Cafe Via Dante's Truffled Gnocchi Recipe

Italian cooking has for many apparent reasons always been very mainstream because of its simplicity, meaning that the ingredient are very common ones and known by most of us.

It has been argued and still is by many, that when traditionally prepared in a restaurant kitchen it can not reach the highest ranking of four stars. And then when it is made non-traditional it is by some not considered as Italian cooking. I would have to disagree!

Personally I would leave it up to the creator of the dish to choose what to introduce its creations. I believe that doing so, it will continue the story, that was begun by the actual “author” or “artist”, to the happy ending that we all are looking forward to, which is how we perceive the dish in the end.

That’s why it is so important to listen to the waitor/waitress that is introducing the dish, most of the time they are passing the message of what the Chef’s intentions are with its creation.

Now as we all know, not every book is for every one, nor every painting and that also goes for food.

There for I guess it all boils down to asking the right questions prior to ordering and to have staff that are not only there to make some extra pocket money, but are aware that when going out to dine, is not just to still ones hunger but more about a good and pleasant dining experience.

Since we here at Macchi Inc. put a lot of emphasis on the quality and authenticity of the products we supply, we realize that we are also obligated to do so since our clients put just as much weight in that.

We know how hard they all work to make sure that every plate that gets presented is at its best. Just like any other artists creation, it is made with emotions and precision and lets not forget that they are humans and not machines so when the final product is made it can differ from how it was made the time before, having that said, that doesn’t mean that it should not be criticized constructively, by all means, we all know that to reach perfection we only do so by always being kept on our toes.

The above mentioned thought does not entirely relate to todays dish it was more of a thought that I felt I would like to share with all of you =).

And now that i have, let me present todays dish, that was prepared by the kitchen staff at Cafe via Dante, located in the heart of little Italy.

GNOCCHI RIPENI CON SALSA TARTUFATA

Cafe Via Dante's Truffled Gnocchi Recipe

Ingredients:

• Stuffed gnocchi with porcini mushrooms
• Leeks
• French shallots
• Truffle paste,
• White wine
• Chicken stock
• Butter
• Parmesan
• and of course, the Truffle Oil

If you like gnocchi, you will love this, if you don’t like gnocchi you might reconsider after trying this and if you never had gnocchi I would definitely suggest that you have it this way for your first time.

Truffled Pizza! Sounds delicious doesn’t it, well it is absolutely marvelous.

Pizzeria Arlequino and Restaurant Bottega, both very dear clients of ours, generously shared pictures and recipe of the same creation but off course both with their own twist.

Pizzeria Arlequino Pizza

Ingredients:

• Mozzarella fior di latte
• Egg
• Truffle Carpaccio

BOTTEGA’S RECIPE:

Restaurant Bottega's Pizza

Ingredients:

• Mozarella fior di latte
• Parmigiano-Reggiano
• Egg
• Truffle Carpaccio
• Fresh basil.

Both recipes are amazing in different ways.

If you get the chance to try either one of them, let me know I would love to hear your thoughts.

Hope this week was a good one for all of you.

Fregola Sarda Seafood Risotto

FREGOLA SARDA SEAFOOD RISOTTO

1. Fregola sarda, tomato, onions, garlic, chili, Dry white vermouth, clam juice, terragon, saffron
2. Cuttle fish, clams, rock shrimp, lobster
3. Seared tuna, lobster bisque sauce, saffron
4. Roasted banana pepper, sicilian green olive, brown butter

A Blend of Colors and Flavors

This is art and it can be admired but in difference to a picture you can actually taste it and receive double the pleasure!

I love my job =).

Restaurant Bice's Chef John Zoumis Truffled Dwarf Peaches Recipe

CARPACCIO MANZO
Thank you Bice Restaurant and Chef John Zoumis for this beautiful light meal: the Carpaccio Manzo garnished with Truffled Dwarf Peaches.

Ingredients:

• Pepper crusted tenderloin
• Truffled lemon emulsion
• Baby arugula
• Shaved radishes
• Shaved truffled peaches
• Parmesan shavings
• French shallot rings

What could be better than a fresh carpaccio for this hot season, I might go try it there this week!

Even though Restaurant Brontë now is closed, I would still like to re-post this beautiful and most probably very tasty truffle creation.

When summer truffles meet Brontë, here is the baby ( by Hakim Rahal, Chef de Cuisine ):

• Seared kurobuta guanciale ( berkshire pork jowls )
• Quail eggs
• Yukon gold potatoes
• Toasted ricotte bread
• Quebec blueberry compote
• Shaved summer truffles

An adventurous combination of flavors that I definitely would like to try.