You never know how Christmas is going to fall out. Even with the simplest of plans. A few days before Christmas, my brother’s wife panicked about the prosciutto crudo, the cured ham sliced from, depending on the source, a special breed of pig legs. The Bristol Farms in the area had closed, and it was... Continue Reading →
Home is where my pasta machine is
by Janice Nigro A plane is that modern vehicle of irony, speeding you through the air at times to areas of the Earth that might still be in the stone age. Or at least into another apparent universe where we don’t understand the language, we don’t look like anyone else, and we don't have the... Continue Reading →
Dialing 911 for pasta
An emergency text from a friend: Hi! We got a pasta making attachment for the KitchenAid mixer. Some recipes say all purpose flour and some say 00 flour. I thought we should ask an expert. That’s how my holiday season started, and it seemed to be a theme that carried through to the end when... Continue Reading →
The Christmas pasta
by Janice Nigro Families get together over the holidays. Exchanging gifts and watching movies. And eating. And well... eating. Growing up I would say Christmas food for me was a lot about the cookies. My grandmother made the best cookies on the planet. She always had cookies in a cookie box, a rectangular Tupperware number,... Continue Reading →
Arrivederci
by Janice Nigro We think it’s exciting, adventurous, and life changing to live and meet people around the world. I can say with certainty that it is. Right up until that moment you decide to leave, to move on. That final moment when you pass through airport security and you know you will make your... Continue Reading →
Next stop, Omaha
by Janice Nigro The odd bit about some of the less famous (small) places in the USA is that most of us start our lives in them. Or the only other way you might learn about them is by taking Southwest Airlines to fly across the country from one big city to reach another. Last... Continue Reading →
Have chicken stock, will travel
Have chicken stock, will travel by Janice Nigro I know the best restaurant in Los Angeles. You won’t read about it in any magazines or newspapers, only here in this blog. It’s a pop-up restaurant though that is only open three to four weeks out of the year (at this location), and not just anyone... Continue Reading →
Around the world at the Hermosa Beach Farmers Market
Around the world at the Hermosa Beach Farmers Market by Janice Nigro The sign as you enter says no bikes, no skateboards, no dogs, and no parrots. No parrots? Jack Sparrow, leave your parrot at home if you are coming to the Hermosa Beach Farmers Market. On Friday mornings, I roll my vendor-in-a-suitcase up from... Continue Reading →
Conversations over pasta
Conversations over pasta by Janice Nigro When you are living alone, there isn’t normally much preparation for dinner. Eggs, salad, a roasted chicken from the grocery store, or maybe even a bag of popcorn. And do you have that with a glass of wine or not? I am not so difficult to please when it... Continue Reading →
Italia on 3000 calories per day
Italia on 3000 calories per day by Janice Nigro Yes, I surrender. It is not possible to be budget conscious when it comes to calories in Italy. When you are there, you can see no reason not to try just about everything that you see. You pay for the bread on the table (coperto) so... Continue Reading →