Pasta alla Norma, one of Sicily’s most iconic recipes, features fried eggplant simmered in tomato sauce and served with pasta, all seasoned with a generous flurry of ricotta salata. Here’s how it’s done (recipe from my book #foodoftheitalianislands)
Ingredients
2 pounds eggplant (about 2 medium globe), cut into ¾-inch cubes
Sea salt
3⁄4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
1 garlic clove, smashed and peeled
6 fresh basil leaves, plus a few leaves per person for garnish
1 (14.5-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, crushed by hand
1 pound dried paccheri or rigatoni
3 ounces ricotta salata cheese, coarsely grated (about ¾ cup)
Directions
Place the eggplant in a colander and sprinkle all over with abundant salt to draw out the water.
Set aside to drain for 1 hour.
Rinse and pat dry with paper towels.
Fill a 10- to 12-inch frying pan or cast-iron skillet with 1/2 cup of the olive oil and heat the oil over medium-high heat to 375°F.
The temperature of the oil will drop slightly when you add the eggplant. Regulate the heat to fry at 350°F.
Working in batches so as not to crowd the pan, fry the eggplant, turning to ensure even browning, until deep golden brown, about 10 minutes. Add more oil as needed.
Drain on paper towels and set aside.
Discard any remaining oil and wipe the pan clean.
Heat the remaining 1/4 cup of olive oil in the same pan over medium-low heat. When the oil begins to shimmer, add the garlic. Cook until it just starts to take color, 3 minutes.
Add the basil, cooking until fragrant, 30 seconds, then add the tomatoes and season with salt.
Cook until the tomatoes have lost their raw flavor, about 10 minutes.
Stir in the eggplant and cook for 1 minute more.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil over high heat. Salt the water until it tastes like a seasoned soup.
Add the paccheri and cook until al dente.
Drain the pasta, reserving the cooking water.
Add the pasta to the sauce and stir to coat.
Add a bit more pasta c
Pantry pasta Venetian style 🐟🧅🐟🧅
Per person:
1 sliced yellow onion
Couple tablespoons evoo
Salt
5-♾️ salted anchovy fillets
3 ounces (around 85 g) bigoli tho spaghetti and other long strands do the trick
Serve warm or room temp, ideally on a boat.
🎥 @thedavidalvarado
We can’t all fit on my boat but I’m hosting a trip next June that starts with a morning of bar crawling in #cannaregio #venice before heading off to #friuli and #slovenia. Hit up @laviagaia for info! In the meantime here’s where to graze in Venice’s northernmost sestiere
📍 @lasetevenezia
📍 @altimon
📍 @ostariaalponte
📍 @caselect_venezia
For full on meals:
📍 @vinidagigio
📍 @osteriagiorgionedamasa
📍 @riobavenezia
📍 @trattoriadabepi
#bacaro #bacarotour #barcrawl #daydrinking #bba #patanella
Don’t let Rome’s August closings complicate you vacay. Here’s what’s open (and excellent):
Open August 15: Baccano, Romane, La Gensola, Grappolo d’Oro, Love, Pergamino, Antico Arco, Che, Pizzarium, Otaleg, Torcè, Al Settimo Gelo, Gelateria dei Gracchi.
Open almost every day in August: Latteria, Jerry Thomas Bar Room, Salumeria Roscioli, Antico Forno Roscioli, Beppe e I Suoi Formaggi, L’Angolo Divino, Open Baladin, Faro, Trapizzino, La Tradizione, Otaleg, Torcè, Al Settimo Gelo, Gelateria dei Gracchi.
#romeitaly #romeeats #augustinrome #ferragosto #travelrome #parlapicks #roma @parlatours
@parlatours is open for biz! Rome might be winding down for summer hols, but we’re here to share our Roman favorites in centro and elsewhere. Space is limited so get in touch for you August trip or any time of year!
#foodtour #romefoodtour #tourguide #centrostoricoroma #rome #roma #carbpositivity #parlapicks
Toughest table in town? That would be lunch or dinner at @armandoalpantheon, a piece of history just steps from the Pantheon. It’s super famous, cited in every guide book, and a celebrity favorite, but the Gargioli family hustles everyday to earn their rep. Sixty-three years after Armando opened his doors, his grandchildren are keeping his legacy alive. Here’s how to get in and what to order:
🐃buffalo mozzarella with pomodori del Piennolo del Vesuvio
🍆Eggplant parm (summer only) is a must. It can be an antipasto or secondo.
🍝For primo, fettuccine with chicken gizzards which is hands down my favorite pasta dish in town. Also obsessed with the stracciatella (egg drop soup) and gricia
🐑Secondo = veal saltimbocca and grilled lamchops
🍰Torta Antica Roma (ricotta, strawberry jam, poppy seed cake)
🍷Drink all the wines from Lazio
🍒Wrap it up with Praesidium’s Ratafià cherry liquor
🍽️ bookings open daily at midnight CET for bookings 30 days out (Armando closes Aug 12-Sept 2 so today restaurant appears booked for eternity). Recruit your travel companions or trick someone into helping you book via the website and you’ll have a better shot. Tables at Armando are highly competitive. There are only around 40 covers and 2 turns. I’m probably going to get in trouble for saying this but another way is to turn up towards the end of lunch and dinner service (2:15pm or 9:45pm) and ask for a table. It’s obviously easier for solo diners and 2 tops to find a place. They cannot accommodate parties greater than 6 people.
#parlapicks #romefood #armando #pantheon #roma #gricia #abbacchio #pastalover #fettuccine #parmigianadimelanzane
Food in Venice can be challenging but it doesn’t have to be. Here are my top #parlapicks
In the reel:
📍 @al_merca_rialto
📍 @antichecarampane
📍 @trattoriadabepi
📍 @acquastanca
📍 @gattoneroburano
Bonus:
📍 @allamaddalena
📍 @allarcovenezia
📍 @da_celeste
📍 @vinidagigio
📍 @osteriagiorgionedamasa
The Amalfi Coast is packed with incredible food…it’s just not in Amalfi. You’ll love these places highlighting land and sea!
📍 @_trattoriadaarmandino_ Fresh seafood esp 🦐
📍 @mimmostuzzichino Farm to table comfort food
📍 @aziendaagricolarealeandrea Land-based classics among the vines
📍 @acquapazzacetara seafood pasta
📍 Nettuno everything anchovy 🐟
📍 @lucio.liguori.1 Hand-painted ceramics
Get the full guide on the City Guides page of my site KatieParla.com 🧜🏼♀️
#fullinsurance #AmalfiCoastEats #LocalFlavors #HiddenGems #ItalianCuisine #colaturadialici #costiera #costieramalfitana #cetara #raito #praiano #parlapicks #tramonti
Venice commemorates the end of a 16th century plague with the Festa del Redentore every third Saturday in July. Mark your cal for next year. Here’s what ya need:
✅ Afternoon nap
✅ Boat or friend with boat
✅ TP and a bucket or a willingness to pee with an audience
✅ Biodegradable plates and silverware
✅ @wave_murano_glass wave goto glasses
✅ Frozen water (ice sells out everywhere so don’t wait til Saturday to get yours)
✅ Adult beverages
✅ Bottle opener/wine key
✅ String lights and streamers
✅ Portable speakers
✅ Towel, bathing suit, healthy immune system (we do swim in the lagoon. It’s what the plague victims wanted for us)
✅ Trash liners
✅ Water (warning: may rust your insides)
✅ Grilling station and headlamp
✅ Designated captain
Respect yourself. Blow past the lines of overheated sheeple and walk in (or walk up) at these spots 👇
📍 @latteria_trastevere
📍 @formedispensa
📍 @pizzeriaaimarmi
📍 @mercatoditestaccio @dacorrado_albanco18…also: @arteniofanella @sicche_robatoscana @dateo_atestaccio @dacasamanco
📍 @baccanoroma
📍 @trapizzino Testaccio and @ilmercatocentraleroma for fastest service
📍 @trattoriadacesare
#parlapicks #parlatours
Take yourself to Venice this July 4 with a @selectaperitivousa cocktail!
Select Americano
Ingredients
1 oz (30 ml) Select Aperitivo
1 oz (30 ml) Sweet Vermouth
Soda Water
Orange slice or twist, for garnish
Ice
Method
Prepare your glass. An Americano is best served in an old-fashioned glass. Fill it with ice cubes.
Pour the Select and sweet vermouth over the ice.
Top it off with a splash of soda water, stirring gently to combine.
Garnish with a fresh slice or twist of orange to enhance the drink’s aroma and add a pop of color.
Select Spritz
Ingredients
3 oz (90 ml) Prosecco
2 oz (60 ml) Select
1 oz (30 ml) Soda Water
Orange slice, for garnish
Ice
Method
Fill a large wine glass with ice cubes.
Pour the Prosecco gently over the ice. Follow with the Select, letting it mingle with the Prosecco. Top off with soda water, garnishing with a green olive.
Do you tip in Italy? Sì o no? Local customs differ from what you might expect. While some places may expect more from tourists, especially Americans, the overall practice is much more modest compared to the U.S. So, if you wish to tip, do it sparingly. We asked the @parlatours team if and when they tip. More tipping tips:
💰if you’re gonna tip at a restaurant, it’s gotta be in cash. It’s super rare for there to be a tip line on a credit card transaction
💰 don’t do math. We tip a symbolic amount (1-2€ pp) is generally sufficient) rather than a percentage of the bill
💰 if a server tells you service isn’t included, they are being shady
💰 no one is mad at a tip, but it’s a bit weird to tip the owner
💰 the idea servers are paid a living wage here doesn’t apply universally. Just throwing that out there.
💰 more here https://katieparla.com/tips-for-tipping-in-italy/
This app mostly lies to you about what’s good in Rome. Get the real scoop below and stay tuned for part 2.
📍 @trattoriadacesare al Pellegrino
📍 @enoteca_il_piccolo
📍 @rosciolisalumeria
📍 @baccanoroma
📍 @openbaladinroma
📍 @armandoalpantheon
📍 @beppeeisuoiformaggi
📍 @ilvinaietto
📍 @langolo_divino_roma
📍 @offlicensecampodefiori
#parlapicks #parlatours #trattoria #pasta #winebar #enoteca #roma #rome #foodtour
If a 2 gallon Aperol Spritz isn’t your vibe, may I suggest these stellar spots for drinks in Trastevere:
📍 @latteria_trastevere
📍 @machesietevenutiafa
📍 @jerrythomas.barroom
📍 @lapuntaexpendiodeagave
📍 @formedispensa
Other spots to check out:
📍 @lesvignerons (bottle shop)
📍 @freniefrizioni (aperitivo)
📍 @enotecalantidoto (wine bar)
📍 @hotelsanfrancescoroma / @jacopa.it (natural wine in lobby)
📍 @trapizzino (greatest Lazio wine list in the land)
📍 @bigstarpubroma (neighbor local good for a pint)
#rome #roma #trastevere #cocktails #craftbeer #craftcocktails #wine #naturalwine #vinonaturale #birraartigianale #viaggi
Hidden history off Rome’s Via Appia Antica. Ditch the crowds, grab your flashlight and explore the Jewish Catacombs, which have no lighting or modern amenities.
#parlatours
#hiddenhistory
#catacombs
#jewishcemetery
#appiaantica
#epitaph
