I Wish I Were A Prosciutto

It's Book Club Day! Sandra and Martin reflect on the PBS American Masters special about the Mother of Italian food in America, Marcella Hazan. Then they explore 2 books by Marcella, The Classic Italian Cook Book and Marcella's Italian Kitchen. Then Martin serves a plate of pasta with Marcella's famous tomato sauce. Come celebrate Italian Heritage Month with Marcella, Sandra and Martin.

#MarcellaHazan #ItalianHeritage...

We are pleased and proud to announce that we are finalists for a Signal Award in the Individual Episode - Best Guest category. The episode is with Lidia Bastianich from early November 2024. We enjoy a dynamic conversation with Lydia about her PBS special Lidia Celebrates America: Gamechangers, how she met Julia Child, how she raised her children while running her businesses, and how much she loves her grandchildren. In addition to ...

Sandra and Martin discuss the Macaroni Riots of 1914, which took place in Federal Hill, an Italian American enclave, in Providence Rhode Island. The catchy name belies the important issues that moved so many citizens to violence. In honor of the anniversary of the Macaroni Riots, Martin serves some delicious pasta piselli. Then they speak with Martin's mother about happy child memories in Rhode Island from the late 1940s.

#Feder...

Only Murders in the Building is back, and Sandra and Martin have an engaging conversation with Teddy Coluca, the veteran character actor who portrays Lester the Doorman. They'll talk about Teddy's outstanding acting career, doing theatre in the Bronx, growing up in Brooklyn and New Jersey, and most importantly Italian American food. Sandra also asks Teddy to introduce her to Martin Short.

#TeddyColuca #OnlyMurdersinTheB...

Martin reports on his trip to San Diego. He briefly explores Little Italy where he learns about a true hero, John Basilone. In the main section, Sandra and Martin speak with Michele Scicolone, celebrated author of many cookbooks, countless magazine articles, and curator of Italian Food Culture. Among her many credits, she is created all the recipes for The Sopranos Family Cookbook as Compiled by Artie Bucco. And finally, Martin s...

Sandra and Martin speak with Mary Ann Esposito, one of the most celebrated television cooks and a valued conservator of Italian and Italian American culinary traditions. She'll share stories, talk about how she came to be an expert on Italian cuisine, her extraordinary vegetable garden, the joys of Italian food and home cooking, and even her favorite style of prosciutto,Mary Ann Esposito is the creator and host of the nationall...

Sandra and Martin reflect on their recent visit to the Italian American Museum on Mulberry Street in New York, where they met the celebrated cook, Mary Ann Esposito, host of the PBS classic Ciao Italia. The main section is all about prosciutto di parma and they sample the finest: Galloni Riserva. Afterwards they have an engaging conversation about the Galloni prosciutto with Kim Sayid. Kim is an Italian food expert and has worked...

Sandra takes her brother and sister-in-law on a series of Bronx adventures that began on Arthur Avenue and ended in a tire shop on the Southern Boulevard. Martin and Sandra eat a variety of treats from Wave Hill Bakery in Norwalk. In the main section, they speak with Steve Solomon, a college friend of Martin's. Steve is an outstanding bread baker and pizza maker.

Italian Food, Italian American Food, Mike's Deli, Arthur C...

Sandra and Martin discuss the new Netflix film Nonnas. They also explore 3 distinctive books: a novel, The Italian Party, 101 Beautiful Towns in Italy - Shops and Crafts, and Made in Italy. These books bring them to the medieval town of Volterra famous for its alabaster workshops and home to a distinctive style of pizza. This leads them to Citarella, a high end grocery store in Greenwich, Connecticut that makes a delicious pizza ...

Sandra and Martin indulge in a cornucopia of Italian snacks from Brookfield and Norwalk in Connecticut's Fairfield County. They wash them down with a nice bottle of Chianti. Then, Anthony Angrisani of Arthur Cantina Wine and Liquor gives them a primer on this quintessential Italian wine.

On the menu: rice balls, prosciutto balls, barley balls, potato croquettes, mozzarella caroza, grilled artichoke, Roman style sourdough br...

Sandra and Martin talk about how Kennett Square, Pennsylvania became the mushroom capital of America. In the spirit of mushrooms, Martin serves a mushroom risotto, and mushrooms and sausage. In the main section, they speak with Martin's mom who recalls an extraordinary trip to Italy in 1958. Her journey begins innocently enough with a can of mushrooms from Kennett Square, Pennsylvania which ultimately brings her to the funeral...

Martin finally makes his first pizza rustica. Then Martin serves a Pesto Pantesco, a savory recipe from the Sicilian Island of Pantelleria. In the main section, Sandra and Martin speak with John Savittieri, a former bespoke furniture maker who created a distinctive importing business A&J Savittieri. The company imports salts, herbs, spices, and most importantly, the delectable capers of Pantelleria. Don't listen to this ep...

Sandra and Martin enjoy an Italian picnic featuring Prosciutto Balls, Pizza Rustica, and Golfetta from AS Fine Foods & Catering of Monroe, CT and pizza and ricotta pie from Jennie's Pizzeria also of Monroe.

In the main section, they speak with Martin's Aunt Rossana about Easter traditions from Ortona, Italy. Then she teaches them a number of delightful idiomatic phrases from Ortona.

Il Gioia, Easter, Holy Thursday, Pi...

It's Valentines Day! Sandra and Martin discuss the Italian docudrama Luisa Spagnoli - Queen of Chocolate which chronicles the life of the celebrated founder of Perugina Chocolates, the creator of Baci candy, and the founder of Louisa Spagnoli fashion. In the main segment, they speak with Martin's Mom about his Nonno Tom's poetry, his Grandma Alba's raviolis, and the profound love between his maternal grandparents.

#B...

Sandra and Martin talk about authentic Chicago thin-crust pizza including Vito and Nick's Pizzeria and Johnny's at La Grange Park. Then they sample thin-crust pizza Connecticut-style from Riko's. In the main section, they speak with Rico Imbrogno, the founder of the ever popular, ever growing Riko's Pizza. Rico talks about what inspired him to open Riko's, his commitment to quality, his love of community, and hi...