Caipirinha

Caipirinha

50 ml(1⅔ fl oz) Cachaça

½ lime cut into 4 wedges (or tahiti lime, but not green lemon)

2 teaspoons crystal or refined sugar

Place lime and sugar into old fashioned glass and muddle (mash the two ingredients together using a muddler or a wooden spoon). Fill the glass with crushed ice and add the Cachaça.

A wide variety of fresh fruits can be used in place of lime. In the absence of cachaça, vodka can be used, making a Caipiroska.

Pheasant Sauce for pasta (Ragu bianco di Faraona)

Wondering what to do with a pheasant that you hunted? How to cook a pheasant?

Pheasant Sauce (Ragu bianco di Faraona)

1 cooked and pulled pheasant

1 chopped onion

1 chopped carrot

1 minced clove of garlic

1 cup of dry white wine

1 cup of pheasant broth (the water that you used to cook the pheasant)

1 Tbsp of Dijon mustard

1/4 cup of orange juice

3 Tbsp of butter

Rosemary and Thyme

Salt & Pepper to taste

In a big saucepan, sauté the onion and garlic with butter with a little olive oil. At a low heat, add the pheasant until the skin gets crispy.  Turn the heat on high; add the wine, mustard, broth, juice, herbs, salt & pepper.  Let the sauce reduce and sauté the already cooked pasta in with the sauce.

Lentil soup with broccoli rabe

Lentil soup with broccoli rabe

*1 Pound Dried Lentils

*1/2 Pound Italian Sausages Removed From Casings

*2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

*1 Large Carrot, Peeled And Diced

*2 Celery Stalks, Diced

*1 Small Onion, Peeled And Diced

*2 Garlic Cloves, Peeled And Minced

*1 Cup Chopped Tomatoes

*Salt & Black Pepper

*Red Pepper Flakes (Optional)

*1 Bunch Broccoli Rabe, Washed, & Chopped

*3 Tablespoons Tomato Paste

1 - Combine the lentils with 2 quarts of water in a large stock pot;

2 - Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes or until tender;

3 -In a separate pot, heat the olive oil and cook the carrots, onions, and celery until tender;

4 -Add the garlic and sausage meat and continue to cook until the sausage is lightly browned, breaking it up into small pieces as it cooks;

5 -Add the sausage and vegetables to the lentils with the tomato paste and chopped tomatoes, season with salt and pepper and red pepper flakes if using;

6 - Add the broccoli rabe to the lentil pot with 2 to 3 cups of additional water;

7 - Continue to cook until the broccoli rabe is tender.

8 - Taste and adjust seasonings if needed.

9 - Serve with a sprinkling of grated parmesan cheese.

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Crepes

1 cup of flour

2 eggs

1 ½ cup of milk

1 pinch of salt

1 tablespoon of sugar

2 tablespoon of melted butter

1. In a large mixing bowl or blender combine all ingredients; beat until smooth.

2. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each crepe. Tilt the pan with a circular motion so that the batter coats the surface evenly.

3. Cook the crepe for about 2 minutes, until the bottom is light brown. Loosen with a spatula, turn and cook the other side.

4. Serve hot with nutella or whatever you would like.

Niçoise Salad

Niçoise Salad

8 small potatoes, in half

400g  green beans trimmed

200g of tuna in olive oil

10 cherry tomatoes, in half

4 boiled eggs, peeled, quartered

1 cup of Niçoise olives or your favorite black olive

2 anchovy fillets in oil

For the dressing

1/3 cup olive oil

1/3 cup red wine vinegar

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon tarragon

1 tablespoon chives

Salt & Pepper to taste

Step 1

Make dressing: Whisk oil, vinegar, herbs and mustard in a jug. Season with salt and pepper.

Step 2

Cook the potatoes in a large saucepan of boiling water for 10 minutes or until just tender. Transfer to a large bowl. 
Cook the beans for 2 to 3 minutes or until bright green and just tender. Drain. Refresh under cold water. Drain. 
Add beans to the potatoes.

Step 3

Add tuna, tomato, olives, cooked eggs and anchovies (if using) to potato mixture. Add dressing. Toss gently to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Serve.

Pollo al vino rosso

Pollo al vino rosso

1 rooster or free range chicken

1 bottle of red wine (burgundy, nero D'Avola or merlot)

½ cup of grappa

5 shallots

2 carrots, quartered

2 sticks of celery, quartered

3 cloves of garlic, crushed

15 button mushrooms (champignon de Paris) in half

50 grams of bacon in cubes
1 tbsp mustard (dijon is the best)

2 tbsp mascarpone
Thyme

Butter

Cut the chicken into separate pieces, place the chicken in a bowl and add the wine, shallots, carrots, celery, garlic, thyme with salt & pepper to taste.  Leave the chicken marinating for at least 12 hours inside the refrigerator.

The next day your chicken will be purplish color, take the chicken out of the marinade.  Over a hot pan with some butter, sere the chicken in the pan and add the cognac, remove it and then cook the bacon.  Add all the other ingredients in a large heavy bottomed pan, and cook for at least two hours in low heat. 

About Lucas:

     Lucas Migliorelli has lived and worked in six different countries all over the world.  His family immigrated to Brazil from Veneto and Le Marche region of Italy to escape war .  At a young age, Lucas enjoyed cooking with his grandmother and family.  Inspiration to cook, and food harmonization came naturally.  At 14, his nickname among his friends was "Lasagna".  He also was making small chocolates that he would sell to other kids at school, however, the school put a stop to it after lucas was making over a hundred dollars a day.
     Lucas's first job was working at a small Italian family restaurant at the age of 16 in San Paulo, Brazil.  His tallent and creativity gained a lot of attention when he won first place at a cooking competition among senior professional chefs at the young age of 18.  For one year, Lucas worked for Hotel Sofitel in Florianapolis, Brazil as a chef and learned french cuisine.  He then moved to Argentina to continue to learn about food/ wine, and begin his traveling experience.  In 2009, he moved to London to study the english language and again a new type of cuisine, this time, South African food.  The six months he spent in New Zealand was working with Italian food in both the north and south islands.  In Minneapolis, Minnesota, Lucas continued what he started in Brazil as a side job, personal chef work.
     Lucas now lives in Vicenza, Italy back where his family roots are in Veneto.  In his spare time, Lucas enjoys studying wine and food history, especially Italian.  His personality and presentation of his food makes him stand out among other chefs his age.  He now teaches cooking classes in centro storico tuned towards teaching Americans living in Vicenza.  Lucas is always happy to meet new people and is available as a personal chef for events or private parties.

Nonnas's Potatoes

Nonna’s roasted potatoes

•    1 1/2 pounds small red or white-skinned potatoes (or a mixture)

•    1/8 cup good olive oil

•    3/4 teaspoon kosher salt

•    1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

•    1 tablespoons minced garlic (3 cloves)

•    2 tablespoons minced fresh rosemary leaves

•    2 tablespoons fresh oregan

•    1 tablespoons fresh thyme

•    nutmeg to taste

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Cut the potatoes in half or quarters and place in a bowl with the olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic and rosemary; toss until the potatoes are well coated. Dump the potatoes on a baking sheet and spread out into 1 layer; roast in the oven for at least 1 hour, or until browned and crisp. Flip twice with a spatula during cooking to ensure even browning.

Remove the potatoes from the oven, season to taste, and serve