My View of Life on the Dock
All I can say is don’t miss it next year! Several new establishments joined this fantastic annual fundraiser for the Cape Ann YMCA held at Cruiseport, 6 Rowe Square, Gloucester, MA. All photographs from November 10, 2016.
PASSPORTS RESTAURANT GLOUCESTER
PIGEON COVE TAVERN @ Emerson Inn by the Sea
Thursday I was inspire to create nontraditional Easter Basket for a dear friend, after spotting a mini can of my favorite Partanna Olive Oil, on sale at Virgilo’s Bakery. Creative thoughts immediately began running through my head the moment I laid eyes on the adorable, tomato red, petite sized can of Partanna Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Partanna Oil has been a staple ingredient in my pantry for many years. It’s used for sautéing, cooking, dressings, Pannini and everything in between on a daily basis in my kitchen by me and my twins! “Pani Cunsatu,” Hot Seasoned Italian Bread made with Partanna Oil is son BJ’s favorite after school snack. The fragrant Sicilian Olive Oil enhances the flavors of all ingredients it’s paired with.
If you’re looking to create a nontraditional Easter Basket for a special someone who has a passion for cooking or are planning to prepare an Easter Feast, or have been assigned to fix a salad to share you must include and use this oil.
Step away from the traditional Easter Basket this year and shop Virgilio’s Bakery for their classic assortment of dried pasta, and Italian specialty items. Many of the specialty ingredients used in the recipe collection included in my cookbook “Gifts of Gold In A Sicilian Kitchen With Sista Felicia;Harvest,” can be purchased locally at Virgilio’s bakery.”
Pick up the key ingredients for your special someone’s favorite Italian dish and creatively weave them into a beautiful Easter basket this year. Spring is around the corner, love is in the air, and Italians know the fastest way to someone heart is through their stomach with flavorful foods.
Embellish a gift basket with decorative bow and get shopping for ingredients to fill personalized Italian Theme Easter Baskets at Virgilio’s this week! Endless ideas will come to those who think out of the basket…
Look for the story and recipe in “Gifts Of Gold” surrounding my childhood memory my grandfather’s Italian Variety store “Pat’s Center Grocery,” with aunt Gina using Italian Tuna!
The basket shown above was created with an assortment of Italian specialty ingredients needed to create Pasta with Sardines, “Pasta‘a Milanisa” is an authentic Sicilian recipe highlighted on page #160 in my cookbook “Gifts Of Gold.” This recipe is real old school cooking. Sardines are known to have a very distinct strong flavor but that’s simply not the case in this dish! You won’t know what you’re missing until you give this recipe a try! Pasta with Sardines it’s heavenly!
Note~above basket is not included in the Virgilio’s Italian Dinner Easter Basket Raffle
For my Hot Seasoned Italian Bread, “Pani Cunsatu” recipe see “Gifts of Gold In A Sicilian Kitchen With Sista Felicia; Harvest” page #182
A friendly reminder to pick up a few containers of “Ceci” roasted chic pea, and “Simenzi” salted pumpkin seeds” for the car ride home and late night holiday card game with the family!
Enter to win the Italian Dinner Easter Basket
shown below
at Virgilio’s This week!
Be sure to Enter you name in the drawing to win this Italian Dinner Basket at Virgilio’s Bakery…applicable to all who make a purchase and fill out a red ticket located on display in the store. Basket includes, 1 Dried Pasta, 1 Virgilio’s Bread Dipping Oil, 1 Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce and 1 Italian bread.
***While shopping don’t forget to place an order for Virgilio’s famous breads and Dinner Rolls for your Easter celebration!****
Click read more for photo gallery Continue reading “Filling Easter Baskets Locally at Virgilio’s Bakery”
From Cape Ann TV’s Lisa Smith:
Awesome Gloucester- The TV Show
The series premiere of “Awesome Gloucester” airs tonight, Thursday, July 10 at 7pm on Cape Ann TV Channel 12. Explore Gloucester and its awesomeness with host David Wesson and get an insiders look at baking bread at Virgilio’s Italian Bakery; explore the Maritime Gloucester tide pools with kids; and learn about distilling rum at Ryan & Wood Distilleries. This show is created by Lanesvillian Matt Morris, a filmmaker who loves this town and decided to make a television show about one of the coolest places on Earth.
The show also airs on Fridays at 3:30 pm; and Sundays at 5:00 pm. See full Cape Ann TV Schedule here.
Years ago, there was an even balance of traditional “American Carnival foods” and “Italian Specialty Foods” sold during Fiesta in and directly abutting St. Peter’s Square. Growing up the entrance to Commercial Street was lined with vendors peddling their Italian delights of Pizza, Spinguini, and cannoli, to people as they passed by. I often dream of those days and can still smell the aromas of Italian food and I can hear the voice of the “Nut Vendor” repeating “Simenzi! Ceci! Roasted Nuts! Here!” like it were yesterday. Each Fiesta my cousins and I were sent over to the nut man to purchase Simenzi and Ceci for family member sitting in front of the bandstand/altar countless times throughout Fiesta weekend. Snacking on “Simenzi and Ceci” during Fiesta has been tradition for Sicilian Gloucester Families who gather together to listen to the Italian music during Fiesta weekend for generations! Simenzi and Ceci may no longer be sold at the Fiesta, but the tradition of eating them in front of the bandstand/altar still remains. Yesterday I stopped by Virgilio’s Bakery to stock up with enough Simenzi and Ceci to get my family through Fiesta weekend. Stop by before supplies run out and get yours!
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Over the past several months family and guest dinning at our home commonly ask the same question… “what is the secret ingredient that makes my salads and sauces taste so incredibly delicious? My reply is always the same “use a high quality olive oil.” Yesterday while shopping at Virgilio’s Bakery I noticed my “Favorite” brand of Partanna Sicilian Extra Virgin Olive Oil for sale. If you want to bring a recipe including the use of olive oil to a new level, stop by Virgilio’s Bakery on Main Street in Gloucester and pick up a can of Partanna olive oil today. Stock your pantry and begin incorporating this flavorful oil into your families favorite dishes. I promise your family and friends taste buds will savor every last bite!
I know in our family it would be a holiday without Olive Cunsati on the table. I made it this morning after visiting Joe Virgilio at his family run Italian Bakery here in Gloucester on Main Street….There is still plenty of time to get downtown to Virgilio’s Bakery and pick up Sicilian Green Colossal Olives from Joe and make a batch for your holiday table tomorrow! Tell him Sista sent you in, he and his staff will take good care of you!
Click The Picture For The Video at The Gloucester Daily Times Taste of The Times Site
My recipe and Cooking video tutorial QR Code for Marinated Vegetable Salad With Olives “Alivi Cunsati” is on page 200 in my newly released cookbook Gifts of Gold In A Sicilian Kitchen With Sista Felicia, Harvest” Click Link below to order on line
While shopping at Virgilio’s Bakery this morning Joe shared a sample of their Semolina Olive Bread…It was delicious! I’m planning to make a pork loin dinner this evening for my family and can’t wait to incorporate it into the meal in some way …I’ll keep you all posted I have an idea for a stuffing swirling around in my head right now, but must stick to preparing my feast for tomorrow first!
. . . Paul at Virgilio’s Bakery
Virgilio’s Italian Bakery Eggplant Sandwich, originally uploaded by captjoe06.
Good Morning Gloucester 