Taste Your Way Through Italy at Italian Touch
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Abby Allen-Leach - Mar 22, 2022
- 6 min read
One of the most important lessons that I learned from the great Anthony Bourdain was that a restaurant does not have to mimic establishments like Alinea or Le Bernadin to be considered noteworthy. In fact, the less frill, the more Bourdain tended to enjoy a place. Extraordinary food, genuine service, idyllic ambiance and enjoyable company – that’s what he was after.
All of that and more is precisely what you can expect at Momma Rosa’s Italian Touch. The restaurant is tucked away in the back corner of the plaza on the corner of Park St. N. and 46th Ave N. As soon as you make your way into Italian Touch, you know that you’ve entered somewhere special. The interior of Italian Touch is almost exactly how I had imagined it after first reading about it. The tables of the quaint dining room are draped with red and white checkered table clothes, soft Italian music can be heard through the speakers overhead and artistic scenes of Italy, etc. adorn the walls.
The restaurant is family owned and operated. Though the staff is very small, the service is top notch. Patrons are informed that food may take a bit longer due to staffing shortages, etc. However, the family runs their operation like a well oiled machine. The service is fantastic and genuine.
Our first visit to Italian Touch was on a Saturday afternoon around 3:30PM. We started out by ordering a couple of glasses of Chianti (it just feels so right at a restaurant like this) – they also have their wine by the 1/2 liter and 1 liter. The pours were generous and we were happy.
Upon arrival, there was just one other table of women at the restaurant. They received their food shortly after we sat down and it was then I knew that we were in for a treat. They would not stop raving amongst themselves about how delicious the pizza was. I even heard the words “best pizza that I’ve ever had,” and when you hear something like that you certainly cannot ignore it. We had not originally planned on ordering a pizza but suddenly my interests were piqued.
Italian Touch has a number of Sicilian and thin crust pizza options to choose from on their menu. The Sicilian style pizza has a thick, dense, doughy, focaccia-like crust and is often cut into rectangles and squares. The kitchen at Italian Touch makes their doughs and sauces from scratch every day and the difference is undoubtedly detectable. Their thin crust pizza is what we opted for. When it comes to toppings, we are typically pizza purists – pepperoni and cheese only, please. The thin crust isn’t cracker thin and crispy, yet it’s definitely much thinner than Sicilian style. The dough and the sauce were incredible and bursting with savory flavor. If the pizza would’ve only been comprised of those two components we would’ve still been totally satisfied. We didn’t finish all of our pizza so we took it home. The next day we popped the leftover slices into the oven for lunch and it was just as good.
All of the pizzas are topped with cheese and tomato, unless otherwise stated. Feel free to add and subtract items as you’d like. Personal (10″), small (14″) and large (16″) sizes are available for the pizzas. We ordered a small but definitely could’ve gotten away with the personal to share between the two of us.
While we were waiting for our food we were treated to a tasting of the Pasta Fagioli which is a soup made up of beans, pasta and spices. It was fantastic and easily some of the best that I have ever had.
Most of the entrees on the menu at Italian Touch come with fresh bread and a house salad. It’s tough to resist filling up on those two things alone but you gotta pace yourself – this is a marathon, not a sprint. I subbed out the house salad for the Antipasto since we had another house salad on the way for my husband. Boy did I make a solid decision there. The Antipasto is a beautiful and lightly dressed arrangement of lettuce, tomato, olives, peppers, cheese, salami, ham and pepperoncinis. The house salad is almost an abbreviated version of the antipasto minus any meat or cheese – still delicious nonetheless. We enjoyed the Antipasto so much so, that I bought all of the ingredients last weekend to recreate it for us at home.
It isn’t very often that I order Chicken Parmigiana while out to eat but at Italian Touch, it just felt right. I’m definitely biased, but I love the Chicken Parmigiana that I make in my own kitchen. I put years and multiple attempts into practically getting it down to a science. The rendition at Italian Touch is ultra thin, extra cheesey and just really damn good. It’s served with spaghetti which I did without because we ordered other pasta dishes. I would order this dish again and again.
Everyone has that one ultimate meal – you know, that one that you’d totally be okay with eating every day? For me, that meal is Spaghetti and Meatballs. There’s just something about it that’s ultra comforting and perfect…especially when it’s done well. At Italian Touch, it’s done extremely well. A heaping bowl of spaghetti, extra ladles of sauce and exceptionally tender meatballs. That’s sheer luxury to me.
After tasting our way through a few dishes with red sauce we wanted to see what the Alfredo sauce was all about as it was recommended. We ordered the Gnocchi and subbed out the Tomato Sauce for the Alfredo Sauce. Their Alfredo sauce is composed of parsley, Romano cheese, white cream sauce and egg and is seasoned to perfection. The sauce is an uncommon yet attractive pairing with the pillowy soft Gnocchi. At this point in the meal though, we were too full to eat much of it so we happily took that home to enjoy the next day as well.
Italian Touch also has an array of dessert offerings like Cannoli, Cheese Cake, Spumoni and Tiramisu on the menu (their availability may vary).
By the time we were about to leave we looked around and could not believe how packed the place had gotten. In a matter of one hour, the restaurant went from two occupied tables to completely full. Folks were also flocking through the door left and right to retrieve their to-go orders too. You could easily tell that this happens all of the time for them and after the wonderful experience we had, it’s easy to see why. If you’re looking for just plain good classic Italian in St. Petersburg, Italian Touch is it.
- Readers Rating
- Rated 4.6 stars
4.6 / 5 ( Reviewers) - Outstanding
- Your Rating
- Italian Touch
- 727-545-2778
- Italian, Pizza, Pasta
- Tue - Sat 11:00am - 9:00pm
- 8211 46th Ave N, St. Petersburg, Florida 33709, United States
Family owned and operated. Classic, home made Italian food made by people who care.
PLEASE NOTE: Reviews reflect a certain moment in time. Some restaurants stay extremely consistent over many years, and some change for the better or worse. Some things that may change are: chefs, recipes, food suppliers, ingredients, philosophies, ownership, etc. We always hope that you have the same good, or great experience we had.
Written by Abby Allen-Leach
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Tucked away in the Museum of Fine Arts in downtown St. Pete is what I consider to be one of our city’s foremost culinary gems. Café Clementine is, in my opinion, the best artisan bakery and casual kitchen in the city. I’ve been visiting Clementine since July 2023, and I rave about it to anyone who will listen. It’s high time I formalize my crazed compliments into a review, so that it’s out there for everyone to see. They’re primarily a bakeshop, with a generous selection of pastries, savory bakes and breads that rotate every couple of weeks. But this café is also a perfect spot for brunch – they have a seasonal brunch menu with a great variety of tea options and some creative non-espresso coffee as well. Occasionally, the hot kitchen team will put some brunch specials on the menu, and those dishes have turned out to be the ones that have imprinted permanently on my brain. To give you some background – after I graduated high school in India in 2020, I started and ran a full-time home bakery business for six months. I then decided to pursue two culinary degrees from Le Cordon Bleu, Paris. As you can imagine, I had the absolute time of my life eating my way through every boulangerie, pâtisserie and restaurant in Paris (and throughout France). After graduating from culinary school and moving to St. Pete for university, I loved how many coffee shops there were, but I never thought I’d find an artisan bakery that could meet the Parisian standards. Café Clementine is now my new standard. The owners, Paulina and Vince, are some of the kindest people you’ll ever meet. I highly recommend keeping up with Clementine on their Instagram – the team’s passion, candor and compassion for the community is so evident. The manager, Jayme, is one of my favorite people. Over the year(s?), after I cemented my status as a firm regular, Paulina and Jayme will set an item aside for me if it’s near closing time and I’m scared it’ll sell out. But, first and foremost, the food just speaks for itself. The regular pastry menu is so diverse and the quality shines through every time. You can always expect to find croissants (flavored and regular), morning buns, savory scones, mini teacakes, cookies and even more in the case. I adore their dedication to doing the classics well; they laminate all of their croissants and pain au chocolats in house, and the staple brown butter chocolate chip cookie is a force to be reckoned with. I knew the Clementine team and I were kindred spirits when I tasted the sea salt flakes on that cookie (Maldon sea salt on cookies and brownies is actual magic). With that being said, it’s the bold flavor combinations and variety of goods that keeps me coming back. I also have tremendous respect for the reasonable pricing. Café Clementine has had an incredible two-year run so far, and their ingredients are sustainably and locally sourced – if they raised their prices, honestly, I don’t think anyone would have batted an eye. But they haven’t, and honestly, they’re one of the few places in St. Pete that consistently deliver an absolute bang for every buck. Here are some of my favorite eats from Café Clementine. Have you ever had a meal that was so unbelievably sublime, that you actively mourn its absence in the days since you last had it? This is that meal for me. Being eloquent is proving really difficult for me right now, because I just want to say, “OH MY GOD IT’S SOOO GOOD.” It was one of the most well balanced plates I’ve had in my life. The sweet potato gnocchi was crisp on the outside and pillowy perfection inside, its sweetness complemented by the nutty, herby pepita (pumpkin seed) pesto. I thought it was so creative to make pesto out of pumpkin seeds instead of pine nuts, and as someone who’s a big fan of texture in dishes, I adored its chunkiness along with the bite of the crispy sage. What really brought it all home, was the fluffy béchamel on the bottom – one of the five French mother sauces, béchamel sauce is a familiar creamy white concoction with a signature hint of nutmeg. It’s great, but it’s usually a touch too rich for me. This béchamel was inexplicably light and flavorful. I could’ve eaten a bowl full of it. This was a seasonal special by Chef Nico. Wherever you are Chef Nico, I hope your pillow always stays cold on both sides and your pain au chocolats have an extra chocolate baton in them. I discovered my love of citrus in dessert when I was at culinary school. Many of the recipes in my pastry curriculum highlighted ingredients like passionfruit, lime and lemon in delicous cremeuxs and gels. This tartlet is, to me, the best way to appreciate the magnificent key lime. The key lime curd was wonderfully tart and the chantilly cream provided some lightly sweet relief. What’s more, even the tart shell (something we spent very long on at culinary school), was deliciously golden brown, crispy and not too thick. As soon as it’s key lime season, you must get this one from Café Clementine. This was another brunch item – I can’t remember whether it was a regular menu item or a special – that I had in October 2023. While I can’t recall the details, I remember it being Mediterranean themed, and I think that middle patty was lamb. It tasted just like the middle eastern kebabs I’ve eaten on countless occasions, with some bright pickled onions and arugula cutting through the richness of that sauce. I believe this was the housemate focaccia too. All this to say, if they have brunch specials, you should definitely get one. Another shot of the German chocolate cake that changed my life. 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After reading some wonderful things about Eat Art Love, we decided to check them out for brunch a couple of weeks ago. Located in the Warehouse Arts District at 589 22nd St S in an unassuming strip plaza, one would never guess what wonderful creations come out of this kitchen. They are currently open for brunch only Friday – Sunday from 9:00am – 3:00pm. However, starting January 8th they will be joining forces with Roy Allen who is opening Sage’s Playground (next door) to offer a full cafe experience. Sage’s offers specialty coffee, tea and seasonal drinks. The new hours starting January 8th will be Wednesday – Friday 8am – 2pm for fast casual grab and go food and caffeine fixes, and Saturday – Sunday for full service brunch from 9am – 2pm. There are plans in the works for 2025 to possibly add dinner a night or two during the week. The Executive Chef and Co-Owner is Mario Brugnoli, whose resume includes professional cooking at fine dining restaurants, including Michelin star Rocca in Tampa and Meliora in Sarasota. He has also competed on Food Network’s show Chopped. Co-Owners with Chef Mario are Jose and Natalie Martinez also owners of Sartorial, Inc in downtown St Pete. Our first visit we decided to start with one of the specialty drinks called Jess’s Spiced Green Tea Elixir made with green tea, spice infusion and rosemary. You can choose to add prosecco, which I did. It’s quite refreshing for any occasion. The interior is quaint and festive. Reservations are recommended as there are limited tables. Our first food item was the Poached Egg Dip with creamed potato and chives and served with sourdough bread for dipping. This is a wow dish and a must order to share. It’s rich, creamy and the sourdough is just dreamy as well. Next, we had to order the E.A.L. Classic which has perfectly soft-scrambled eggs, with kielbasa that has that satisfying snap when you bite into it and a juicy burst of salty flavor. The hashbrowns were quite crunchy, but a tad overcooked giving them a bit of a burnt taste. The caramelized onions and housemade spicy salsa verde rounded out the dish nicely. The Housemade Sausage Sandwich was a no brainer to try with pickled onions, Weber’s mustard and a potato roll. In my book, you can never go wrong with sausage and mustard. This was very good, but in my opinion, it could have used more mustard. On our second visit, the very next week, our friend Lisa joined us. She and I started with prosecco. Kevin ordered this highly impressive, housemade hot cocoa which came out ceremoniously with a flaming marshmallow. This was so rich and decadent. You could tell it was made in house. I would so order this again. I had my eye on the Confit Duck Leg from the get go. The grits with whipped feta were a perfect textural balance to the crispy duck skin and juicy interior. I could not really find a reason for the tomatoes. They didn’t add anything flavor wise to the dish or the visual appeal. I think it would be gorgeous and taste better without them. They just seemed out of place. The stand out star from both visits was Grandpa Larry’s Benedict which Lisa ordered. The 24 hour ragu is Mario’s grandfather’s recipe and is absolutely delicious. Combined with the eggs, garlic bread, parmesan and basil it is an outstanding, hearty dish that I can’t wait to eat again. A very cute presentation on the Fried Chicken Sandwich served in a sandwich sleeve with Chef Mario’s picture on the front. The Fried Chicken Sandwich is monstrous. It is served on a potato roll with hot honey, mayo and pickled cabbage. The chicken was fried to perfection. I am not a fan of the “hot honey” craze that it seems every chef in town is into, I would order this again without it. If you’re a savory person, like me. I would suggest that. The bun is good but had a hard time holding up to the sandwich. But again, the chicken is really the star here and it worked well. Kevin recommends cutting the sandwich in half, and then eating it from the middle. This way you get all of the flavors together at once and it’s much more enjoyable than chewing through the plain chicken alone from the outside overhang until you get to everything else. All in all, Eat Art Love is such a great addition to the Warehouse Arts district and has such a unique menu. I would highly recommend for all to support this great local spot. Eat Art Love Menu
Lajawab Indian Cuisine is a great new Indian spot in St. Pete. They opened in June 2024. (They are at 2705 54th Ave N. where ABC Seafood used to be.) It is owned by two Indian chef brothers making a wide variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. “Lajawab” means “unmatched” or “incomparable.” It is often used to describe something that is exceptional, outstanding, or beyond comparison. Lajawab Indian Cuisine chose their name well. My Indian friend Mahika (she writes for St. Pete Foodies too) went with me for my second visit and she was quite pleased. My Pakistani friend (Pakistan used to be part of India), Brendan said, “It’s the best Indian food Pinellas has ever had!” One last quote from Bieanca, “Love this place! I just came back from India and can say the food is authentic”. Lori accompanied me for my first visit. Cilantro tastes like soap to her. It’s genetic. It completely ruins any dish. 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In this recipe, we are transforming simple ingredients into an elevated flatbread that is ideal for enjoying on these cooler December evenings. All of the elements involved in this sausage, pesto & peperonata flatbread are not only complementary together, but they are equally as delicious when used in different applications. The pesto can be tossed with your favorite pasta or served alongside arancini (we actually did this for Thanksgiving this year and it was a hit). Peperonata can serve as an easy appetizer spooned onto crusty slices of bread, or as a tangy topper for sandwiches, crispy cutlets or even with a steak. You can use any type of flatbread for this recipe. On a busy weeknight when time is of the essence, I suggest grabbing a flatbread option that is already baked in the package – naan could even work well here. Rollin’ Oats Natural Food Market sells a few different variations like O’Doughs flatbread, which happens to be gluten free and vegan. If you’d rather bake a homemade or store-bought dough and have the time, I recommend going for it. This way, you can control the thickness of your flatbread. The bake time is only about ten extra minutes, if you opt for this route. The ground Italian sausage brings the the whole flatbread together with its subtle touch of savory spice. Ground Italian sausage is my preference, but if you’d rather a fully-cooked version, you can’t go wrong. Simply slice it into rounds and arrange before baking the flatbread in the oven. Sausage, Pesto & Peperonata Flatbread Recipe In this recipe, sweet and sour peperonata, pesto and sausage are combined to create an elevated take on flatbread. You don't have to make your flatbread dough from scratch in order to get the most out of this recipe – there are plenty of suitable store-bought options available. Pesto5 cups basil (5 packed cups, fresh)3/4 cup parmesan cheese (finely grated)1/2 cup pine nuts3 garlic cloves (peeled and smashed)3/4 cup olive oil1 tsp salt (plus more, to taste)1 tbsp lemon juice (from 1/2 of a small lemon (optional))Peperonata3 bell peppers (about 3 cups, mix of colors of choice, thinly sliced)1/2 cup olive oil1/2 white onion (medium in size, sliced thin)4 garlic cloves (peeled, smashed and sliced very thin)5 sprigs fresh thyme2 1/2 tbsp red wine vinegarsalt (to taste)Flatbread Assembly1 flatbread (homemade or a mix like Bob's Redmill or an already prepared flatbread of choice (naan would work great too))1 lb cooked ground sausage1/2 cup parmesan cheese (grated )basil or parsley (chopped (optional)) PestoHeat your oven to 325F and spread your pine nuts on a parchment lined baking sheet. Toast for 6 minutes. Add pine nuts and all pesto recipe ingredients, except the oil, (including lemon, if using – this will add a touch of brightness) to a food processor or high powered blender. Blend or process on high while slowly streaming in the oil until the pesto is smooth. Add more salt as needed. Set pesto aside until you're ready to assemble the flatbread.PeperonataHeat oil in a large pot or dutch oven over medium heat. Add in peppers, onion, garlic and thyme and cook for 6 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low to cook the mixture slowly until peppers and onions soften, about 25 minutes. Discard thyme sprigs, stir in red wine vinegar and season with salt to taste. Set aside.Flatbread AssemblyHeat oven to 400F. If using a homemade or store bought dough, roll it out onto a parchment-lined baking sheet to your desired thickness. Top with a few spoon fulls of pesto (evenly dispersed), cooked ground sausage and half of the grated parmesan. Bake for 20 minutes. If using an already baked flatbread or other bread like naan, repeat steps with pesto, sausage and parmesan and bake for only 10 minutes.Remove flatbread from the oven and increase oven heat to 425F. Top flatbread with peperonata and remaining grated parmesan. Bake for another 6-8 minutes.Carefully remove the flatbread from the oven, drizzle with more pesto and garnish with chopped basil or parsley.Slice flatbread as desired and serve. Appetizer, Dinner, Main Course, Main DishAmerican, Cajun, ItalianSausage, Pesto & Peperonata Flatbread
French and Moroccan cuisine are two genres of food that we currently do not have enough of in the St. Petersburg area. Because of this, it is no surprise that the community has welcomed the newly-opened permanent location of Cybel French Moroccan Restaurant on 5th Ave N. in Kenwood with open arms. Cybel is actually the only French Moroccan restaurant in the area. Chef Touf, who we had the pleasure of meeting during our meal at Cybel, is the mind behind the operation. Chef started his professional cooking journey in LA as a private chef for a number of athletes and celebrities. This operation then transformed into a catering company. In 2023 Chef Touf brought Cybel to life as a ghost kitchen located at Foodie Labs, which acts as a culinary incubator. After eight months at Foodies Labs, Chef Touf announced in July that a new home for Cybel would be coming soon. On November 1st, their brick and mortar location opened to the public. Why French Moroccan fare? Chef Touf’s inspiration behind serving French Moroccan in his restaurant stems from his years spent in Morocco as a child. During this time, he grew very fond of the cuisine. Currently, Cybel is open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday beginning at 5:00PM, however, they just announced on November 19th that brunch would be debuting this weekend (weekend of November 23rd) from 11:00AM – 3:30PM. The brunch will be in collaboration with Brewed Awakenings, which operates out of Cybel’s restaurant Wednesday – Monday from 7:00AM – 3:00PM. The brunch menu will feature dishes like Tagine Shakshuka, Za’atar Avocado Tartine and Merguez, just to name a few. Intriguing coffee beverages by Brewed Awakening include cold brew lemonade, a thai latte, matcha latte and an oat latte with your flavor choice of lavender or cinnamon banana bread. Reservations are now available. As for Cybel’s standard dinner menu, you’ll find an array of shareable items, vibrant salads, mouthwatering entrees like tagines, kabobs, shawarma and a must-order French taco, a selection of pitas and various sides that are not to be overlooked. We tried to order something from each section and what made this easy is the fact that a number of the entrees offer some of the sides and salads. This was ultra convenient and allowed us the opportunity to try some items that we otherwise may have not ordered on our own. Because Cybel does not serve alcohol, they encourage guests to bring their own. That’s right – BYOB. When you’re planning your visit to Cybel, make sure to bring along one of your favorite bottles to enjoy along side your meal. For their new brunch, I suggest a bottle of delicious bubbles to complement your leisurely weekend dining experience. As I mentioned earlier, when talking about their new brunch, Cybel encourages reservations. These can be secured via their website here. We arrived at Cybel on a Friday night for our 6:00PM reservation. Because we checked in before the rush, we had our pick of sitting inside or outside. The interior of the space has approximately ten tables and the exterior offers a handful more – we opted for a two top inside. Around 6:30PM, the restaurant was packed both inside and out. It was bustling which kept the staff quite busy. Our server was so attentive, especially considering how busy they were. After we placed our food order and received our appetizer, she informed us that the mains may take a bit longer than expected, but that’s never an issue for us. We really wanted to try a number of the items from the starters section of the menu and the Un peu de tout was absolutely perfect for that. It is great to share between a few people and includes falafel, labneh, hummus, Moroccan ratatouille, tabbouleh with zaatar pita bread. 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The six sick sauce (additional $3) is a blend of all six of their sauces in one which makes for an incredible sauce that hits all of the notes (I know, it sounds like a lot, but you have to trust me here). This item could definitely be split between two people, as it is very large. The next entree of note that we ordered is the Chicken Shawarma. It comes with marinated shawarma that is sliced thin and served with garlic sauce (Toum), Mediterranean rice and parsley salad. This was my entree of choice and I’m so glad that I selected it as it was light, fresh and chock-full of savory flavor and I couldn’t get enough of the garlic sauce. It was like a build your own bite experience which also makes this an entree that could easily be shared. We had the leftovers the next day with some pita and that whole experience was equally as tasty as the first. We really wanted to give the beef kabobs a try and the pita as our kabob vessel with a side of fries and it was a home-run. It arrived dressed with […]
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In this recipe, we are transforming simple ingredients into an elevated flatbread that is ideal for enjoying on these cooler December evenings. All of the elements involved in this sausage, pesto & peperonata flatbread are not only complementary together, but they are equally as delicious when used in different applications. The pesto can be tossed with your favorite pasta or served alongside arancini (we actually did this for Thanksgiving this year and it was a hit). Peperonata can serve as an easy appetizer spooned onto crusty slices of bread, or as a tangy topper for sandwiches, crispy cutlets or even with a steak. You can use any type of flatbread for this recipe. On a busy weeknight when time is of the essence, I suggest grabbing a flatbread option that is already baked in the package – naan could even work well here. Rollin’ Oats Natural Food Market sells a few different variations like O’Doughs flatbread, which happens to be gluten free and vegan. If you’d rather bake a homemade or store-bought dough and have the time, I recommend going for it. This way, you can control the thickness of your flatbread. The bake time is only about ten extra minutes, if you opt for this route. The ground Italian sausage brings the the whole flatbread together with its subtle touch of savory spice. Ground Italian sausage is my preference, but if you’d rather a fully-cooked version, you can’t go wrong. Simply slice it into rounds and arrange before baking the flatbread in the oven. Sausage, Pesto & Peperonata Flatbread Recipe In this recipe, sweet and sour peperonata, pesto and sausage are combined to create an elevated take on flatbread. You don't have to make your flatbread dough from scratch in order to get the most out of this recipe – there are plenty of suitable store-bought options available. Pesto5 cups basil (5 packed cups, fresh)3/4 cup parmesan cheese (finely grated)1/2 cup pine nuts3 garlic cloves (peeled and smashed)3/4 cup olive oil1 tsp salt (plus more, to taste)1 tbsp lemon juice (from 1/2 of a small lemon (optional))Peperonata3 bell peppers (about 3 cups, mix of colors of choice, thinly sliced)1/2 cup olive oil1/2 white onion (medium in size, sliced thin)4 garlic cloves (peeled, smashed and sliced very thin)5 sprigs fresh thyme2 1/2 tbsp red wine vinegarsalt (to taste)Flatbread Assembly1 flatbread (homemade or a mix like Bob's Redmill or an already prepared flatbread of choice (naan would work great too))1 lb cooked ground sausage1/2 cup parmesan cheese (grated )basil or parsley (chopped (optional)) PestoHeat your oven to 325F and spread your pine nuts on a parchment lined baking sheet. Toast for 6 minutes. Add pine nuts and all pesto recipe ingredients, except the oil, (including lemon, if using – this will add a touch of brightness) to a food processor or high powered blender. Blend or process on high while slowly streaming in the oil until the pesto is smooth. Add more salt as needed. Set pesto aside until you're ready to assemble the flatbread.PeperonataHeat oil in a large pot or dutch oven over medium heat. Add in peppers, onion, garlic and thyme and cook for 6 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low to cook the mixture slowly until peppers and onions soften, about 25 minutes. Discard thyme sprigs, stir in red wine vinegar and season with salt to taste. Set aside.Flatbread AssemblyHeat oven to 400F. If using a homemade or store bought dough, roll it out onto a parchment-lined baking sheet to your desired thickness. Top with a few spoon fulls of pesto (evenly dispersed), cooked ground sausage and half of the grated parmesan. Bake for 20 minutes. If using an already baked flatbread or other bread like naan, repeat steps with pesto, sausage and parmesan and bake for only 10 minutes.Remove flatbread from the oven and increase oven heat to 425F. Top flatbread with peperonata and remaining grated parmesan. Bake for another 6-8 minutes.Carefully remove the flatbread from the oven, drizzle with more pesto and garnish with chopped basil or parsley.Slice flatbread as desired and serve. Appetizer, Dinner, Main Course, Main DishAmerican, Cajun, ItalianSausage, Pesto & Peperonata Flatbread
The temperature here in Florida may still be quite warm, but it is in fact fall and I can’t help but shift into comfort-cooking mode. For me, that means that lots of pasta dishes and comforting soups are frequently in the dinner rotation. A few months ago, I made stuffed rigatoni for the first time and fell in love with both the process of making it and the end result. The rigatoni was filled with a mixture of ricotta, mozzarella and provolone cheese and minced mortadella and was served in a spicy tomato sauce. While enjoying this dish, a number of alternative filling possibilities entered my mind and a simple mixture of ricotta and mushroom was one of the first. I’ve been making marinara at least once (sometimes twice) per month, usually on Sundays, for at least ten years now. Over the course of these ten years, tweaks and changes have been made to the recipe and a few years ago, I landed on what works best for my taste. The ingredient list is simple, but depends heavily on quality ingredients – like premium whole peeled tomatoes, 24 month parmigiano reggiono rinds and some good red wine. Luckily, Rollin’ Oats is a mecca for premium ingredients. For the sauce, they have a few canned tomato offerings that I recommend, like Cento and also organic variations from Muir Glen and Bionature. And we all know that they have a wonderful selection of great wines to choose from and a few experts on their staff to help you make a selection. You’re only using 1/4 cup in this recipe, but I always recommend using a wine that you would drink when cooking. You could undoubtedly assemble this recipe on a weekday, however, I think it is best enjoyed on a slow Saturday or Sunday. In the recipe, I suggest cooking the sauce for at least an hour, but you can definitely allow it to simmer for up to a few hours. The smell of marinara flowing through the home is one of my favorite scents ever. You can use this sauce in many other recipes like meatballs, chicken parmesan or other pastas of course like spaghetti. Ricotta & Mushroom Stuffed Rigatoni Recipe This comforting pasta dish is comprised of rigatoni that is stuffed with a mix of creamy ricotta cheese and savory mushrooms that is then baked in a simple marinara sauce. ovensafe skillet or large dutch ovenBlender Marinara1 tbsp olive oil1/2 white onion (medium in size, roughly chopped)3 garlic cloves (peeled and crushed)1 tsp dried oregano2 tbsp tomato paste1/4 cup red wine (pick a red that you would drink)2 bay leaves1 28oz can crushed or whole peeled tomatoesparmesan rind (optional)1 tsp salt (plus more to taste)Ricotta & Mushroom Filling1 tbsp olive oiltsp tsp salt (divided)8 oz mushrooms (diced into very small pieces – shiitake, baby bella, or most any other mushroom will work)10 oz ricotta cheese1 eggRigatoni & Assembly16 oz rigatoni (you may have leftover rigatoni – save them for another use)1 tbsp olive oil1/4 cup parmesan (grated)1/4 cup fresh basil (roughly chopped or torn) Ricotta & Mushroom FillingHeat 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add mushrooms and 1/2 tsp salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid from mushrooms has evaporated completely – about 10-12 minutes.Add cooked mushrooms to a bowl with ricotta, beaten egg and remaining 1 tsp salt. Allow mixture to cool in the refrigerator while you prepare the marinara.After filling has cooled for an hour, add filling to a sandwich-sized ziplock bag. Cut a very small opening into one corner of the bag (smaller than the size of the opening of the rigatoni).MarinaraHeat a dutch oven or pot that is medium in size over medium heat. Add 1 tbsp olive oil and chopped onion. Cook onion, stirring occasionally, until it softens (6-8 minutes). Season with 1/2 tsp salt.Add in crushed garlic cloves and dried oregano and cook for one minute, stirring constantly, until fragrant – about one minute. Stir in tomato paste and cook until it takes on a brick red color. Pour in wine, deglaze pan, and allow the wine to reduce for 2-3 minutes. Add bay leaves, tomatoes, parmesan rinds (if using) and another 1/2 tsp salt to the pot and stir to combine.Bring marinara to a simmer, reduce heat to medium low, and allow sauce to simmer gently for about one hour. Season with more salt as needed. After an hour, discard bay leaves and parmesan rinds and blend sauce with an immersion blender or in a high powered blender until smooth. Add sauce to a large oven-safe skillet (like cast iron) or a large dutch oven and set aside until ready to fill rigatoni.Rigatoni & AssemblyHeat oven to 350 F. Cook pasta 1-2 minutes less than package instructions (you want an al dente texture to keep the rigatoni from ripping – they will cook further in the final steps of the recipe in the oven). Strain and rinse with cold water, add to a large bowl and toss with 1 tbsp olive oil to keep the rigatoni from sticking together.One at a time, pipe filling mixture into each piece of rigatoni and arrange in a single layer in prepared skillet/dutch oven with pureed marinara until you run out of room (you want to nestle them into the sauce so they are mostly covered).Repeat with remaining pieces of rigatoni. Distribute half of grated parmesan over the stuffed rigatoni in marinara.Place skillet into the oven until cheese melts and begins to take on a light golden color- 20-25 minutes. Top with remaining grated parmesan and basil and serve immediately. Dinner, Main Course, Main DishAmerican, ItalianRicotta & Mushroom Stuffed Rigatoni
Elevate your appetizer game with these beef kofta skewers that are laced with irresistible spices and baked to juicy perfection. A drizzle of zesty toum sauce adds a garlicky kick, while a cucumber and tomato salad brings a refreshing crunch that complements the meat beautifully. Serve this all with some warm naan bread to round out the dish. Kofta is a popular Middle Eastern dish that is typically made from ground beef, lamb or chicken that is mixed with spices, herbs and often garlic and onion. The mixture is then formed onto skewers and usually grilled or sometimes baked. Kofta is often served with rice, flatbreads, vibrant salads and a sauce like tahini or toum. There are many different variations and it is a beloved dish across many different cultures. I like to serve kofta as an appetizer for a group and often as an entree for my husband and I. My sauce of preference with kofta is usually a homemade toum sauce. Toum sauce is a recent discovery of mine that I had while dining with friends and after one taste, I knew that I loved it and needed to recreate it. It’s a creamy and flavor-packed condiment that is made from a few simple ingredients – a head of garlic, neutral oil, lemon juice and salt. The mixture is formed in a food processor until a creamy sauce forms (similar to the consistency of yogurt). We use ground beef in this kofta variation – a very high quality organic and grass-fed ground beef that can be found at Rollin’ Oats. They have a few different options, but I prefer the Simply Balanced 90/10 selection. Quality is always of the utmost importance to me when it comes to sourcing any ingredient that I use and I can always trust Rollin’ Oats to have the absolute best. Beef Kofta with Toum Sauce Recipe Savor the spiced flavors of juicy beef kofta paired with a garlicky, creamy toum sauce that elevates this Middle Eastern dish to a whole new level. skewers Beef Kofta1 lb ground beef1/4 cup white onion (minced)2 tsp garlic (minced)1/4 cup parsley and mint (finely chopped)1 tbsp olive oil2 tsp all spice2 tsp paprika1 tsp cumin1 tsp coriander 1 tsp salt1/2 tsp cinnamon1/2 tsp black pepperToum Sauce1 cup garlic cloves (peeled)3 cups neutral oil (grape seed, sunflower, vegetable or canola)1/2 cup lemon juice2 tsps Kosher saltCucumber & Tomato Salad1 tomato (ripe, medium in size & diced)1/2 cup cucumber (diced)1/4 cup basil (finely chopped)1/2 tsp salt (plus more to taste)To Servenaan breadlemon wedges Toum SauceSlice the garlic cloves in half lengthwise and remove any green sprouts. Transfer the sliced garlic cloves into a food processor and add the kosher salt to the garlic cloves. Process for a minute until the garlic becomes finely minced. Make sure to scrape down the sides of the food processor afterwards. While the food processor is running, slowly pour one to two tablespoons of oil, then stop and scrape down the bowl. Continue adding another tablespoon or two until the garlic starts looking creamy.Once the garlic looks emulsified by the few tablespoons of oil, increase the speed of pouring the oil and alternate with the ½ cup of lemon juice until all the oil and lemon juice is incorporated. This will take about 15 minutes to complete.Transfer the sauce into a glass container and cover with a paper towel in the fridge overnight. Makes about 4 cups. The next day, replace the paper towel with an airtight lid and keep in the fridge for up to 3 months.Cucumber & Tomato SaladCombine all ingredients in a bowl, season with salt and refrigerate until the kofta is finished.KoftaIf you're using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 20 minutes. This will prevent burning. Combine all kofta ingredients in a medium-sized bowl with your hands until everything is mixed well. Refrigerate the mixture for 30 minutes. Heat the oven to 450F. Place a wire rack onto a baking sheet and brush it with olive oil. After the mixture has been in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, divide it into four even-sized portions. Form each portion into a snake-like shape around each skewer.Bake the kofta for 13-15 minutes or until the beef is cooked through and beginning to brown on top.To ServeServe kofta on a platter with naan, cucumber and tomato salad, toum and lemon wedges. Appetizer, Dinner, Main DishMiddle EasternKofta, Toum Sauce, Baked Kofta
Low effort and high reward is the name of the game with this take on slow-roasted salmon. The slow-roasting process ensures tender and flakey salmon that melts in your mouth with each bite. The addition of citrus makes this dish quite refreshing while the chili crunch sprinkles in bold and spicy notes. Though the ingredients involved are minimal, together they are the utmost well-balanced. There isn’t a ton of produce in season right now in Florida, but citrus, including orange varietals and grapefruit are goods that you’ll find plenty of during this time of year. Marrying together the invigorating flavors in citrus with a high-quality, fatty piece of wild salmon is quite lovely. The chili crunch aids in adding some texture and the torn fresh dill (or basil) rounds out the dish. Avocado, which is also in season in September, pairs well with all of these ingredients too. If you’d like to also incorporate that, use 1/2 of a ripe avocado and slice it into thin pieces. You can certainly go the extra mile by making your own variation of chili crunch or chili crisp (trust me, it’s much easier than you may think!), but there are plenty of solid options on grocery store shelves these days. One of my favorites is from Momofuku and you can find this at Rollin’ Oats (it’s actually on sale currently). They offer a regular chili crunch, spicy and also a hot honey version. Another reputable brand at Rollin’ Oats is by Mr. Bing – they have a mild and spicy option. When it comes to selecting your salmon, I always suggest reaching for the wild caught versus the farm raised. Rollin’ Oats doesn’t have a dedicated seafood counter; however, they offer quality frozen wild caught salmon that works great for this dish. Just make sure to safely thaw the salmon prior to roasting it. Slow Roasted Salmon with Citrus & Spicy Chili Crunch Recipe Discover a new favorite low-effort dinner with this slow-roasted salmon which is paired with vibrant bits of citrus and a spicy assist from chili crunch. 16 ounces salmon (skin on and preferably wild-caught – 1 large piece or two 8 ounce pieces are recommended)1 tsp olive oil1/2 lemon (sliced into thin rounds)1 grapefruit (peel and pith removed and cut into thin rounds and then into halves and quarters)1 orange (peel and pith removed and cut into thin rounds and then into halves and quarters)1/2 tsp salt (plus more, to taste)2 tbsp chili crunch (plus more as needed – choose your favorite brand – I love Momofoku which can be found at Rollin' Oats)dill or basil (fresh & torn into smaller pieces (garnish, optional))avocado (sliced (optional)) Heat oven to 250F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the salmon on the lined baking sheet brush with olive oil, season with salt and top with the lemon slices.Roast the salmon for an hour and remove from the oven – the salmon should be quite tender and should pull easily away from the salmon's skin in pieces. Don't worry about keeping the salmon filet in one piece – we want it to flake a bit into chunks.To plate, arrange the flaky salmon pieces with citrus and avocado (if using) on a serving platter – there is no right or wrong way to do this, so feel free to get creative with your plating. Top with 2-3 spoon-fulls of chili crunch and garnish with torn dill or basil. Season with more salt as desired. Dinner, Main Course, Main DishAmericanSlow Roasted Salmon, Slow Roasted Salmon with Citrus & Chili Crunch
Fresh Corn Polenta with Pickled Shrimp brings together the sweetness of summer corn and the tangy notes of pickled shrimp. This recipe offers a brighter twist on traditional comfort food. This take on polenta acts as an idyllic canvas for the zesty shrimp which are pickled and marinated in a myriad of ingredients which include, but are not limited to: rice wine vinegar, citrus, crushed red pepper flakes and garlic. It’s a perfect dish for highlighting popular ingredients that are used a lot in summer cooking. Creating the fresh corn polenta could not be more simple and only requires a few ingredients that you probably already have on hand. I first made this polenta a couple of weeks ago after I picked up some corn from a farmer’s market in the area. I was told that the corn had just been harvested the day prior from a farm here in Florida. The method for making the fresh corn polenta was something that I had been wanting to experiment with. It all starts by peeling the corn and then grating it with the large holes on a boxed grater. From there, the grated corn mixture is then simmered with a couple of pats of butter and some salt until the polenta thickens a bit. This process only takes about ten minutes. The polenta is then finished with a squeeze of fresh lime. Initially, I had planned to top the fresh corn polenta with poached lobster and some chive butter (which I will be trying soon), but then I found some inspiration for pickled shrimp from a recent episode of a food-related show on television (The Lost Kitchen, for those interested). The shrimp are first poached in some water, lemon and salt. Then, they are placed in a pickling mixture in the refrigerator for a few hours (and up to 24 hours). The pickling mixture makes for tangy and flavorful shrimp that not only work well on this polenta, but also with many other things. These shrimp would work well on some toasty sourdough, tossed in a salad, nestled in some rice or simply on their own as an easy appetizer. For the shrimp, I always strive to use wild caught, but use whatever you can find. Rollin’ Oats has great quality frozen shrimp by Baywinds and Wixter Seafood. Simply thaw the shrimp and devein them with the shells on if they aren’t already deveined (this is easier to do than you think – use a wooden skewer or toothpick, poke it through the side of the shrimp in the middle towards the top and slowly thread and pull the vein out – give it a google for a tutorial). You can also use shrimp that are already peeled and deveined too, but cooking the shrimp with their shell on adds to the flavor and prevents overcooking of the shrimp. Fresh Corn Polenta with Pickled Shrimp Recipe Put summer's fresh corn to good use with this fresh corn polenta recipe. The pickled shrimp add a zesty zing when served atop the creamy polenta. glass bowl or glass Tupperware Poaching the Shrimp12 shrimp (medium to large in size – shell on, but deveined (optional, you can use peeled shrimp if you prefer))6 cups water6 cups ice1 lemon (cut in half)2 1/2 tbsp saltPickling the Shrimp3/4 cup rice wine vinegar2 tbsp sugar2 garlic cloves (peeled and smashed)1/2 tsp crushed red pepper1 dried bay leaf1/2 cup olive oilt tsp worcestershire 1 tsp salt1/2 tsp hot sauce (use your preference – I usually opt for Diamond Crystal)1/2 lemon (sliced into small wedges)1/4 cup red onion (sliced thin)Fresh Corn Polenta4 ears corn (husk and silk removed)2 tbsp butter1/2 tsp salt (plus more to taste)1/2 limeDish Assemblymicro-greens (for garnish – fresh dill would work well too (optional)) Pickling the ShrimpAdd vinegar, sugar, garlic, crushed red pepper and bay leaf to a microwave-safe bowl or glass measuring cup. Heat mixture for two minutes, stir to combine and cool completely in the refrigerator (30 minutes to an hour).When mixture is cool, stir in olive oil, worcestershire, hot sauce and salt. Then, mix in lemon wedges and sliced onions. Set aside until poached shrimp are ready.Poaching the ShrimpAdd water, juice lemon and lemon halves and salt to a medium pot and bring to a boil.Add deveined shrimp, remove pot from heat and allow shrimp to poach for 5 minutes (or until they turn pink).Add in ice and allow to sit for another 10 minutes.Remove shrimp from pot and discard water and lemon. Peel shrimp (leave tails on if desired, optional) and place into glass bowl or Tupperware for pickling.Pour prepared pickling mixture over the shrimp. Cover shrimp and place in the refrigerator for at least three hours and up to 24 hours.Fresh Corn PolentaGrate corn on the cob with the large holes of a box grater over a medium-size bowl.Heat grated corn, butter and salt over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until corn mixture thickens – about ten minutes. Taste and season with more salt as needed (polenta should now taste a bit more rich). Remove from heat and stir in juice of 1/2 lime.AssemblyTo plate, add 1/4 corn polenta mixture to each bowl, top with pickled shrimp and garnish with micro-greens or fresh dill. Appetizer, Dinner, Main DishAmericanFresh Corn Polenta, Pickled Shrimp
Previously I’d read about Italian Touch from amother source. You’re review was even more detailed and helpful. Now I definitely have to go. Thank uou
Best lasagne I’ve ever had anywheres! Definately returning.
We order from Italian Touch weekly!
When you live with an Italian man that’s looking for that perfect Italian food, I found that perfect place Italian Touch! It’s been around since I was a little girl, I remember my dad taking me there.
They are wonderful people and yes the place is always busy but it’s worth the wait!
Love this place. My family has been going there for 20+ years. It’s not on the menu but you might be able to talk the chef into an awesome pepper and egg sandwich.