Category Archives: cooking

Eggplant and okra

Posted on October 19, 2011 by diary of a tomato

Here on the Seacoast, we enjoy a vibrant network of local farmers’ markets all year long, and most of what we don’t grow ourselves is usually sourced from them. A recent visit to the Portsmouth one yielded an irresistible array of vegetables … Continue reading →

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10.16.11 Late summer squash

Posted on October 18, 2011 by diary of a tomato

It’s mid-October and our summer squash plants are finally ending their run. Scorpacciata is an Italian word meaning feasting while in season; is there another word to capture the sadness we feel knowing that we won’t have it again until … Continue reading →

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Pasta alla Norma

Posted on October 14, 2011 by diary of a tomato

I’ve been thinking a lot about passata di pomodoro lately. As it turns out, the Principe Borghese are particularly well suited for making this. For a home cook, this simple, unadorned puree of tomatoes is like having money in the … Continue reading →

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Puntarelle alla Romana

Posted on October 11, 2011 by diary of a tomato

The word amaro, sometimes mistaken for amore or “love,” instead translates as “bitter.” It can be said that both are essential in Italian cooking, but there is a certain bitter flavor I most often miss. With the arrival of fall, I … Continue reading →

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World Pasta Day, October 25

Posted on October 10, 2011 by diary of a tomato

“Everything you see I owe to spaghetti.” — Sophia Loren Somehow, we never got around to eating pizza during our first trip to Italy. We were simply too busy eating pasta, and, when I’m there, I still look forward to having … Continue reading →

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Le orecchiette con le cime di rapa

Posted on September 30, 2011 by diary of a tomato

“Us cooks are nothing without farmers and gardeners that grow their crops with intention and love. It makes a world of difference especially in a cuisine that is only based on ingredients and their quality.” — Beatrice Tosti di Valminuta With … Continue reading →

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Every day is a banquet

Posted on September 23, 2011 by diary of a tomato

We met Beatrice Tosti di Valminuta when she was one of the presenters at the North Hill Symposium, “The Kitchen Garden and the Table,” in Vermont. The co-owner of two New York restaurants, Beatrice is also the chef, a title that barely … Continue reading →

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