Italia

Life Is Short... Mangia Bene!

(Scroll down to "The Playlist" and hit play before reading... works better that way!)

Ciao Bella... today we're talking pasta... we're talking fine wine... we're talking about music with passion. You in?... that's what we thought. 

I'm telling you, some people just know how to live right. So with that in mind, we're gonna show you how to create an Italian bistro right in your own place. 

Tonight's specials are  Linguine cooked in a rich red sauce with spicy Italian sausage with capers and Feta cheese, a wonderful Sangiovese wine and some beautiful music. 

Light the candles... The pots are on!

The Plate...  

Linguine Con Salsiccia Piccante Italiano 

Not your Mama's Spaghetti... This pasta is sweet and spicy with a little bit of brininess from the capers, a little cheese and a lot of flavor. It's easy to make and we think you're gonna love it. All we can say is Ciao Bella.

What you need... 

Extra-virgin olive oil
1-1 1/2 lbs spicy Italian sausage
1 onion
3 cloves of garlic
20 oz crushed tomatoes
2 tbsp Oregano
1 tbsp parsley
3 tbsp fresh basil / chopped
3 tbsp capers
Salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
Splash of wine to deglaze
1 lb of Linguine
8 oz Feta cheese, crumbled

What you do...

In a large skillet, heat the oil then add the sausages. 

Add the onions and garlic.

Cook until the sausage is no longer pink and the onions and garlic are soft.

Add the tomatoes, oregano, parsley and basil and turn down to simmer.

Add a splash of wine to deglaze the pan.

Continue for about 20-30 minutes until the sauce has thickened.

Add the capers and continue to simmer for another 5 minutes. 

In the meantime, cook the pasta according to the directions. 

Once strained, place the pasta in a serving bowl.

Toss with the sauce and add the feta right before serving.

The Playlist... 

Italia

Is there anything more romantic and passionate than Italian music... don't think so. 

Luciano starts us off with the hope in tomorrow "Domani Verra". Can't think of a better way to start. 

There are many great classics here, along with a few newer selections. Check out Chris Botti with a couple of selections from his "Italia" compilation, including the song "Italia" with Andrea Bocelli. 

So sit back, have some wine and take it all in. 

la vita è bella

                         The "Playlist" runs on Spotify- Click on the link to listen to Italia

The Bar... 

Tignanello Super Tuscan

From one of the oldest wineries in Italy...the Antinori family. And this is one of their best.

This was the first Sangiovese to be aged in barriques, and the first red wine to be blended with non-traditional varieties.  It is made from Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The wine is aged in wine barrels for 12 months and then for another 12 months in the bottle.

One of our favorites... if you are lucky enough to find a 2010 vintage buy all you can. 

Life Is Short...

Eat Well And Enjoy!

Please... Day Drink Responsibly 

& 

Keep On Cookin'!

Game On 2016

Welcome To The Show

(Scroll down to "The Playlist" and hit play before reading... works better that way!)

This is it... the big "L", or I guess the "marketing folks" like to just say "50"... looks better on T-shirts I guess. And once again we have the controversy of the game being played in one place with all the credit going to the big city... Santa Clara vs San Francisco . It's always something. 

Today we're bringing back an old favorite Buffalo Chicken Sliders, some Winter Sangria and an updated "Game On" playlist. Fire up that grill!

The pots are on!

The Plate...

Buffalo Chicken Sliders

Today we revisit one of our favorites.

Love me some chicken wings, but not always the easiest thing to eat without a roll of paper towels handy.  These are great cause they're not quite as messy and hey, they're grilled, so that's got to count for something.  Not to mention those awesome Hawaiian rolls.  You got the hot with the sweet with the tangy.

What more could you ask for?

What you need... 

1 lb boneless chicken breast
2 packs of Kings Hawaiian sweet rolls

2 tblsp olive oil

salt and fresh ground pepper

1/2 cup "Frank's" wing sauce
3 tblsp butter
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp apple cider vinegar

1/2 cup of celery, rough chopped

1 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese

2 tblsp white wine vinegar

What you do... 

Chicken

Brush the chicken with olive oil then add salt & pepper.
Heat grill to medium high heat.
Grill the chicken over medium high heat.  

About 3-4 minutes per side, until they are golden brown. 

Combine the hot sauce, butter, paprika and apple cider vinegar to a medium sauce pan.

Place on the pan on the grill and stir melt and mix all together. 

Now dip the cooked chicken into the saucepan to coat. 

Grill for about one minute per side to glaze the chicken with the hot sauce.

Cut chicken into bite size portions and serve on Hawaiian rolls with Blue Cheese sauce. 

Blue Cheese Sauce

Combine the mayonnaise, blue cheese, celery vinegar, salt and pepper in a medium sized bowl. 

Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Playlist... 

Game On 2016!

Woohoo... the house is rockin' baby!  

This is the big one! Numero 50 or the big "L"... so you need some of that high energy to keep the crowd moving.  

As usual we have a little old and a little new.  With Beyonce and Coldplay and who knows who else... they'll be partying at the half.  But, you can't wait for the half... you gotta get your party on now!

... so come on and jump on the "Crazy Train".

The "Playlist" runs on Spotify- Click on the link to listen to Game On

The Bar...

Winter Sangria

What you need...

1 cup blood orange juice
1 750ml bottle Malbec or similar red wine
1/2 cup orange liqueur like Cointreau
1 cup dark rum
4 cups liter lemon-lime soda
Juice of 2 lemons
2 tblsp agave nectar
1 cinnamon stick
1 Blood orange or regular orange
1 ruby grapefruit
1 pear, peeled and chopped
1 Granny Smith apple, chopped

What you do...

Add the apple, orange, pear and grapefruit to a large pitcher and squeeze the lemon juice on top.  Muddle the fruit with a wooden spoon.
Add the red wine, rum, liqueur and stir.
Cover with plastic wrap and place in fridge for at least 2 hours.
Add orange juice and agave nectar.
top off with the lemon lime soda.
Garnish with cinnamon stick.

"The Man"... Vs

Superman

Please... Day Drink Responsibly 

& 

Keep On Cookin'!