilians are so fond of eating. Other dishes include stuffed (meatless) peppers and orange salad, all indicative of the two islands’ bounty of fish an harvests
Sweets are also a big part is the festa or holy day. Not only are zeppolis served but also rum cakes and various cookies. Zeppolis are usually made at home and recipes vary from family to family. Most make them with a choux paste, the same dough used in making cream puffs. Some bakers make add orange or lemon zest for more flavor. The filling is always a ricotta cheese one, either redolent with chocolate chips or lemon zest. Some put bitter cherries on top to decorate the zeppolis. This adds a nice dose of tartness to the taste. All are then lightly dusted with confectioner’s sugar .
Saint Joseph’s Day is just as important as St Patricks Day. It celebrates the saint along with fathers throughout Italy. it’s also celebrate s th e foods of Sicily and Malta as well.