Author Archives: dgourmac

Bitter, Sweet and Hot & a 19-Year Old American Pinot Noir

Posted on July 10, 2012 by dgourmac

Two of the principal ways to organize a meal are (a) thematically, i.e. Venetian cuisine, or (b) based solely on the ingredients and their inherent qualities.   Tonight I chose the latter method, and I find it incredibly freeing of … Continue reading →

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Home Alone….and Paella!

Posted on July 3, 2012 by dgourmac

When I’m not teaching or preparing for class, one of the big advantages of having a few days home alone — on my own — is that I can do things in the kitchen that are totally impractical at other … Continue reading →

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Viva Taggiasche e Aleatico!

Posted on June 27, 2012 by dgourmac

Sometimes the simplest meals are the best, and also the most instructive.  With that in mind, I dedicate this post to three different people who have been a strong influence in recent years on my culinary knowledge and enjoyment, Laura … Continue reading →

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Homemade Ravioli and Dynamite Italian-Style Vegetables

Posted on June 22, 2012 by dgourmac

Tonight’s dinner falls under the little-known category of “mostly-vegan-Italian-eclectic”.  It began last night when I got it in my mind that it was time to make ravioli again.  This impulse was triggered by a lovely bag of fresh spinach leaves … Continue reading →

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Curried Vegetables and Tofu with Major Barbara’s Chutney

Posted on June 17, 2012 by dgourmac

Sometimes, when I want a great dinner, one of the smartest things I can do is to stay out of the kitchen and let Barbara invent.  Tonight was one of those times. Since I had cooked last night (a Ligurian … Continue reading →

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Brooklyn Revisited: Zen, Then and Now

Posted on June 14, 2012 by dgourmac

When I was a kid (think late 1940’s, early 1950’s) growing up on East 14th Street in Manhattan, Brooklyn was just a subway stop or two away on the Canarsie Line.  It didn’t matter; Brooklyn was another country, another world … Continue reading →

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Focaccia Tartine

Posted on June 7, 2012 by dgourmac

This is a short post but long on flavor.  It’s all about the first focaccia I ever made with Tartine bread dough — and in fact, the best focaccia I have made yet. Yesterday was baking day.  Monday night I … Continue reading →

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Rome — and especially Testaccio

Posted on May 22, 2012 by dgourmac

After Puglia, we capped our trip with time in Rome.  Aaron had only one full day before he had to return home, so following a tour of two very good wine bars with the guidance of Katie Parla, we spent … Continue reading →

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Artisan-made mozzarella and buratta

Posted on May 22, 2012 by dgourmac

In my pre-vegan days, I would go 1,000 miles for good mozzarella and buratta cheese.  In Puglia, it requires less than 30 km.  Laura was good enough one morning to take us to her artisan friend, Giovanni, who makes fresh … Continue reading →

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Altamura’s D.O.P. Bread

Posted on May 22, 2012 by dgourmac

One of the more interesting visits on our trip was to Panificio La Maggiore in Altamura, where they take the local special durum wheat semolina flour for bread making and turn it into one of the traditional shapes of bread. … Continue reading →

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