La Bella Vita Cucina

BEST Zucchini Recipes

It's Zucchini Season! August and the end of summertime are some of the best times of the year in the kitchen. Our gardens are overflowing with delicious, fresh vegetables just waiting to be used in our favorite as well as new recipes. Zucchini is always included in our garden, and even if you don't garden, I can guarantee that your local farmers' market or food store will have plenty of zucchini available. And like us, there are lots of friends who'll share the zucchini love by gladly ...

For the third day of my visit to Chicago, my son and I hung out with friends and relaxed. He had big plans for us in the evening with reservations at one of not only Chicago's top Italian restaurants, but also one of the most notable Italian eateries in the entire nation, Osteria Langhe. With that level of accolades and recognitions, I knew that we were in for a real treat! Osteria Longhe is a small, more intimate place with tables for small groups, mostly for two people, but I did see ...

Italian Food in Chicago: Day Two, Little Italy, Bari and D’Amato’s

If you truly want to get a feel for the real Italian deal in the ‘windy city’, you have to visit Little Italy in Chicago. Or what’s still left of it as America’s ethnic neighborhoods change, shift, and gentrify. While some people long for the old days, the only thing that is constant is change….

Italian Food In Chicago: Day One

If you’re looking to explore Chicago’s Italian food eateries and places to experience, I’ve got you covered in this series. On my way to Chicago for a whirlwind Italian food tour, I had a layover for a few hours in the Atlanta Airport. So I stopped in A sweet little gem, Café Intermezzo. This hot…

Peach Panettone Parfaits with Mascarpone Cream

Fresh peaches from the orchards of South Carolina are filling the roadside stands, farmers’ markets, and food stores. There’s nothing like biting into a ripe peach with its sweet juices just dripping out! Extra napkins always required! Now that’s an image of summer that’s classic! If appearance is important when eating peaches, then this recipe,…

The Best Grilled Turkey Breasts Marinated in Garlic, Soy, and Ginger

It’s grilling season, and almost time for state fairs to get underway. And you know what that means? There are lots of good eats at fairs, though not always the most healthy food. And then there is the food offered from home cooks who compete for blue ribbons for the best recipes of the year!…