Dalla Terra all Amore

02/22/2026

Second Dalla Terra al Amore meal at the house this month.
This one was a good one and super filling.
New on the menu today was the lobster Panko Arancini. I had a similar dish at La posta restaurant on Valentine’s Day and wanted to try it on my own. Still haven’t knocked my socks off, but I think there might be something to it.
And brought back one of my favorites, which is the Rotella pasta. Still amazing.
One item I’m continuing to work on an almost ready to give up on is the smoked salmon mousse that I had at Pete’s seafood in Capitola.  sorry I didn’t get pictures of that. We served it on Crostini with tobiko.
And the swordfish I prepared a little bit differently than normal. I have a new stove top cast-iron grill, and it came out juicy other than ever.

01/31/2026

01/31/2026

01/31/2026

In-home restaurant dining

01/31/2026

Well, I’ve got enthused to pick up on the in-home restaurant action again. And pretty excited from some tips I picked up from Chefs Thomas Keller and Gordon Ramsay. Looking to raise the bar again.
Tonight I got to enjoy serving and eating with my neighbors and celebrating one of their birthdays today.

05/04/2025

I haven’t done any real cheffing in a long time. Been craving some nice fancy food. This one was just for me.

Seared broccoli and baby sweet peppers surrounding a bed of sautéed green, garlic and leeks. And on top,
Seared snap peas with a Calabrian pepper aoili
Swordfish with a spicy Peruvian sauce.
Filet mignon with a horseradish butter.
topped with shredded green garlic stalk.

Then topped it off with fresh blueberries, and strawberries with a coconut cream mango sauce

12/04/2024

I haven’t been able to get the Dalla Terra all Amore restaurant back going in my home but every once in a while I make a nice little meal for myself that I would definitely add to the menu.
Rare New York steak bites, dipped in fondue-queso made from cream fraîche , goat cheese, and Swiss and gruyère cheese with chicken broth and hatch green chilies. Served in a pumpkin like squash. Seared veggies, red onion, brussels sprouts, broccoli. See video comments.

10/25/2024

10/12/2024

A walk to the harbor and a stop at my local fish market H&H Fresh Fish Co. is always a good idea. Beautiful warm weather, and I picked up some premade tuna, poke, and Hamachi and swordfish.
Did a little experimenting with preparation and presentation today.
The Hamachi carpaccio appetizer and the swordfish entrée were extra delicious.

10/08/2024

-BBQ Sake K**a (salmon collars)
-Eggplant, asparagus, garlicky leeks, romance squash,Jimmy Nardello, red peppers.

09/30/2024

1. Clams and mussels in a roasted tomato base with garlic, shallots, sweet jimmy nardello red peppers, and garlicky leaks with capers, Calabrian pepper, smoked paprika, and saffron. Also some black rice pasta.
2. Romanesco squash, eggplant, asparagus, broccolini, Brussels, garlicky leeks, red onion, jimmy nardello red pepper, spices.

09/27/2024

Special post-workout and beach walk, Thursday night football treat for myself.
Stopped by the local fish market and picked up some fresh bluefin belly Otoro and mussels.

-Otoro sashimi with smoked shoyu sauce and wasabi
- Seared chili broccolini
- Seared baby sweet peppers and prawns. Served with a crème fraîche goat cheese cilantro and garlic lime chimichuri.
- Mussels and eggplant in a caper garlic truffle sauce

H&H Fresh Fish Co.