Preparing food by hand brings me a connection to all who have cooked over a fire or on a stove, whether for simple sustenance, or in the discovery of the how and why of ingredients, [when in contact with heat], become a meal brought to the table.
Meals have been served from one pot hanging over the fire for centuries; the cooks added savory vegetables from the garden, spices from ancient trade routes, and meat or poultry from the woods. When I cook, I am connected to this melting pot of cuisines from around the world. There are many hands stirring the spoon while inspiring and guiding me to get it right!
Bon appétit,
Chef Darling
Pasta Bolognese (“Alla Ragu”)
Bolognese sauce, known in Italian as ragù alla bolognese, is a meat-based sauce originating from Bologna, Italy. In Italian cuisine, it is customarily used to dress “tagliatelle al ragù” and to prepare […]
Osso Buco “Milanaise”
The best-known version hails from Milan, where it is generally served with a vivid yellow saffron risotto, also made with bone marrow. Ossobuco is a Milanese speciality of cross-cut veal shanks braised […]
Anti Pasti the First Course Of an Italian Meal
Antipasto (plural antipasti) means “before the meal” and is the traditional first course of a formal Italian meal. Traditional antipasto includes cured meats, olives, peperoncini, mushrooms, anchovies, artichoke hearts, various cheeses (such […]
“Branzino con Verdura” or Sea Bass with Roasted Potatoes & Vegetables
In this simple preparation from Liguria, Italy, the subtle flavor and texture of branzino, or sea bass, are lightlighted. Striped bass and red snapper are also good prepared this way. Marjoram is […]
Delicious Cioppino Recipe
Cioppino is traditionally made from the catch of the day, which in San Francisco is typically a combination of Dungeness crab, clams, shrimp, scallops, squid, mussels, and fish all sourced from the […]
Meyer Lemon, Rosemary and Olive Roasted Chicken
I simply love the flavors this truly Mediterranean combination of ingredients brings to this dish. Serves 4 hearty portions Large rectangular or oval oven proof dish 3 Meyer or thin skinned lemons, […]
