Blog entries from Barry

Unsavory Adventures (The Filetto Fish Episode)

Barry Frangipane — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 02:32:35 +0100

Have you ever gone out for seafood and been disappointed in the lack of freshness? Taste the difference as we find a way to get the freshest fish, straight from the water to our plate.

I prefer to eat seafood at Dalla Marisa in Venice, along Rio Cannaregio. But in this episode, I catch my own. Join me in search of the rare Filetto Fish. This headless, scaleless delicacy can be eaten straight out of the water (after you remove the hook). Grab your fishing tackle and waRead More...

An Interview with the Top Chef of Cipriani's

Barry Frangipane — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 01:29:18 +0100

Cipriani's Venice – the name brings to mind the famous Harry's Bar started by Giuseppe Cipriani, and the Cipriani restaurants in Venice, New York, and London.

Behind these great restaurants is a great chef – Renato Piccolotto. Born in the province of Treviso, Italy, Renato got his start at 17 working for Guiseppe Cipriani in Asolo. He joined the kitchen at the Cipriani Venice in 1970. His 40 years of experience at Cipriani, including 20 years of spectacular dishes as execuRead More...

The Best Restaurant in Venice?

Barry Frangipane — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 10:38:22 +0100

Tratoria da'a Marisa

Quite often, when stuffy restaurant reviewer types come to Venice, they will pick someplace like the restaurant at Hotel Danieli, Cipriani's, or Da Fiore as the “best” restaurant in Venice. While the last two are certainly wonderful restaurants, and deserve their worldwide acclaim, I wRead More...

Unsavory Adventures (The French Toast Episode)

Barry Frangipane — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 02:33:52 +0100

In this episode I attempt to make a gourmet breakfast out of fast food French Toast Bricks. Inspired by celebrated Italian chef Fabrizio Schenardi of Piemonte's French Toast, this meal is created out of simple ingredients everyone carries with them to a fast food restaurant. Well, I do, anyway!

So enjoy by clicking on the video above. Then leave me a comment here on my blog - What fast food chain should I visit next? Thanks! - Barry

Unsavory Adventures (The Sundae Pie Episode)

Barry Frangipane — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:31:04 +0100

In this episode I attempt to make a gourmet dessert out of a fast food piece of pie. While it is nothing like Dolce Debbie's Ricotta Pear Torta, it is certainly better than the "out of the box" pie. (I had to eat three pieces to get this video right!)

So enjoy the video by clicking on the video above. Then leave me a comment - What fast food chain should I visit next? Thanks! - Barry

Unsavory Adventures (The Burger Episode)

Barry Frangipane — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:42:19 +0100

Click here to watch the Burger Episode!

While my favorite way of eating is undoubtedly on a terrace somewhere above Positano, Italy with chef Dolce Debbie providing the meals, on occasion I have to eat at a fast food "restaurant" here in the USA. This is the first in a set of videos where I have fun trying to make gRead More...

Cutting the Mustard in Italy

Barry Frangipane — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 02:01:27 +0100

The Italians are quite fond of the local cheeses from the Robiola of Piemonte to the Pepato of Sicily. Only a small portion of these cheeses make it to the cheese stores (and even less to the grocery stores) in the United States.

In many parts of Italy the locals enjoy their cheese with Mostarda. Mostarda is a product reseRead More...

Christmas in Venice

Barry Frangipane — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:44:48 +0100

Snowfall in Venice

Over-commercialization of Christmas has become the phrase we use to describe this holiday celebration in the United States. Long before Halloween, we start to hear Christmas carols in the malls throughout the 50 states. So our first Christmas in Italy was a bit of a culturRead More...

Five Great Local Restaurants in Venice

Barry Frangipane — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:26:29 +0100

As a past resident of Venice, people frequently write me and ask for the name of a good local Venetian restaurant. Here is a good selection of five truly local restaurants, frequented more often by Venetians than by tourists. Other than at Tre Archi, reservations are pretty much required for dinner, less so for lunch, but a simple Read More...

Tartufi Morra - THE White Truffle Store

Barry Frangipane — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:16:39 +0100

As the white truffle season draws to a close, I think back and reflect upon an interview I had with Alessandro Bonino at the famous Tartufi Morra truffle store in Alba (Piemonte, Italy). He recalls the time when the founder of the store, Giacomo Morra sent the largest white truffle ever (at that time) to President Truman as a gift. Legend has it that Mr. Morra received a letter from the President stating, “Thank you for the potato. Unfortunately it must have gone bad during the jRead More...

5 Reasons Venice is Sinking (It's not the water) and 6 Reasons to go anyway

Barry Frangipane — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:33:29 +0100

Five Reasons Venice is Sinking (It’s not the high water)

Venice’s Population is Elderly and Dying

The population of Venice is just over 60,000 and shrinks by 3 to 5% every year. The population is elderly, and is not being replaced.

Jobs are Disappearing

As real commerce is replaced by souvenir shops and bad restaurants, hiRead More...

The Alba White Truffle Fair is Here!

Barry Frangipane — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:22:30 +0100

Every year foodies worldwide wait in anticipation of the opening of the most prestigious white truffle fair in the world – here in Alba, Italy. That time has arrived!

Watch the video below, then look at the pictures of this incredible festival!

Winter truffles are everywhere, as Read More...

Secrets of the Blue Grotto

Barry Frangipane — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 15:15:19 +0100

Are you one of the many who dream of visiting the Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzura) on the Isle of Capri just off of the Amalfi Coast in Italy? I was too.

The Blue Grotto is a seemingly magical cave on Capri. When inside, the light coming from outside the cave reflects oRead More...

Buying White Truffles in Alba

Barry Frangipane — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:06:47 +0100

It’s the best time of year for foodies in Italy. The Barbera grapes are being harvested, the Nebbiolo will be picked soon, but right now, we can find winter (white) truffles being sold on the streets and in markets all around Piemonte! Of course the center of activity is in Alba, where people are getting ready for tRead More...

White Truffle Season Has Started

Barry Frangipane — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:14:01 +0100

Italy’s culinary prize, the white truffle, comes into season from late September until mid November each year. Chefs and celebrities from around the world will bid thousands of Euro for these underground tubers, enhancing the flavor of everything from breakfast to desserts.

Watch the video aRead More...

The Masks of Venice

Barry Frangipane — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 18:54:47 +0100

Debbie and Barry at Carnevale

To wear a mask was considered a sign of freedom and breach of all social rules imposed by the Republic of Venice. In Venice it embodied - more than anywhere else - the need of playing, of gambling and enjoying life. In fact, Oscar Wilde once said, "Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him maskRead More...

Barolo Wine Festival 2009

Barry Frangipane — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 14:25:14 +0100

September is harvest season in Piemonte. Barolo, the King of Wines is first, and the White Truffle of Alba is the next in line. As usual, the Italians welcome these harvests with festivals!

This year, the festival starts in Vergne, a pictoresque hamlet between Barolo and Narzole, with the FESTA DELL'AMICIZIA E DEL BON VIN (festival of frRead More...

A Tavola (At the Table)

Barry Frangipane — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 22:00:00 +0100

Italian family life always centers around the dining room table. It is the one place where the entire family gathers for extended, if heated discussions about life, and about living it.

When I was young (and living in Florida), Mamma would have a feast every Sunday. Il Nonno and La Nonna (Grandma and Grandpa) woulRead More...