This week moved fast, with flights connecting me from chicken fajitas at home to local gems like Rise Café, King Canary Brewing, Roost Kitchen + Coffee, and The Sinclair. A night at a brewery celebration and a Sunday poolside grill rounded out a flavorful journey.
Recipes
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Smoked Tri-Tip: A California BBQ Classic
This Smoked Tri-Tip is a California BBQ classic, cooked low and slow on a pellet smoker, then finished with a reverse sear for a perfect crust. Tender, juicy, and smoky, it’s the ultimate beef roast for backyard barbecues or weekend dinners.
Recipes
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Smoked White Sweet Potato Mash with Gouda
This Smoked White Sweet Potato Mash with Gouda combines earthy, mildly sweet potatoes with nutty cheese for a side dish that’s smoky, savory, and indulgent. Smoked on a pellet grill, then mashed with butter, cream, and Gouda, it’s a gluten-free comfort dish perfect for BBQs, holiday spreads, or weeknight meals.
Stories / Travel & Destinations
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What I Ate This Week: Family, Closings & Culinary Celebrations (August 11-17 )
This week blended milestones with meals: closing on our home, my daughter visiting from Florida, and a mix of nostalgic bites, Italian trattoria delights, and sizzling Mediterranean-inspired home cooking.
Travel & Destinations
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Trattoria A’Vucchella – Sorrento Flavors in Bridgeport
Discover Trattoria A’Vucchella: a Bridgeport gem where Sorrentine childhood flavors, from limoncello to homemade pastas, come alive. Authentic dishes, lively atmosphere, and heartfelt service—it’s a taste of Italy that will keep calling you back.
Recipes
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Limoncello Posset – A Creamy Amalfi Lemon Dessert
This Limoncello Posset is an easy yet elegant Italian dessert bursting with the flavor of Amalfi lemons. With cream, sugar, lemon juice, and Limoncello, it’s the perfect summer indulgence. Velvety smooth and refreshingly zesty, it’s a crowd-pleaser for dinner parties or a romantic evening in.
Recipes
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Sweet & Savory Strawberry Caprese Salad
This Strawberry Caprese Salad is a fresh, gluten-free twist on the Italian classic, swapping tomatoes for sweet strawberries. Perfect for summer entertaining or a quick light lunch, it’s dressed with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze.
Stories / Travel & Destinations
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What I Ate This Week: August 4–10
A week of pecan-smoked salmon, creamy pasta, blackened fajitas, and an Amalfi lemon-inspired family feast — plus a standout dinner at one of Bridgeport’s best Italian spots.
Recipes
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Smoked Salmon with Mike’s Hot Honey Glaze & Sweet Potato Mash
Smoked over pecan wood and glazed with Mike’s Hot Honey, this salmon is paired with sweet potato mash and sautéed asparagus with Parmigiano for a balanced, gluten-free dinner full of bold, savory flavor. It’s smoky, sweet, spicy, and satisfying — perfect for summer nights or weekend entertaining.
Recipes
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Giadzy Gluten-Free Rigatoni with Sausage & Broccoli
This gluten-free garlic butter rigatoni is packed with flavor from spicy Italian sausage, crisp broccoli, and a rich white wine sauce. A comforting, satisfying dish made using Giadzy Gluten-Free Pasta, it’s perfect for easy entertaining or a weeknight dinner with bold Italian flair.
Recipes
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Black Manhattan Cocktail: A Bold, Bittersweet Twist
The Black Manhattan is a bold and elevated twist on the classic cocktail, made with Amaro Averna, rye whiskey, and bitters. A smooth, bittersweet favorite of modern bartenders, it brings Italian flavor to a timeless drink.
Recipes
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Refined Sipping: The Italian Gentleman Cocktail (Campari‑Bourbon Twists)
The Italian Gentleman cocktail blends equal parts bourbon and Campari with lemon juice, simple syrup, and bitters for a balanced and sophisticated Italian‑inspired drink. A modern aperitif that walks the line between rich and refreshing, it’s both elegant and approachable—a smart twist on Negroni classics.