I recently entertained Silvana de Soissons (editor of The Foodie Bugle) to lunch. You can read what I cooked for her at http://thefoodiebugle.com/article/cooks/taste-for-bologna
A Late Summer Italian Luncheon
By Cory Baldwin
Toast the end of summer this weekend with a languorous Italian-style luncheon, indulgently taking the whole afternoon for the meal, all the way through to the early evening. Simple preparations and make-ahead recipes mean less kitchen time for the chef and more time to savor what's at the table: a grazing-conducive spread of ricotta crostini with chestnut honey, marinated zucchini, speck and fontina sandwiches, and a peppery raw artichoke salad. When the shadows start lengthening, it's time for dessert. Almond biscotti, chocolate gelato, fresh fruit, and tiny glasses of Amaro, a bracing, bitter digestif.
The Menu
- Negroni and Americano Cocktails
- Ricotta Crostini with Chestnut Honey
- Marinated Zucchini
- Italian Panino with Speck and Fontina
- Raw Artichoke Salad with Parmesan and Mint
- Chocolate Gelato
- Almond Biscotti
- Fresh Local Fruit and Whole Nuts
- Amaro
More About This Menu
Ricotta crostini also taste great with Italian-style cured meats such as soppressata. We like to use an artisan quality ricotta, such as Narraganset Creamery's Renaissance Ricotta.
A crisp, lemony verdicchio from Italy's Le Marche region is an excellent match for the crostini and zucchini, especially if you choose a bottle with a little age.
A mandoline slicer, such as this inexpensive model by Benriner, makes prepping the baby artichoke salad extra easy.
Speck, the cured, smoked ham originally made in the most Northern province in Italy, has a slightly sweeter and more robust flavor than prosciutto due to its delicate smoking process. We love the traditional Italian speck from Alto Aldige, available online at Formaggio Kitchen, or the American-made speck from La Quercia Cured Meats out of Iowa.
If chocolate gelato doesn't speak to your tastes, try one of these other authentic Italian desserts, or eschew the sweet stuff all together for fresh fruit and nuts.
