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Posted on April 2, 2009 - by admin - (Comment * FaceBook It * Send to Friend)

Featured Winemaker: Mazzolino

Situated in Oltrepo Pavese, Lombardy, close to the 45th parallel, the Mazzolino Winery’s 20 hectares produce Chardonnay, Bonarda, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Nero. The winery is owned by the Braggiotti Family. Oltrepo Pavese, which was once a part of the old Piedmont, had ancient ties with France, where the Braggiotti family has strong roots. In fact, they still speak French in the family and have brought Jean Francois Cocquard from the University of Burgundy to bring a French touch to Italy.

During a recent visit to Pavia, Joe had the good fortune of meeting the renowned wine maker Jean Francois. Of his Bonardo, Joe says, “Bonarda is a grape varietal that has been grown in Oltrepo Pavese for ages. It’s smooth and luscious with notes of blackberries, cinnamon and almond.“

The winemaker is Jean Francois Cocqard, who brings his experience from Burgundy to Italy, to produce a wine with soft fruit and earth. It is a perfect match for meat filled ravioli and hot antipasti.

Joe adds, “This grape is traditionally used to make Lambrusco style wines. The winemaker breaks with tradition to create an incredible still wine at an incredible value.”

At his Enoteca, Joe also serves the Mazzolino’s Blanc, cultivated from a a tiny producer in Oltrepo Pavese in Lombardia. Joe explains: “This Chardonnay is rich and complex with notes of hazelnuts, vanilla and citrus. A French winemaker combined French technique with Italian soil to produce an exquisite wine that is delicious when served with risotto, lobster, and creamy pasta dishes.”

When Joe visited the winery’s cantina, Jean Francois, the winemaker, swore he could see France from the hills of Pavia!

Read about Tenuta Mazzolino receiving the high honor of the Tre Bicchiere Award for their Pinot Noir!

Mazzolino BONARDA (Lombardia) 2007 $11/33
Mazzolino PINOT “NOIR” (Lombardia) 2003 $30/90
Mazzolino Chardonnay “BLANC” (Lombardia) 2005 $18/54

Visit the Tenuta Mazzolino website.

Posted on April 2, 2009 - by admin - (Comment * FaceBook It * Send to Friend)

La Dolce Vita

With an appreciation of the good life, we have assembled a small list of resources where you can read and experience some of the finest and perhaps lesser-known wonders of Italian culture. Let us know if you have something special to share about food, history or the arts in Italian culture.

Posted on March 28, 2009 - by admin - 1 comment

Teresa from Agrigento, Sicilia

From the first day she arrived at Enoteca Maria, Teresa Scalici took great pride in her role as a nonna in the restaurant. She says she feels like her own boss in the kitchen and even goes to the local market on Saturdays to pick out fresh vegetables. Working at the Enoteca is an extension of family and good food.

Born in the southern coastal town of Agrigento in Sicily, famous for its Greek architecture, Teresa started cooking at ten years of age when her nonna taught her to make fresh ravioli. She moved to New York City in 1966 with her husband.

She now enjoys teaching her thirteen-year old granddaughter how to cook the same recipes handed down to her from her nonna. Teresa particularly enjoys baking both sweet and savory deserts but her favorite recipe is her award winning Lasagna. Made with prosciutto, speck, eggplant, peas, ricotta and a mix of cheeses, her lasagna won the judges first place trophy at the Staten Island Community Resources Annual Pasta Bowl in 2008.

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Posted on March 28, 2009 - by admin - (Comment * FaceBook It * Send to Friend)

Nina from Salerno, Campania

Anna Picariolo “Nina” was raised in Salerno, a southern town near the famed Amalfi Coast in the region of Campania. She loves cooking at the Enoteca because it feels like cooking at home and enjoys making people happy with her recipes. Back in the “old country” her grandmother cooked over a wood-burning stove. Nina especially enjoyed her oven-baked pasta.

She also learned a lot about cooking during her twenties from a cousin who owned a restaurant. But working in Italy was a difficult life, working many hours for little pay. She moved to New York City in March of 2003. Nina values her freedom here, the opportunity to learn more and adapt to a new culture. At home, she likes to cook with her eldest daughter.

At Enoteca Maria, Nina’s style lends itself to savory dishes such as her favorite Pesce alla Pasta (Fish with Pasta).

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Posted on March 28, 2009 - by admin - 1 comment

Adelena from Casola, Napoli

Adelena Masana was born and raised in Naples, in the Campania region of Italy which is known for its rich history, art, culture and gastronomy. She learned to cook from both of her grandmothers and her mother. She remembers the rustic Neapolitan cuisine of her childhood fondly. The first dish she learned to prepare was Pasta Fagioli and then a sweet classical dessert called Pastiera. 

She came to America in 1990 and took up residence in Brooklyn. Her favorite recipe is Tagliatelle alla Mantavana, but she loves everything about preparing a full-course traditional dinner with pasta, salads, meat and dessert.  Of her six children, it is one of her sons who carries on the tradition of cooking back home in Naples.

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Posted on March 28, 2009 - by admin - 2 comments so far

Rosaria from Chieti, Abruzzo

Rosaria Montaldo, a proud grandmother of two, has been cooking at Enoteca Maria since June of 2008. She was born in the region of Abruzzo in a small town in the province of Chieti. The region is known for its agriculture and producing wine, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, olives, vegetables, fruits and dairy products. Traditional products are saffron and liquorice.

Rosaria remembers her grandmother’s cooking well, since she grew up living in the same house. Lamb is a popular dish in the Abruzzo region and Rosaria enjoys preparing Costolette d’Agnello all Griglia—grilled lamb chops. Her favorite pasta dish is Maccheroni alla Chitarra—macaroni pasta made on a guitar-like instrument—another staple of Abruzzese cooking.

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