In was October 18, 1971…the day I fell in love with Italy. My fate was sealed that crisp autumn morning when I went to harvest olives for the first time. The moment they strapped that woven willow basket around my waist, I couldn’t wait to ascend into those silvery branches. The olive harvest is a unique opportunity to participate in an autumnal ritual that is essential to Italy’s agrarian and culinary culture.
This week’s menu highlights the use of olive oil, exalts the flavors of the season and features some of the dishes you might find at an olive harvest feast.
For the first time in thirty years, i Ricchi will open to celebrate Thanksgiving. In Italian American homes, Thanksgiving is the perfect melding of two cultures. For Americans, Thanksgiving has become the quintessential national holiday of goodwill and abundance. Italians easily understand and embrace Thanksgiving as they love any holiday that brings people together around the table.
Ours is a true feast of two traditions.
Halloween with an Italian Accent Halloween may not be so foreign to Italian culture as some might think. There are legends, rites and traditions around All Saints Day (Nov 1) and All Souls Day (Nov 2) that coincide with Halloween as we know it. This menu highlights Autumn's ingredients with a nod to regional specialties and a "spooky" Tuscan dessert. Although modern Halloween carries no sort of significant meaning for those in Italy, it is still a holiday that involves doing something all Italians love: celebrating. Menu Panzanella di Zucca Autumn bread salad with butternut squash, Brussel sprouts and spicy arugula Rigatoni Boscaiola “Woodsman” pasta with tomato, mushrooms and sausage and a touch of cream Fagottini di Verza Cabbage leaves...
Chardonnay Napa Valley, Robert Mondavi 2017.
Classically styled Chardonnay has a rich creamy palate of baked apples, poached pears and pineapples. Balanced and elegant with threads of baking spice and citrus. The majority of the wine is aged in French oak, lending a toasty creamy note to the finish.
The Italian assimilation into the US was particularly difficult, marred by stereotypical images of unsavory people prone to criminality. Despite these depictions, Italians focused on building their American identities. Interestingly enough, it was through their food the Italians forced the rest of America to adjust. It was the Italian restaurants opened by immigrants here that changed and improved America’s understanding and appreciation of Italian culture. Once only available in their neighborhoods, Italian food has won its way into the hearts, minds and stomach of all Americans. Here’s to another delicious week of featuring some of the most famous from around the country!
