True Taste of Italy

Anyone who has spent a significant amout of time in Italy will probably tell you that food is the focal point of Italian life.  It is the sharing of food and gathering with family and friends that is the true Italian way.

Since we no longer live in Italy, we try to create some of the vivacious lifestyle through the only means we know:  authentic Italian family cooking.  Many of the meals we have captured  have been served in our families for generations without written recipes.

Using recipes handed down from one mamma to the next, or in many cases, from one papa to the next, we create meals that represent the authentic Italian experience.  Such meals do not require enormous amounts of effort and time.  They only require that your heart be in it.

A few traditional Italian ingredients are also necessary, but personal preferences are too.  Making a dish yours by adding a little more crushed red pepper or a little less parsley is very much a part of the Italian experience.

Meals are never just about eating.  They are about the whole ritual that precedes the actual meal and are as much a part of the experience as the meal itself.  We truly believe that our moods affect the outcome of the food.  We believe that proper preparation is fundamental and that the inviting presentation of the food is essential.  In Italy we say, “Anche l’occhio vuole la sua parte” or “The eye wants its part.”

Meals are events.  They are not about survival, but they are about nourishment for the mind, body, and soul.  An Italian meal involves a carefully orchestrated symphony of tastes and textures and it should be shared with family and friends.  Somehow, taking even the most insignificant meal seriously creates the opportunity for one of life’s greatest pleasures and best memories.

We hope that our family recipes can bring as much joy to our table as they bring to ours.  And, through these recipes, you can feel the strength and wisdom of sharing meals with family and friends.

Lisa Russolillo and Alessandra Russolillo-Schneider