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September 9, 2010, Volume 108, Issue 36
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Delicious SummerTreats Print E-mail
Written by Information provided by Family Features   
Thursday, 15 July 2010
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Filet with Farro Salad. All recipes courtesy of Fabio Viviani, owner and Executive Chef of Firenze Osteria Italian Restaurant and Martini Bar.

Italian food is at the top of many people's list of favorite cuisines - and for good reason. Chef Fabio Viviani, "Top Chef" contestant and Owner and Executive Chef of Firenze Osteria Italian Restaurant and Martini Bar in LosAngeles, knows that the combination of fresh ingredients, flavorful herbs and healthy, high quality olive oil makes Italian cuisine a go-to choice for al fresco summer dining.

Grilled Chicken Skewers with Sausage and Pancetta

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3 chicken breasts (cubed)

5 to 6 sausages

8 to 10 thin slices of pancetta Sauce

20 cherry tomatoes (cut in half)

Handful of fresh basil (chopped)

4 tablespoons Bertolli Extra Light Tasting Olive Oil

Salt and pepper (to taste)

Alternate pieces of chicken and sausage on metal or bamboo skewers and brush with olive oil. Wrap skewers with slices of pancetta, approximately two pieces per skewer.

Place on grill. Grill until chicken is cooked, approximately 5 to 10 minutes.

In a cast iron pan on grill, place cut tomatoes, basil and olive oil. Saut¨¨ until tomatoes are almost stewed. Season with salt and pepper.

Place the cooked skewers on a plate and top with cherry tomato sauce. Garnish with fresh chopped basil.

Note: If using bamboo skewers, soak skewers in water for one-half to one hour, to avoid burning on the grill.

To bring families together for a summer meal, Chef Fabio has created delicious summer recipes that can be made indoors or on the grill while showcasing the versatility and flavors of Bertolli Olive Oil's premium line of olive oils.

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Roasted Tomato & Zucchini Salad

6 Roma tomatoes

4 zucchini

Bertolli Extra Virgin Olive Oil

2 garlic cloves, minced

Salt and pepper (to taste)

2 6-ounce balls of buffalo mozzarella, cut into 3/4-inch slices

Approximately 10 large leaves of fresh basil

Shaved Parmesan cheese Dressing

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

1/2 cup Bertolli Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon paprika

Cut tomatoes into 1/2-inch slices, and zucchini lengthwise into 1/8-inch ribbons. Season both with minced garlic, salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil. Roast on grill with cut side up for about 10 minutes, or until nice and evenly roasted.

To assemble the salad:

Place the tomato, zucchini (folded) and mozzarella on top of each other, like a tower, with a basil leaf in between layers. Season layers with salt and pepper and a drizzle of dressing. Sprinkle with shaved Parmesan on top.

In addition to these recipes, here are more easy ways to enjoy the classic Italian taste of olive oil every day:

Serve a simple appetizer of fresh bread with extra virgin olive oil. Pour the oil in a bowl for dipping and season with cracked pepper or fresh herbs.

Create a simple yet flavorful marinade of classico pure olive oil combined with either lemon juice or wine vinegar to flavor meats, poultry and fish.

Toss your favorite unsalted nuts in a sandwich bag with extra light tasting olive oil to coat lightly, then add a sprinkle of salt for an extraordinary taste.

To get full recipes created by Chef Viviani, visit www.BertolliOliveOil.com. To get the recipe for the Filet with Farro Salad, visit our food section at www.sanfernandosun.com

Last Updated ( Thursday, 15 July 2010 )

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