Eats
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January is a time of reckoning and readjustment. Many of us emerge on January 1st to the realization that the festivities and feasts of the preceding weeks have taken their toll, and the final night of the year may have been the one of greatest excess. The same voice seems to whisper to many of us on New Year’s Day, urging some restraint and suggesting that we rearrange our dietary priorities.
Challenging, but not impossible. I want to share with you some of my thoughts for attaining satisfying, authentic Italian flavors without pouring on the fat and calories. Consider puréeing vegetable or bean soups (which cheat caloric fate), enriching them with extra virgin olive oil. Create a variety of soups from your favorite winter vegetables. A vegetarian option better known in Italy as Cucina Verde is a winter fruit carpaccio, where your favorite greens are lightly tossed in an aged balsamic vinegar and paired with shaved parmigiano reggiano cheese – makes for a very satisfying meal!
It’s no secret that seafood is a popular source of protein among the health conscious. Salmon, although a northern European favorite, has managed to find a home in contemporary Italian cooking. A combination of seared salmon with a ragú of lentils or borlotti beans makes for a comforting, yet celebratory food experience. Pristine halibut with braised escarole brings back childhood memories of my mother cooking in the kitchen on Sunday mornings. A pan roasted trout with Swiss chard or spinach can satisfy most gastronomically-challenged individuals.
The trickiest category during this month of resolutions is desserts. Try to keep things simple with warm, stewed fruits cooked in red wine and fragrant spices. Consider the well-known lemon granite (shaved lemon ice) or use your favorite citrus, such as an orange or a lime.
With Super Bowl Sunday quickly approaching, many of us use this as a chance to indulge in so-called “junk food”. I strongly suggest an alternative. Quartino will be throwing a ‘Cheeky Bowl’ party on February 1st. Join us for the VIP reception from 3-4:30 p.m. and stay throughout the game. The veal meatball sliders ($1 each!) with homemade giardiniera are guaranteed to maintain your waistline. So, mangia!
