Seafood Risotto and Michele and Jay’s Trip to LA 🏖️

And a Naples trip delayed but on the books! 🥺 (And a note from Michele!)

**A note from Michele before we dive into Joey’s excellent recipe! ❤️ **
Back in April, as Joey and I were packing for our long-planned Easter trip to Naples, my “quirky lingering cold” decided to stage a comeback tour. Instead of sipping a crisp white Fiano di Avellino in the shadow of Vesuvius, I got an impromptu 2-day staycation at our local hospital. Five stars for staff, zero stars for ambiance and food. 🥴

I am long since back home, vertical, and recovering nicely… except for one lingering side effect: extreme dry mouth. Yes, my salivary glands seem to have taken their own vacation — and not to Italy, mind you. At the moment, I’m on a strict diet of soft mushy things and lots of hydration (except no coffee!! no wine!!! 🤪) - just wistful daydreams about saucy pasta and crisp Neapolitan whites. But my soul? She’s doing just fine. Grateful beyond words that it’s nothing serious — just some stubborn post-viral weirdness that needs to get the message that it needs to pack its bags and leave.

I share this not to be all “poor me” (though, let’s be honest, maybe just a smidge 😂), but mostly to explain why it’s been a little quiet around here. The good news? I’m cooking up a storm behind the scenes — metaphorically, for now — and we have a long list of exciting things planned for Our Italian Table. So hang tight, amici! I’ll be back soon with all the deliciousness. AND Joey and I are now headed to Naples in early June! Until then, sending un grande abbraccio and a very well-hydrated cin cin! ❤️❤️❤️ - A grateful Michele

In March, my sister Michele and her boyfriend Jay came to visit us on their way home to PA from Hawaii. They were escaping from the cold Northeast winter and in search of some much-needed sunshine. It had been a while since they visited LA, so we made the most of their visit with a relaxed weekend full of conversation, laughter, and cooking. One of the highlights was our trip to the local farmers market, where we wandered through rows of stalls brimming with fresh produce, seafood, and handmade goods.

While browsing the market, we came across a very favorite fish vendor (Wild Local Seafood) selling locally caught fish and mussels. Michele and I, who love to cook, thought about making seafood risotto, and we all got excited by the idea. As we picked out our ingredients, we spotted some gorgeous asparagus that looked too good to pass up. It added the perfect green touch to the dish, and we knew it would pair well with the flavors of the sea.

Back home, the kitchen quickly became the center of activity. Michele prepped the seafood, and I took charge of the risotto. The aroma of shallots, wine, and seafood filled the house as the risotto slowly came together. We tasted all along the way and decided the final element to the dish had to be some acid, so we add lust enough lemon juice to highlight the fish but not overpower it.

When we finally sat down to eat, the result was a rich, comforting dish that tasted like a celebration of the season and our time together. It was a simple but perfect way to spend a March evening with family.

CLICK the button below for the recipe:

or head on over to OurItalianTable.com!

And remember - spring is right around the corner! 🌱