« Rust

From Stove to Screen

Published on August, 25 2011

Days like today, gray and rainy, make me remember when I first became a "Foodie". I can trace it back to a very young age, probably four years old or so. My mother worked most days, so I stayed home with my grandmother when I wasn't in school. On rainy days, my grandma would make large pots of what she called AMINESTE (What she meant was Minestra-Italian for soup). While other kids my age were refusing to eat their vegatables, I was sitting at my grandma's table slurping up heaping spoonfuls of an Italian escarole soup with vocal delight. My grandmother made it so much fun, and truly made me believe I was eating the greatest thing that could ever be put before me. No matter what it was, from vegatables, to fish, I would try it if it meant sitting down with my grandma and spending time over the food that she prepared with so much love for her family.

Thankfully, I kept this with me always. It might be the biggest reason why I learned to cook and now cook so often. I enjoy looking across the table and seeing people enjoy a meal that I prepared they way I enjoyed meals with my Grandma. I think with so much else going on in life, sharing a meal is sometimes the only time we get to share ourselves and spend time.

I am thankful that I had that time with my Grandma and shared those rainy days over soup. I believe that without those moments, I would not have the story I have today in WIth Anchovies...Without Mamma. It is a story that I have come to pitch as "Big Night meets Blue Velvet", "Meanstreets with mozzarella". Those moments with my grandma inspired everything I am from stove to screen.