Recession Busters: 10 under $10 at McCormick and Schmick Seafood Restaurant

As a comfort food restaurant critic examiner for Los Angeles, I was asked to sample the 10 under 10 menu.  The special is running nationwide at select locations.  Click below for more info:

 

 

 

(In Photo: Inner Harbor Baltimore Location)

Recession Busters: 10 under $10 at McCormick and Schmick Seafood Restaurant

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Festivals This Weekend

Every weekend in October

Butler’s Orchard in Germantown, MD

At 22200 Davis Mill Road an Annual Pumpkin Festival is held weekends throughout October, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pick a pumpkin; take a hayride; explore a hay maze; and enjoy crafts, food, and family activities.

 October 3rd

Oktoberfest Celebration at Whites Road Park in Lansdale, PA

Lansdale’s first annual Oktoberfest celebration will take place on Saturday, October 3rd from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at White’s Road Park. The festival will feature German food from area…

Sunday October 4th

Italian Family Festival at Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, CA

There will be music by a Sicilian Band and traditional dances by the Gypsy Folk Ensemble. Learn how to play bocce ball and enjoy delicious Italian food.

October 3rd & 4th

Oktoberfest at Corbett Field in Tuscon, Arizona

A FAMILY ORIENTED GERMAN FESTIVAL WITH ARTS & CRAFTS, MUSIC AND GERMAN FOOD. Visit the link below for more updates on Arizona Festivals: http://www.festivals-and-shows.com/arizona-festivals.html

 

 

In the Kitchen With Rocco DiSpirto

If you think Rocco is hot wait til you feast your eyes on the cooking talent of our Latin Chef coming to the Multi Cultural Cooking Network in November. 

*Top Notch Original Programming brought to you by Spectrum Entertainment,LLC.

Kick-Off Italian American Heritage Month at Oliva in Sherman Oaks

(Huge Portions of Bruschetta at Oliva Trattoria)

While dining with a group of six ladies, I had the opportunity to sample quite a few dishes at Oliva Trattoria in Sherman Oaks.  Read more below:

Kick-Off Italian American Heritage Month at Oliva in Sherman Oaks

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History of Gnocchi & Ancient Recipe

 

 

Gnocchi (English pronunciation: /ˈnɒki/; Italian: [ˈɲɔkːi]; singular gnocco) is the Italian name for a variety of thick, soft noodle or dumpling. They may be made from semolina, ordinary wheat flour, potato, bread crumbs, or similar ingredients. The smaller forms are called gnocchetti.

The word gnocchi means “lumps”, and may derive from nocchio, a knot in the wood,^[1] or from nocca (knuckle).^[2] It has been a traditional Italian pasta type of probably Middle Eastern origin since Roman times.^[3] It was introduced by the Roman Legions during the enormous expansion of the empire into the countries of the European continent. In the past 2000 years each country developed its own specific type of small dumplings, with the ancient Gnocchi as their common ancestor. In Roman times, gnocchi were made from a semolina porridge-like dough mixed with eggs, and are still found in similar forms today, particularly in Sardinia (where they do not contain egg, however, and are known as malloreddus).- Wikepedia

See this great link for recipe dating back to ancient recipe dating back to the 1300′s for gnocchi:  

http://www.annamariavolpi.com/page81.html

Learn about Cavatelli:

 http://www.multiculturalcookingnetwork.com/food-history/item/387-italy-about-cavetelli.html

Buca di Beppo Will Donate Proceeds to Lance Armstrong Foundation

LAS VEGAS, Sept. 28 /PRNewswire/ — On September 30 and October 1, the casual-dining Italian-eatery Buca di Beppo is giving guests a delicious opportunity to show their support for the Lance Armstrong Foundation’s LIVESTRONG Day. (source: prnewswire.com)

All Buca di Beppo locations nation-wide will participate in LIVESTRONG Day by donating a percentage of proceeds from each meal served to the foundation. When guests bring in a special flyer, Buca will donate 20% of the proceeds from the meal. To print out this special flyer visit www.bucadibeppo.com/pdf/LiveStrongFlyer.pdf.

To Read this article in full visit: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/buca-di-beppo-to-donate-proceeds-to-lance-armstrong-foundation-september-30-and-october-1-in-support-of-livestrong-day-62399362.html

Italian Meatball Recipe

http://www.recipezaar.com/Authentic-Italian-Meatballs-92095

SERVES 10 Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl by hand.
2. Use your bare hands for best results.
3. Roll meatballs to about the size of a golf ball.
4. Drop raw meatballs into large (I use a stock pot) pot of sauce.
5. (I have an incredible sauce recipe {#92096} I use for my meatballs).

6.  Simmer for about 3 hours.

Having a Taste For it, What is Food to You?

by Crystal A. Johnson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As a restaurant reviewer of Comfort food for the Los Angeles Examiner, I find that it is a tall order to review comfort food.  What is comfort food?  Many things to many people which bring them the comforts of home, culture or extended experiences. (Read more at link below.

 

http://www.examiner.com/x-9408-LA-Comfort–Soul-Food-Restaurant-Examiner~y2009m7d20-Having-A-Taste-for-It–What-Comprises-Your-Description-of-Comfort-Food

Dinner and A Movie: Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs

Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs is a great family film and a great excuse to extend the bonding experience over a plate of none other than meatballs.  If you don’t feel like cooking below are a few spots which are known in LA for having great meatballs.

Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs is based on a book which made its debut in 1978.  Although, I was a kid back then, it was too early for the story to have made its mark in children’s book history.  Although, if I speak to people just a few years younger than me at age 27 they will say, ” I love that book when I was a kid.”

Read the rest of the review at: http://wwww.examiner.com/x-9408-LA-Comfort–Soul-Food-Restaurant-Examiner~y2009m9d18-Dinner-and-A-Movie-with-Kids-Cloudy-With-A-Chance-of-Meatballs