Chef Joe Gannascoli Cookin’ Up Seafood

You might know Joe Gannascoli as “Vito Spatafore Sr.” on HBO’s “The Sopranos”, butwhat you might not know is that he’s also an excellent chef, food enthusiast and has owned several restaurants that always serve up one of his favorite foods: Seafood.

After a stint of chef’ing in Manhattan, LA, and New Orleans, Joe opened a restaurant in Bay Ridge (Brooklyn, NY) called ‘101 Seafood’. It was there that he combined his Italian roots with seafood to create one of his signature dishes, Linguine with Crab Sauce.

“Crab sauce is like the Cadillac of sauces,” he said. “And I’m a big sauce guy. I love having four to five sauces for dipping.”

Joe strives to create unique flavors in his sauces, creating spins on classics. And even whipping up non-traditional dishes on occasion, like the mussels he made this past Christmas Eve — drenched in a lime, coconut milk, and cilantro sauce,

When Joe’s not cooking up his own seafood creations, he likes to go to Vincent’s Clam Bar in Long Island, NY. They serve a salmon “just kissed by the grill” in a mild marinade.

But don’t expect to see Joe out catching his salmon anytime soon. “I’m not a big fisherman. I’ve gone once or twice, but fly fishing is what I really love to do,” he said.

If you’re in the mood to do your crab up just right, check out Joe’s favorite recipe for Linguine with Crab Sauce »

The Best Farmers Markets in the U.S.

Where do you buy your produce? Although the answer may be simple, the question opens the door to a deeper discussion about buying local and supporting the farmers of your region. Farmers Markets are sprouting up all over the country, and consumers are flocking to them to pick up the freshest goods they can find. BlendAbout has picked out five of our favorites around the US. 

1.      The Union Square Greenmarket in New York, New York

In the most populated city in the US, you can still get freshly grown fruit and veggies in the heart of Union Square, a bustling shopping and dining neighborhood. It started back in 1976 with just a few farmers, but now has over 140 participating local farms. It’s open Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.  

2.      Ferry Plaza Farmers Market in San Francisco, California

By far the most famous, it is widely acclaimed for its diversity and quality of fresh produce and artisan food products. Though a bit on the pricey side, the variety and quality of produce is unmatchable. And if you arrive early enough on Saturdays, you may get a glimpse of San Francisco’s best known chefs as they shop for local produce! The main day to shop is every Saturday, from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm, but shops inside the Ferry Building are open 7 days a week. 

3.      Copley Square Farmers Market in Boston, Massachusetts

A farmers market is a special treat here with the harsh winters that Boston experiences. The Copley Square Farmers Market, located in the historic and upscale Back Bay area, is open May through November and features several dozen vendors selling local goods. Hours of operation are every Tuesday and Friday, from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm 

4.      Green City Market in Chicago, Illinois

Operating as Chicago’s only “truly green” farmers market, the mission of Green City Market is to provide a marketplace for only purchasing sustainably grown food. The Green City Market is open year-round, but expands to include an outdoor area from May through October, every Wednesday and Saturday. Right by Lincoln Park, the market ensures that all produce is local and sustainable. The outdoor season opens every Wednesday and Saturday from 7am-1pm and the indoor season opens every Saturday. 

5.       The Portland Farmers Market at PSU in Portland, Oregon

“Bringing the best of the country to the heart of the city,” Portland Farmers Market is located right on the Portland State University Campus. It’s open every Saturday, and offers chef-featured cooking demos, classes, and live music.

6.      The Original Farmers Market in Los Angeles, California

It’s not called the “original” for nothing. This farmers market opened back in 1934, and now hosts its own tours to visitors and locals alike. Aside from local produce, patrons can find old fashioned ice cream, poultry, and freshly-baked pies. There are even several amazing restaurants on the premises. The market is open on weekdays from 9am-9pm and on weekends from 9am-7pm. 

7.      Santa Fe Farmers Market in Santa Fe, New Mexico

The Santa Fe Farmers Market began back in the late 1960’s and now represents over 150 active vendors. Because of the city’s demand for fresh produce (which may be hard to find in a desert) the market began operating year round, and more farmers are extending their growing techniques to keep up. It’s open every Tuesday and Saturday, from 7am-12pm. 

8.      Crescent City Farmers Market in New Orleans, Louisiana

If you want unique produce and super fresh seafood, The Crescent City Farmers Market is the place to go. Juicy peaches, okra and creole tomatoes are some of their summer specialties. They’re on a mission to provide sound economic development to the greater New Orleans area, as well as create a place for the community to congregate and interact.  The market opens every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at various locations in the city.

7 Year Old Boy Tosses Pizza Like a Champion

If this kid can toss pizza like a champion at only 7 years of age, we can only imagine what he'll be capable of 10 years from now... Yes, I'm a little afraid...

Joanne Weir’s Cod Braised with Leeks, Potatoes, and Thyme

Joanne Weir is a culinary traveler with a fresh Cali cooking style, so it’s not surprising that seafood is a big part of her repertoire. In her most recent book Joanne Weir’s Cooking Confidence, she offers a variety of fishy recipes, including Sizzling Shrimp & Pimentón with Sherry, Prosciutto Wrapped Halibut, and (her favorite) Cod Braised with Leeks, Potatoes, and Thyme.

Joanne shares with us: “This is one of my absolute favorite kinds of meals. It was born of necessity on one of those nights where all of a sudden its dinnertime and I realize I haven’t given dinner a single thought all day.

On this occasion, I scoured the contents of my refrigerator and married some leeks, potatoes and thyme in a pot with chicken stock and white wine. The cod fillets I added turned out perfectly flaky. And just like that a simple and scrumptious new dish was created. On another day this dinner could have turned out quite differently, which really is the beauty of this one-pot wonder,”

This sounds like the perfect seafood dish for a cool night on the coast! But don’t take our word for it. Try out Joanne’s recipe for yourself…

Continue to the COD BRAISED WITH LEEKS, POTATOES AND THYME recipe >>

Hell’s Kitchen Winner Ja'Nel Witt Won't Do What??

It looks like another Hell’s Kitchen Winner won’t be moving into the position that was slated for them. Not surprised? Well, this time you should be.

Unlike the winners past, this time it’s the winner who’s turning down the job offered by Chef Gordon Ramsay. According to TMZ, the Hell’s Kitchen Season 11 winner, Ja’Nel Witt, has decided not to accept the $250k/year head chef position at The Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill in Las Vegas, citing “personal matters.

While she hasn’t shared details, her decision seems to have been made for reasons that don’t reflect on her relationship with Chef Ramsay.

But with the head chef seat at Ramsay’s restaurant left empty and Witt’s future as a seasoned chef in limbo, the offline version of this season’s Hell’s Kitchen finale seems far too familiar….