There is certainly plenty that can be said for this time of year. For me, each Holiday season brings a ‘buzz’ to the air. This has much  to do with the celebrations and festivities that take place both professionally and personally.

For a cook it is a wonderful time to be in the kitchen. As with a painter’s pallet covered by an array of colors, so too is the chef’s table filled with a bounty of ingredients and Italian meat products such as Beaujolais Nouveau, Truffles, Prosciutto, Salami, ‘Just-Pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Heirloom Squash and Beans’, just to mention a few.  Having these artisan crafted and grown items in hand, we take our homemade recipe and  draw from experiences and our heritage to deliver comfort and smiles to all those who dine at our table.  It is moments like this that fill our hearts and souls with joy in hopes that we provide for a memory which gets passed along over a lifetime.

Over the years my family has gradually gathered an array of props, serving platters, plates and multiple boxes of other goodies that have allowed us to embrace the Holiday season with excitement and open arms.  In our home, with the exceptional assistance of my mother in-law, entertaining has transformed into an art form.  The final weeks of the calendar year bring a time where the entire family joins forces to decorate and address invitations while I sit down to draft a menu in preparation for guests to join in our holiday festivities.

Each year we look forward to sharing our family traditions with friends and in turn welcome and encourage each to share and discuss their own customs.  It never fails that nearly the majority of the conversations focus around food customs and food influences experienced throughout our lives.  As I reflect back over past years, I see how my culinary background has taken root and been inspired with Italian recipes, techniques and Italian traditions.

There is no doubt life has us all busy running from sunrise to sunset trying to squeeze just a little more out of each day.  I would like to pass along a thought / request for each of my readers, no matter which Holiday your family chooses to celebrate. Make sure to take timeout and enjoy the time you have with family and friends.  Embrace your family’s heritage, look to start new traditions, maybe something as simple as sharing dinner party recipes.

I’ll start, visit the Volpi website “Recipes section” and you’ll find a fantastic recipe that was submitted by a long time fan and winner of the Authentic Volpi recipe contest – SAVORY CASSOULET with VOLPI PANCETTA.   Thank you – Jamie!

Happy Holidays!!

Grazie Mille
Michael