A Recipe, Italian Cookware, and Another Case of Instagram vs. Reality
when the dolce vita competes with dorothy
Hi! Italian adventures overtook last week, and candidly, I totally spaced on my weekly Substack. Not that anyone noticed, but ya know, one can dream!
Also, my husband has notified me that these often include run-on sentences and the occasional grammatical error, so… apologies in advance because these will likely continue to be a theme!!
Last week, in a weird turn of events, I happened to be invited to stay at the exact same villa I stayed at ten years ago (!!) while filming Giada in Italy.
Same room, same bed, same everything. Except for the work. This time, instead of being a sherpa/chef/stylist/unpacker/repacker/lucky-beneficiary-to-an-Italian-adventure, I was simply a guest. The novelty! Oh, how times have changed.
I want to caveat all the above with an “I was so grateful for that experience” because truly I was! But I was also a sherpa in many, many respects. Think more pack horse, than chef. But two realities can exist! I love how Amanda Jones Vaughn explains this in That Said. She talks motherhood, but same, same, with work. I’M SO GRATEFUL, but also tired, burnout, and slightly confused about what’s next.
This trip to Italy coincided with the first Father’s Day since my dad passed. And while speaking about my personal life is likely one of my least favorite things to do. Cue, “terrible at vulnerability,” it made me sympathize with everyone who has lost a parent and had to be the recipient of a week’s worth of email marketing. Holy shit, wtf? Where is the opt-out button for someone who just lost their mother/father? It’s really something you never think much about, but holy hell, avoid Instagram and unsubscribe.
So, while on this Italian adventure, I really just kept thinking to myself, “I’m more Dorothy than Sophia Loren (or any influencer).” Not that I think I’m like Sophia Loren - or an influencer, for that matter - but you know what I’m trying to say. I felt like Dorothy because all I wanted to do was come home, and be home with my family, friends, and my down-the-shore, keep-it-simple summer routine. I didn't want adventure, fancy, extra. WHO NEEDS ITALY WHEN YOU HAVE THE SHRIMP BOX IN POINT PLEASANT, NJ?! I’ve had too much unknown this year. I wanted what I knew. I tear up just thinking about it.
So in another case of Instagram vs. Reality, reality won. So while it was beautiful, and fun, and amazing, delicious, etc., etc., etc., it was also really freaking sad and lonely to be a world away just snapping pictures for the ‘gram, twirling pasta, and quietly thinking, “I can’t believe my dad died.”
But we’re tapped on emotional unloading here soooo I’m going to share a favorite recipe that I’ve doctored and changed from Italian to Italian-American to celebrate the collaboration of last week’s Italian adventure and this week’s trip to the Jersey Shore. Both amore and bada bing. That’s how I roll.
Oh, and I’ve also pulled together my all-time favorite Italian cookware and kitchen items. Most of which I picked up during my time as the stylist/sherpa/grateful-20-something-employee.
Okay, bye for now. Happy first day of SUMMER!
What to cook with and where to get it…
Berti knives are pretty amazing. They are stunning just like most everything else in Italy. Here is the chef’s knife ($215), the only place I could find it stand-alone. If you want the beautiful block, that’s another story ($2k) right here.
Lagostina Copper Pan. This one is 5 quarts and the perfect size. It’s not as bad as people think pricewise ($170). I love giving these as wedding gifts or for someone who just got a new kitchen/house. They’re high maintenance but very pretty. And obviously, phenomenal at conducting heat.
Okay, so Manebi isn’t Italian; it’s Spanish. I found this in Europe about a decade ago before they were here (and I had to pay that shipping, oy), but they’re stateside pretty much everywhere and my go-to summer shoe. I also realize I said “cookware” and “kitchen,” but these are shoes. Wear these in the kitchen if desired.
I would say these plates are a little basic, but I know the owners of Vietri, and their story of being authentically Italian and bringing products and plates to the US is authentic, genuine, and generational. So, I’m in.
Does it get any more Italian than espresso? Nope. I love drinking actual espresso when made this way. Capresso is the best, and I’m obsessed with Dillard’s revamp lately.
Anything from el mono home, my friend and interior designer, Christie Ward and her husband run this company.
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