Mike Imprevento is not only an experienced personal injury attorney, a captain in the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office, and a radio talk show host, he’s a really good cook. It’s his passion and he loves sharing his favorite recipes with his listeners and they can’t get enough!
Dublin Coddle Dublin Coddle is a traditional Irish potato and sausage stew that slow cooks in the oven. It’s great for St. Patrick’s Day or any day you need comfort food! The Guiness is traditional, and the alcohol cooks off and you have that deep rustic flavor that complements the broth. I would use beef…
Lucky’s Crockpot Pasta e Fagioli This is an easy and filling cold weather recipe that is great all year. It is a staple in many Italian households. Always served with good crusty bread and would be a good first course in any season. Crock pots are our friend and are remarkably versatile. My good friend…
Chicken in Coconut Curry Sauce with Basil A change of pace today and a fusion dish that has elements of India and Thailand. Brought to you by a great home cook Stephanie Little who is a paralegal in the law firm of Breit Biniazan where we work. I have known her for almost 30 years…
Lucky’s Italian Wedding Soup My great friend Brian “Lucky” Luciano is a retired 27 year veteran of the Virginia Beach PD who also happens to be a trained chef and my co-host on the Sunday Gravy podcast on Spotify. Here he brings us a great Italian soup dish that will be a delicious addition to…
Emeril’s Crab Cakes Emeril Lagasse’s influence on home cooking in the US is undeniable. His influences are from New Orleans but he is Portuguese by descent and many of his recipes are of the fusion variety. One of our favorites here regionally is the crabcake and this is a different take. I made them yesterday…
Cod Braised in Tomato Sauce This is a hearty healthy dish that celebrates that awesome fusion of a cold water flaky and nutritious fish with a basic tomato sauce which absorbs the fish flavor in a surprisingly delicate way. It is an alternative to frying, breading and baking which in my opinion destroys not only…
Friday, September 13th Bucatini all ‘Amatriciana – A Roman Classic Marcella Hazan the legendary Italian chef who brought classic Italian cooking to the US traces the roots of this popular dish to the town of Amatrice outside of Rome. Notably absent is garlic which the locals state simply clashes with the heat of the chilis…
August 30th, 2024 Spaghetti Alla Puttanesca Last week we went into the deep end of the pool. This one is simple and incredibly popular. It was suggested by someone on the WNIS Facebook page and I was in full agreement. The dish hails from either Ischia or Naples and was invented around 1950. Like some…
Roman Braised Beef with Tomatoes To date I have focused on the cucina povera of my beloved Southern Italy where my ancestors settled and lived for generations. This dish is from the more prosperous North where beef and pork are more frequently encountered. It will take up an early Sunday morning and be ready by…
August 16th, 2024 Baked Fish with Potatoes Genoa Style This dish is one of my favorites. In Italy fishermen from Genoa and Liguria live hard lives but know how to prepare their catches. Many species are oily like Bluefish or Mackerel and do well with potatoes or braised in tomato sauce. The potatoes, garlic and…
August 9th, 2024 Lucky Luciano’s Stuffed Eggplant One of my dearest friends is Brian “Lucky” Luciano, who recently retired after over 25 years of service to the City of Virginia Beach as a Master Police Officer. He served as President and is currently Executive Director of the Virginia Beach Police Benevolent Association. He is my…
August 2nd, 2024 Linguine alle Vongole – Linguini with White Clam Sauce This dish, though a southern Italian favorite, has become so popular in the US that it is rarely left off of a menu regardless of the restaurant. It celebrates the freshness of the sea when you use locally sourced clams available in most…
July 26th, 2024 Goodfellas Sausage and Peppers The scene with Paul Cicero (Paul Sorvino) and his crew enjoying this old country classic outside is a slice of my past, minus the Mob. Summer nights had as much of this on the barbecue or the stove as the venerable hamburger and hot dog. The sausage can…
July 12th, 2024 Spaghetti di Tornola This recipe celebrates not only our abundant seafood here in Hampton Roads but also my native Calabria in Southern Italy, where my ancestors hail from, and to where I will someday return to live and die in the backyard like Michael Corleone—could be worse. I give tribute to one…
June 14th, 2024 Roasted Smoked Paprika Potatoes Ingredients: Extra virgin olive oil 1 pound yukon gold potatoes cut into even sized chunks Garlic cloves ½ tablespoon smoke paprika Salt and pepper Parsley Preparation: Cut your potatoes into even sized chunks and add to lightly salted, boiling water. Parboiling the potatoes will give them a nice…
June 14th, 2024 Antipasto Platter This is Italian freestyle and involves a festive platter, traditional ingredients, and your imagination. These items are spread on one or two platters and served with a basket of fresh bread. Recommended components of the best Father’s Day antipasto—use the best that you can find: Salume such as sopressata, pepperoni,…
June 14th, 2024 Arugula Salad with Hazelnut Brittle Ingredients: 1 bag arugula Shaved parm or pecorino (however much you like) Even goat cheese would be good with this. Hazelnut brittle (recipe below) The Best Vinaigrette (recipe below) Hazelnut Brittle Ingredients: This will make more than you need for the salad, but store it in an…
June 7th, 2024 Spring Risotto & Chicken Broth Homemade broth is something I always have in the freezer and make it in big batches. It’s the basis of so many recipes and using something homemade always has the most flavor. There are a ton of recipes out there on how to make broth, but this…
May 24th, 2024 Orecchiette con Cima di Rapa Calabrians like simple food and frequently combine vegetables with pasta and cheese . This pasta is “little ears” and is found in our local stores. Use broccoli rabe, kale, broccolini, or any green you like. My daughter made this in Siderno this week. Ingredients: Large bunch of…
May 17th, 2024 Polpette Al Sugo This Calabrian recipe uses a simple mix for the meatballs, and they are cooked in the sauce gently and slowly. Portions are flexible. Use your judgement on how much to fold in for the polpette—meatballs. We made this on Tuesday and served it Wednesday night after placing it in…
May 3rd, 2024 Hunter Style Chicken I came across a variation of this dish in the digital cloud somewhere years ago and modified it to make it easier and frankly tastier for a wide range of palates. This uses as a base Marcella Hazans Basic Tomato Sauce recipe. Ingredients: Basic Tomato Sauce- see previous postings-…
April 26th, 2024 Traditional Italian Frittata This dish is rumored to be the result of chefs using leftovers to create the ultimate egg dish. It can be infused with whatever you want to use as long as it is in balance. My favorite serves 2-3, or only one of my obese relatives Ingredients: 6-8 eggs…
April 19th, 2024 Panzanella Ingredients: Ripe tomatoes (Roma quartered or good large cherry tomatoes halved) Red onion Italian country bread (hard crust with soft center) The best olive oil you can afford Sea salt Good Red wine vinegar Fresh basil Optional… halved artichoke hearts, drained canned chickpeas (ceci) or quality mozzarella rounds. Preparation: Prepare and…
April 12th, 2024 Tomato Sauce Recipe Ingredients: 2 cups tomatoes, in addition to their juices (for example, a 28-ounce can of San Marzano whole peeled tomatoes) 5 tablespoons butter 1 onion, peeled and cut in half Salt Preparation: This is Marcella Hazan’s excellent basic tomato sauce recipe that I modified. Add a couple cloves of…