Parmigiano-Reggiano Night in Italy

Last night while I was soothing a jet-lagged toddler and searching for lost luggage, thousands of Italians were sitting down to eat one dish all across the country. It was a culinary act of solidarity in support of the cheese producers recently devastated by an earthquake in which they lost millions of dollars of aging cheese.

Read on and enjoy the recipe for what all of Italy was eating here:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt2012/10/27/163700590/for-the-love-of-cheese-diners-unite-in-italy?sc=17&f=1001

SactoMoFo: Food Truck Madness in Sacramento this Weekend!

Last summer I ate my way through the San Francisco Street Food Festival which was FABULOUS!  Well, if you are in Sacramento this weekend, you have a chance to take part in the fun... just head over to Fremont Park on Saturday afternoon. SactoMoFo is taking over the park, and you'll have a chance to enjoy the best of Sacramento's food truck cuisine as well as some of San Francisco's best who are bringing their wares to the Delta.

Where: Fremont Park (16th and Q) in Sacramento
When: Saturday, April 30 (Noon - 6 pm)
Cost: Just pay for what you eat -- there's no admission charge.
Tip: Bring cash!  Some food trucks take credit cards, but cash makes everything easier.

Who to look for?
There are many Sacramento-based food trucks headed to the festival including The Miniburger Truck and Drewski's Hot Rod.  But also look out for some of SF's finest who will be driving up.
My faves?

• Spencer-on-the-Go:  this food truck is often parked on my block and serves French food including escargot and the most amazing truffle burger... OMG!  And save room for the chocolate pudding -- a real, honest-to-God steamed pudding.  Yum!  
• Chairman Bao:  this truck also often sets up shop across from my apartment. If you like fabulous steamed buns filled with pork and other yummy goodness, you'll LOVE Chairman Bao.  I love the pork buns, but I've never been disappointed by the Chairman.  
• Seoul on Wheels:  Korean tacos.  Eat them.  

Make your way to the Central Valley this weekend to eat well!

Venice's Carnivale Sweets: Frittelle

Carnivale begins tomorrow (February 26, 2011), and when I was in Venice the city was putting on her best clothes and getting ready.  One of the city's traditional Carnivale sweets is a fried pastry, the yummy frittelle.  Resembling a doughnut, these scrumptious sweets come in several tasty varieties.

The most traditional Venetian version incorporates currants or raisins and orange peel into a heavier dough that is fried.  However, bakeries are filled with the decadent treats in a range of tempting flavors including apple and cinnamon.  There is also a lighter, filled variety (much like a cream puff, but yummier) which may be filled with chantilly cream, chocolate, ricotta cheese, or even Nutella.

Other parts of Italy also enjoy Frittelle with regional differences.  Check out Divina Cucina's recipe for the Tuscan version:  Frittelle di Riso (Rice Fritters).

And the City of Venice provides an easy recipe for the traditional Frittelle as well as another Canivale treat, Galani:  Frittelle e Galani.

Headed to Venice for Carnivale?  Be sure to make time for a cafe and a Frittelle during your visit!  And come back next week for our Carnivale Giveaway!