Author Archives: dgourmac

49th College Reunion

Posted on August 31, 2012 by dgourmac

What could be more exciting than the 49th college reunion for a small group of men who graduated from an engineering school specializing in naval architecture and marine engineering in 1963?  Especially when that special event occurred on an island … Continue reading →

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Wine 317 – Southern Italian wines

Posted on August 31, 2012 by dgourmac

One of the great joys of summer is the arrival of Aaron and his friends on the island, for our annual wine tasting event.  What began as Wine 101 one evening many years ago has progressed through various stages, to … Continue reading →

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Cianfotta

Posted on August 30, 2012 by dgourmac

Simple cooking is often the best.  Summertime and the abundance of fresh vegetables call out for dishes like Cianfotta — a Southern Italian country-style vegetable stew.  The launching point was a fine cookbook from my library by Viana La Place … Continue reading →

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Recalling July and August….

Posted on August 30, 2012 by dgourmac

The past six weeks have been a blur — did lots, wrote very little, as you know.  But, I am back home, rested and ready to recall some of the highlights of my food and other adventures.  This post will … Continue reading →

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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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