"giadadelaurentiis" news and stories

This entry is in answer to a reader's comment from my first post. I had included a picture of my Bellini Bar and she wanted to know more about it. So here it goes!

My fiance and I decided to hold an engagement brunch. Brunch happens to be much more affordable than a dinner, as well as cocktail party and its one my fiance's favorite meals. While I love mimosa's and bloody Mary's, I wanted to do something a little different and at the same time, I wanted it to be interactive. Welcome to the bellini bar. With a set budget and a mound of DIY projects, we were able to set some money aside to rent white table clothes, as well as champagne glasses. Both my finance and I are ultimate foodies, so even though we were holding this party in my soon to be in-laws backyard, we still wanted our menu to be an experience. It is always important to remember that beverages play just as large of a role in the menu as the food.

Attention to detail goes a long way. Whether you're holding a party for seventy-five or ten, including a similar bar to this will leave a lasting impression. What makes these so special? We offered bellini's in several flavors: Strawberry, Peach and Mixed Berry. Guests poured the desired amount of puree into their glasses, then topped it off with either Champagne or Prosecco (it's good to offer your guests both, some may prefer a sweet bellini to a dry bellini).

Pictures, instructions and recipes after the jump.

When I can come home and cook up a meal in under 20 minutes that tastes as good as it looks and smells, I'm a very happy camper. This dish comes from Giada de Laurentiis's new cookbook, Giada's Kitchen: New Italian Favorites. I found myself flipping through it and marking off multiple pages. Having made several of her dishes before, I know that they tend to be straightforward and always full of flavor. This was the second recipe I tried. The roasted halibut was flaky and incredibly moist, while the grapefruit and fennel salsa brightened up the palate with bursts of citrus and bits of tangy olives.

I could sit down with this dish of pasta and melted goodness- and over the course of several hours, finish it off in one day. Sad, but so true. From the minute the aroma of the roasted vegetables hits the air, you'll be counting down the minutes until this dish hits your dining room table. Though, if you're like my mom or I, you'll have a hard time keeping your hands off the veges before they even get to the pasta! Since parts of the dish can be made ahead of time- you could be eating this sinful supper in under 40 minutes. Enjoy!

To a large portion of the population, "carb" was nothing more than a nasty, four-letter word a few years ago. Like most diets and trends though, the shelf life on that has largely expired and people are once again venturing down the bread and pasta aisles of their local supermarkets. This is especially good news for lovers of Italian food, and even better news for someone like Giada De Laurentiis.

The Food Network personality, chef, and author of several cookbooks released her latest book earlier this month, entitled Everyday Pasta. She has all the basics covered including spaghetti, ravioli, risotto, salads, wine, and various sauces, plus she incorporates a number of her favorite ingredients into the dishes such as pancetta, fresh herbs, and citrus.

Want a little preview? Amazon.com has a recipe for Giada's Rigatoni with Sausage, Peppers, and Onions displayed, which I have included after the jump.