Strawberry and Fennel Salad
Quartered strawberries with fennel cured in white balsamic, burrata, arugula, toasted pistachios and peach balsamic pearls.
Quiche with Morels and Sage Sausage
An all-butter crust filled with eggs, cream, dried morels, sage sausage and a blend of Parmesan, Asiago and Romano.
Pasta Salad
Busiate with cherry tomatoes, artichokes, olives, salami and provolone. Better after a night in the fridge, which makes it ideal for a crowd.
Smoked Balsamic Gin Sour
London dry gin with lemon, Campari and smoked balsamic glaze, shaken with egg white for a silky head.
Challah French Toast
Thick-cut challah soaked in vanilla cream, fried in Chianti Classico olive oil and served with whipped mascarpone and balsamic blueberry sauce.
Panzanella Salad
The Tuscan answer to stale bread. Torn ciabatta soaked in tomato juices with cherry tomatoes, artichokes, mozzarella and basil.
Oranges with Vanilla Gelato and Balsamic Vinegar
Blood oranges macerated with sugar, mint and vanilla, spooned over vanilla gelato with Gold Label balsamic and olive oil.
Pumpkin Pie
Roasted pie pumpkin or butternut pureed with condensed milk and warm spices, including a little black pepper for lift.
Apple Pie
Grandma Foster's apple pie: Honey Crisp and Granny Smith apples with brown sugar, cinnamon and butter under a proper crust.
Pecan Whiskey Pie
Brown butter, whiskey and three cups of pecans in a blind-baked shell. Richer and less cloying than the pecan pie you grew up with.
Italian Gazpacho
Jim's cold soup of heirloom tomatoes, cucumber, onion and garlic blended with olive oil and balsamic. Nothing to cook, everything to chill.
Candied Nuts
Nuts tumbled in melted sugar with cardamom, ginger and a pinch of chili. Sweet, savory, and dangerous to leave within reach.