Located at 934 Hope St. in Stamford, Olio is a favorite restaurant of ours not only because it’s practically in our backyard, but because the food is fantastic!
Located at 934 Hope St. in Stamford, Olio is a favorite restaurant of ours not only because it’s practically in our backyard, but because the food is fantastic! My husband and I take advantage of their take-out option at least a couple of nights a week and are never disappointed.
Olio Restaurant on Hope
Chef/owner Steve Costanzo, along with his business partner Moira Hyland, have created a wonderful menu that includes a lot of locally produced and/or organic items. The menu changes with the seasons to offer foods such as fish, meat, poultry, pasta, and salads at the peak of their availability. The food is fresh and you simply cannot go wrong with anything on the menu. The spare ribs are to die for! Olio offers a warm atmosphere and reasonable prices as well.
Olio’s dining room. Image via Bon Vivant.
Olio is open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday and for brunch on Sunday. They only accept dinner reservations for groups of six or more, so keep that in mind when planning a visit. On Tuesdays, Olio diners enjoy 1/2 price bottles of wine with the purchase of an entree while on Wednesday evenings the menu features the Chef’s special 3 course meal.
Ravioli SpecialSpare ribs. Image via CTbites.Bread pudding. Image via CTbites.
To see Oilo’s full menu or to learn about their catering services, visit their website. You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.
Cacciucco is one of my favorite meals, especially when the weather turns colder.
Guest Post from Debbie Aidinis
Cacciucco is one of my favorite meals, especially when the weather turns colder. I originally had this for dinner years ago in a restaurant and loved it. I always try to make meals I enjoy, so I searched through cookbooks and found a few recipes that were close to the restaurant meal I’d liked. This is a hearty stew that tastes just as good -if not better- the next day. I serve it with crusty bread seasoned with an olive oil mixture and placed in oven until it is crispy. This bread is delicious when dipped in the Cacciucco broth.
Crusty Bread
For this recipe, I prefer to use prawns, when available, with the shells still on. The flavor is superb in the stew. Another option is using lobster tails with the shells on. I also like to use Halibut as the fish, which is a very mild white fish. As always, everyone has preferences when cooking with seafood and this dish lends itself to many variations in the type of fish used. The amount of seafood used can also be adjusted to your own liking.
Cacciucco — Mediterranean Fish Stew
Ingredients:
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 stalk of celery with leaves, finely chopped
1 large carrot, finely chopped
2 oil packed anchovies
1 can (14 ½ oz) San Marzano plum tomatoes, drained, liquid reserved
Pinch of Saffron threads
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp dried thyme
½ tsp red pepper flakes
1 cup white wine
4 cups fish stock (see Note)
1 cup water
1 bay leaf
1 sprig rosemary
1 ½ to 2 lb white fish fillet, such as Halibut, skin removed
12 little neck clams, cleaned
12 black mussels, cleaned
8 jumbo shrimp or prawns shelled and deveined
Sea Salt
Black Pepper
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
Warm Crusty Bread
Optional:
Sea Scallops
Lobster Tails with shells, cut in half lengthwise
Note: If fish stock is not available, you can substitute 2 cups (16fl oz) bottled clam juice plus 2 cups vegetable stock.
Heat the olive oil in a heavy deep skillet. Add onion, celery with leaves, and carrot to skillet and sauté. Add red pepper flakes and thyme. Chop anchovies and add to skillet. Sauté until anchovies have melted, about 3 minutes. Add wine and simmer until reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, breaking them up with your hands or a wooden spoon. Add the fish stock and 1 cup of water. Add the saffron, bay leaf, rosemary, basil, and parsley. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 15 minutes. Add some of the reserved tomato juice if you want more liquid or tomato flavor. Adjust seasoning if needed.
Cut the fish into 2 inch pieces, add to broth, and simmer for 5 minutes. Add clams, mussels and shrimp. If using any additional seafood, add to mixture at this time. Cover and cook until shrimp is pink and clams and mussels have opened. Discard the bay leaf before serving.
Slice bread in half to open, and spread with a mixture of olive oil, chopped basil, parsley, black pepper. Place in the oven at 400 till crisp and brown. Cut bread into long pieces.
Ladle the stew into bowls, place bread on the side, and serve.
One night, my husband came home with three cake pops from Stick and Pop.
One night, my husband came home with three cake pops from Stick and Pop. He meant for our two daughters and me to each have one of these adorable little treats, but after taking one heavenly bite, I selfishly decided to keep them all to myself! I love chocolate and anything surrounded by chocolate, and these cake pops were too yummy to share!
Assorted cake pops from Stick and Pop.
These moist morsels of cake on a stick make the perfect treat for nearly any occasion. They are well packaged and great for kids, making them ideal party favors for birthdays or school functions. Any time I need a hostess or housewarming gift, I pick up an assortment of cake pops knowing they will be well received, unique, and appreciated. Stick and Pop offers a big selection of flavors and designs to mix and match for different events, from birthdays to weddings, and holidays from Christmas to Halloween.
Birthday CakeO’Hara: Coconut Cake in dark chocolate with coconut flakes.Wedding pops.
Stick and Pop also offers Minis, bite-sized versions of their delicious cake pops, and Cups, which are made from layers of cake, icing, chocolate, and toppings.
Cups!Johnny Cakes cup.
To place an order (they ship!) or see more flavors and varieties, visit the Stick and Pop website. You can also find them on Facebook!
On those evenings when I do have some more free time to plan and prepare a nice dinner, I usually turn to my Williams-Sonoma cookbooks.
I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before, but cooking is not something I often find time for in my busy schedule. As a matter of fact, I do so little cooking that I’ve been teased about burning water! The truth is, I can cook, I just can’t usually fit it into my daily routine of family and work.
On those evenings when I do have some more free time to plan and prepare a nice dinner, I usually turn to my Williams-Sonoma cookbooks. I love the imagery in these books as well as the recipes themselves.
Williams-Sonoma SaladWilliams-Sonoma Grilling
These dishes can be prepared by anyone and really make you feel like an accomplished cook. There’s such a nice sense of satisfaction that comes with presenting your family with a meal that looks and tastes amazing! Williams-Sonoma has a great brand in general, from the cookbooks to cookware to prepared foods, they offer high quality products that both look great and perform very well.
Grilled PearsChicken with Mustard and Walnut CoatingSpices, oh my! My mother uses basil in almost everything she prepares.
Browsing through all of the gadgets and kitchen products offered by Williams-Sonoma just makes you crave the idea of cooking. From a design perspective, I can easily imagine filling a kitchen with these great items. They are thoughtful and smart, and just so well presented.
Le Creuset Signature Deep Saute Pan in Ocean: What a great color!Bamix Professional SliceSy AttachmentLittledeer Cooking Utensil SetRösle Vegetable Chopper – Quick and easy!Le Creuset Winged Corkscrew Wine Opener, Antique Chrome – The best gadget we should all have in our kitchen drawer!Cuisinart Soup Maker & Blender
Do you have a favorite source for recipes and/or kitchen gadgets?
With the cooler weather upon us, we start to look forward to meals that are warm and hearty. Veal Rollatini is a great dish for this season.
Guest Blog by Debbie Aidinis
With the cooler weather upon us, we start to look forward to meals that are warm and hearty. Veal Rollatini is a great dish for this season. It may take a little time to prepare, but it is well worth the effort. For those who do not eat veal, this dish can also be done with chicken. I like to serve this with a marsala sauce and a mushroom risotto on the side. There are many good packaged risottos available, so you do not have to make your own from scratch unless you have the time to do so.
Mushroom Risotto
With this recipe, I have found that using specific ingredients is a must. For example, the cheese. I use an Italian Scamorza, belonging to the same family as Mozzarella, but it is firmer, drier and has more flavor. It melts evenly, making it perfect for this dish. You will probably have to go to an Italian deli that carries specialty items to buy this cheese. Make sure it is hard; if the cheese is soft, it is not ready to use. I also use Prosciutto di Parma, but not a domestic brand, which can be too salty. The Veal Demi Glace gives the sauce a good flavor, but if you can’t find any you can use 1 cup veal stock in place of the water called for in the recipe.
Scamorza Cheese
I always enjoy going to Arthur Avenue in the Bronx to shop for the food I need. Mike’s Deli in the market is where I find the cheese and prosciutto, plus many other items. Biancardi’s is my stop for meats, and Madonia Bakery for excellent breads. On 187th Street, you will find Borgatti’s for fresh pasta and, of course, you cannot miss Egidio’s for some delicious Italian pastries. With so many stores to choose from, you definitely will not come home empty handed! It is a true culinary experience and well worth the trip in order to stock up on the best ingredients to make this Veal Rollatini dish a truly authentic and memorable meal.
Veal Rollatini
Veal Rollatini
Ingredients:
8 Veal cutlets, sliced and pounded very thin
1 Scamorza, sliced thin and cut in half or thirds, depending on size of the veal cutlets
½ to ¾ lb Procciutto di Parma, or enough to use 2 slices per cutlet
½ cup Seasoned breadcrumbs
¼ cup Grated Parmesan cheese
½ cup Marsala wine
¼ lb Shitake Mushrooms, sliced
2 Shallots, chopped
8 oz Vegetable stock
½ tsp Veal demi glace
1 cup Water
3 tbsp Butter
2 tbsp Olive oil
¼ cup Basil, finely chopped
¼ cup Parsley, finely chopped
1 Sprig of Rosemary
Salt and Pepper to taste
4” skewers
Directions:
In a bowl, mix together the breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, black pepper, and a small amount of the basil and parsley.
Place one veal cutlet on a flat surface and spread the breadcrumb mixture on the cutlet. Place 2 slices of prosciutto di Parma on top of the breadcrumb mixture, then place a slice of scamorza cheese on top, covering cutlet but not hanging over the sides of the cutlet. If the cheese is cut too thick, it will make the cutlet difficult to roll. Roll the cutlet and secure with skewers. Repeat with remaining cutlets.
In a large, deep skillet, melt 2 tbsp of butter with 2 tbsp of olive oil over medium heat. Season veal rolls with black pepper and place in skillet. Cook, turning rolls to brown on all sides. The total cooking time will depend on the size of the rolls, but typically a few minutes per side or total of not more than 15 minutes is sufficient. Remove rolls and keep warm.
To the same pan, add 1 tbsp of butter, the shallots, and the mushrooms and sauté until tender. You may need to add a bit more butter while they cook. Next, add the marsala wine and cook for a few minutes. Stir in the vegetable stock, 1 cup water, and veal demi glaze. Let mixture cook, stirring often. Season with salt and pepper, add rosemary sprig, remaining basil and parsley, and let simmer for 5 minutes.
Place veal rolls and juices they’ve exuded into the sauce, turning to coat, then let simmer for about 30 minutes. You may need to add more water or stock, especially if your rolls are on the large side. Before serving, remove the rosemary sprig.
Place Veal Rolls on a platter with mushroom sauce. Serve with a risotto, salad, and a warm crusty bread.
I often find myself turning to quick and delicious options, like a beautiful cheese plate.
As much as I love good food, I am not much of a cook myself. More often than not, you’ll find me standing in the kitchen at 7:00 in the evening asking myself, “What’s for dinner?” If I had the time, I’d definitely do more cooking! Instead, I find myself turning to quick and delicious options, like a beautiful cheese plate rounded out with fresh fruit, bread, and maybe some greens for good measure. If you run into us at Fairway Market, we’ll probably be standing at the cheese counter!
A lovely cheese plate! (Image via The Sprouted Kitchen)
Our enjoyment of these simple meals centered around good cheese has led us to branch out from what’s available at the local market. One place we enjoy right in our own back yard is Napa and Company in Stamford. Their excellent menu is accented by a variety of artisanal cheeses, from aromatic cheeses like Morbier and Epoisses to sharp varieties like Manchego and Tarentaise. The cheese menu includes wine suggestions as well. With such an assortment of cheeses to sample, it’s easy to discover new flavors and expand your palette!
Napa and CompanyNapa and Company
Another fantastic place to dine on cheese or shop for cheeses to bring home with you is Artisanal Bistro in NYC. This is a great stop for anyone in NY who loves cheese, wine, and good food. When you step into Artisanal Bistro, it’s like walking into a different era. I love the retro vibe, with art deco lights and a tin ceiling.
Artisanal BistroArtisanal Bistro
Artisanal Bistro’s cheese and wine pairings are really interesting and the Cheese Shop gives visitors the opportunity to purchase hand crafted cheeses from around the world or impressive cheese platters. Cheese boxes and baskets make wonderful gifts and include gourmet treats chosen to best complement the included cheeses.
Cheeses at Artisanal BistroThe cheese counter at Artisanal Bistro.
Chances are, there’s a local cheese shop near you. Why not stop in and try a new variety of cheese or bring some home for a simple, quick dinner? If you’d like to learn more about the cheese shops above, both Napa and Company and Artisanal Bistro are on Facebook.
One of my favorite meals to make anytime of the year is Linguine with Seafood. This is one dish that we all enjoy as a family!
Guest post from Debbie Aidinis.
One of my favorite meals to make anytime of the year is Linguine with Seafood. This is one dish that we all enjoy as a family. I typically prepare this meal with clams, shrimp and lobster. When the local fish market has fresh cleaned calamari, I will add it as well. Mussels and scallops can also be used. I like that this dish can be done with a variety of seafood, with any combination being used depending on availability and preference.
Growing up, we always had the benefit of a garden with fresh vegetables, herbs and fruit. My Grandfather immigrated here from Reggio Calabria, Italy, and brought his knowledge of gardening, which has been passed down through the generations, with him. My family still has the garden, though it’s not as large as the original and there are always fresh tomatoes and vegetables to go around.
Knowing what a difference it makes, I like to use the freshest ingredients when I cook, using garden herbs that I grow. In the summer, I will use fresh plum tomatoes or cherry tomatoes. Using cherry tomatoes will give you a much lighter sauce, but you will need quite a lot. There is nothing like using fresh pasta and I highly recommend cooking with it. As always, I do not measure my ingredients so the following amounts are estimated and may need to be adjusted. The amount of seafood used may also be adjusted according to what is being used to make the dish.
Ingredients:
½ cup Olive Oil
A large bunch of Green Onions or one large Yellow Onion, chopped
½ tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
Course Black Pepper, to taste
Salt, to taste
1 cup of White Wine
½ cup chopped Parsley
½ cup chopped Basil
3 dozen Littleneck Clams, scrubbed
1 lb cleaned and deveined Large Shrimp
½ to ¾ lb cooked Lobster Meat {usually 3 cooked Lobster Tails)
3 to 4 lbs fresh plum tomatoes, chopped, or 1 can 35oz San Marzano Plum Tomatoes
Or
3 to 4 pints fresh cherry tomatoes, whole, or 3 14oz cans Cherry Tomatoes
1lb Linguine
Locatelli Romano Cheese, freshly grated
1 loaf Ciabatta or crusty Italian Bread of choice
Optional:
Clove of minced garlic
1 to 2 lbs of Mussels
1lb of Sea Scallops
½ lb of cleaned Calamari sliced into ½ inch rings
Directions:
In a large, heavy skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat,then add the onions (and garlic if including) and cook till tender. Add the coarse black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Let mixture cook for few minutes, then add wine and tomatoes and bring to a boil, then simmer. If using cherry tomatoes, leave them whole and let them cook until they eventually break apart. Add the parsley, basil, and salt to mixture and let cook, occasionally stirring sauce.
Wash clams and steam in a separate pot. Clean shrimp and set aside. Cut Lobster into bite-sized pieces and set aside.
Once the sauce has cooked for about 30 minutes, add the shrimp and cook until pink, then add lobster meat and transfer the steamed clams with shells into the sauce. If using mussels, calamari or scallops, add them in with the shrimp
Boil water for pasta and cook as directed, reserving some liquid from the pasta. Place the pasta into a large, shallow bowl; add just enough of the reserved liquid to coat the pasta. Spoon seafood with sauce onto pasta and mix. Sprinkle some fresh chopped basil on top.
Ladle into individual bowls and top with fresh grated cheese. Serve with your favorite crusty bread. Enjoy!
We all have our go-to favorite meals for a quick dinner or a simple way to entertain guests, and mine certainly includes olive oil.
Perfect!
We all have our go-to favorite meals for a quick dinner or a simple way to entertain guests, and mine certainly includes olive oil. An arrangement of antipasto with oil for dipping is a simple, beautiful, and delicious way to end a hot summer day or feed guests without turning on the oven or stove. My husband and I (but especially my husband!) love to try new olive oils, so creating a simple meal with fresh foods and different olive oil varieties is something we do regularly. Besides being good for the soul, olive oil has the added benefit of being good for your health. Extra virgin olive oil has more monounsaturated fatty acids than other oils and also contains more polyphenols, which may have benefits for your heart.
Thelo EVOO, from GreeceChocolate infused olive oil. I think I’m in heaven!Ascolano Certified EVOO. Superb, award-winning quality.
Choosing an olive oil from the many varieties at the store can be a little overwhelming. What’s the difference between virgin and extra virgin? Do you want cold press or first press, and what about light olive oil? Generally speaking, extra virgin olive oil is the highest quality oil, made from olives that have been pressed to extract the oil without using any chemical means. Cold press indicates the oils have been extracted without any added heat, and first press is a rather meaningless term because olives are only pressed once. Virgin olive oil is produced the same way as extra virgin, but with a slightly higher acid content. For dressings and dipping, extra virgin olive oil is the way to go. Light olive oil is lighter in color with little flavor, making it a better choice for cooking. You don’t necessarily need to buy the most expensive olive oil to enjoy the best quality, but you do typically get what you pay for. I’d suggest choosing a light, less expensive oil for cooking and a higher quality extra virgin olive oil for everything else. When stored properly, away from light and heat, a bottle of olive oil will keep for about a year, so go ahead and splurge on a decent bottle!
If the thought of choosing a good olive oil is still intimidating, try looking for a shop that offers olive oil tastings. One I keep hearing so much about and can’t wait to visit myself is Olivette in Darien, Connecticut. Olivette carries over 20 varieties of high quality olive oils which are all available for tasting. When you find the perfect olive oil for your needs, it is bottled for you right there in the store. Olivette also has everything you need to complement your olive oil, such as fine balsamic vinegars, breads, olives, and other treats such as preserves, honey, and sea salts. It’s the perfect way to experience different oils and choose the right variety for your tastes without committing to an entire bottle up front.
Olivette Tasting RoomEVOO sampling at OlivetteGorgeous tasting area! I can’t wait to go in myself.
Do you have a favorite olive oil or a preferred way to use it?
Throughout summer and into the fall, one of the most enjoyable weekly events can be your local farmers market.
Throughout summer and into the fall, one of the most enjoyable weekly events can be your local farmers market. With the ever-increasing awareness of the benefits of organic foods, sustainable practices, and supporting local farmers, most towns and cities offer a farmers market featuring foods and other locally produced goods. When you buy from a farmers market, you’re not only supporting your own local economy and helping to ensure those vendors are able to stay in business. You’re also treating yourself to the freshest produce, most likely picked that very day, as well as hand crafted goodies like artisan breads, cheeses, local honey, handmade jams, preserves, and pickles, humanely raised meats, and free range eggs. Each market will have its own unique offerings depending on the locality and the time of year; produce available in the spring gradually gives way to summer and then fall fruits and vegetables. Each week you’ll find something new to enjoy.
Along with my family, I go to the High Ridge Road Farmer’s Market here in Stamford. My kids love all the fresh fruit and I like giving them this kind of a healthy choice. I think it’s good for them to see where some of their food comes from and to be able to meet the people who grow and harvest it.
I think it’s so great to see the kind of access to local foods you can have at a farmers’ market. When I was a kid, we used to go berry picking at Jones Farm in Shelton, CT. Nothing tastes better than berries you’ve just picked, warm from the sun and sweeter than anything you’d find at the grocery store. Going to a farmers’ market is like visiting all of your local farms at the same time.
Chances are, there’s a farmers’ market in your town or else very close by. You can visit Local Harvest to find a market in your area!
My mom is a very talented cook and gardener. She is also my new guest blogger! Please welcome Debbie Aidinis as she contributes her first post, her amazing tuna salad recipe.
My mom is a very talented cook and gardener. She is also my new guest blogger! Please welcome Debbie Aidinis as she contributes her first post, her amazing tuna salad recipe.–Amy
This is a great summer dish that can be a light main course on a very hot day or to start as an antipasto or appetizer. I am not one who measures the ingredients. If I follow a recipe, I will only do so at first and then make changes after I’ve made the dish a few times.
This Tuna Salad is a recipe I decided to try one night after having a similar dish at a restaurant. It is a lot like a scungili salad or a combination seafood salad. You can definitely substitute another seafood for the tuna.
You will need:
2 cans of Solid White Albacore prime fillet in water or Tonno, which is an Italian tuna
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 small onion, chopped (optional)
½ to ¾ cup green olives, pitted and sliced into halves
½ to ¾ cup large black olives, pitted and sliced into halves
1/3 cup 0live oil
Handful of fresh basil
Handful of fresh parsley
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Coarse black pepper, to taste
Salt to taste, optional
Romaine lettuce, for serving
To make:
Place the green and black olives and the tuna in the refrigerator until they are cold. Chop the celery and onion, if using, and place into a medium bowl. Slice the olives and add them to the bowl. Drain the tuna and pull it apart, then add this to your bowl as well.
In a food processor, chop the parsley and basil together. In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, parsley/basil mixture, black pepper, and lemon juice. Whisk together thoroughly and add to the tuna mixture. You may need to add a bit more olive oil, just to hold the ingredients together. Combine all ingredients well and season to taste with salt. Place in the refrigerator until chilled through.
For individual portions, place lettuce on each plate and top with tuna salad.
