Delizioso!

Every summer for the past few years, our friend Moto comes from Italy to California for several months to do research. Since he's a fabulous cook, we make a deal - he comes over and makes dinner, we provide dessert - ollalieberry pie. Each year we learn a new recipe, some secrets of making Italian cuisine (according to N's observations: lots of olive oil and salt), and have a fun evening. The annual event was last week. Here are some photos of the attendees and the food!

Moto, il chef

Sarah B - providing quality assurance

Nicolas

Me

Rai

This year we did Iron Chef style - Moto improvised using the week's farmer's market loot. He did make a few additional requests for ingredients, including the "mystery ingredient" - breadcrumbs! Here he is adding them to the pasta (pappardelle with cherry tomatoes, eggplant, and zucchini)

The fan club...

Also on the menu: gratins of sunburst squash and tomatoes (petits farcis), salad, wine, and...

Ollalieberry pie - See the clean plates?

The berries were picked by Nicolas and Alec in Pescadero, south of SF. And where's Alec, you ask? Why, sleeping of course.