Bruschettina

Ciao!

I will no no longer be writing this blog.  To see what I'm up to in Italy, check out my new site, Life...Italian Style

http://www.bruschettina.typepad.com/life_italian_style/,

which I will begin in mid-November.

To reach Kaci Creed, the new owner of Bruschettina, go to www.bruschettina.com

Thanks Seattle - see you in Italy!!!

deep thoughts....

I just wanted to say how much I appreciate everyone's kind words and good wishes for my future!  Here are some snipits from emails I recieved:

I will miss your smiling eyes and mouth watering food. Have a great time in

Italy. Live your dreams! Especially if those dreams involve garlic, basil and octopus. Ciao. I'll have to visit you when I'm on my european tour.

Best of luck.  Enjoy Italy & especially the food!

Good for you! Also: do keep in touch. If things go the way I hope, I may find myself in your newly adopted home in the coming year, and would love to pay a (paying!) visit to your new Tucsan-oil-soaked kitchen -- with food-focused folk in tow (umbrian oil...).

I hope whoever takes over your bidness treats it well. Maybe you should sell it a woman

named Tina, so she can call it Tina-schittina. Maybe Tina Turner, but she would call it Whatґs-Love-Got-to-Do-schittina...Or to that unique touring sensation known as Blue-Man-Group-schittina.

Again, best of luck with Umbria.  We will all miss you in the market, but your legacy of having raised the bar for quick food in the market will (I hope) remain.

Thanks so much for starting your business, for your Farmers' Market booths as well as your formal dinners.  And thank you for sharing such exciting news about your future. 

I'm am SOOOO jealous!  I love Italy.  Good for you.  We will definately miss you in Seattle and hope you keep your email list to let us all know if/when you return to start cooking again.

Wow Jen! That sounds great. I'm so excited for you--it's actually a bit inspiring. Best of luck in all of your travels and future endeavors.

As a loyal Ballard Market diner, we will miss you! That said, congrats- too cool...

Wonderful!  You are changing your life - living in a different culture. I always encourage young people to experience it.

I'm glad for you, but so sorry for all of us! I will truly miss stopping by your stand, and the rest of my family will too. (OK, we'll give a new buyer a fair chance, but it won't feel the same.)

Congratulations on the move!  I’m sad you’re moving away but happy you’re doing something you want to do.

wow. damn. i mean great. i will try to make the final dinner and get it on film... thrilled for you.

photo from Seattle Bon Vivant

The Legendary....

OCTOPUS & CHICKPEAS...as one of my final posts, I thought I would put up pictures of the most requested Bruschettina item.  Check out the Octopus photo album for before and after shots!

Last Dinner

I would like to thank everyone who attended my last dinner at the Boat Street Cafe last night - I think it was a huge success - I wish I could do more of them!  I would especially like to thank the crew of Boat Street:  Renee, Russ, Eli, Shannon, Robert, and Erika - I could not have done it without you guys (and, of course, Federico, for the Umbrian "contraband" care package)!!!

Here is what we ate:

• Selection of Umbrian Cured Meats: salami, salami contadina, copacolla, salsiccia
• Porcini e Finocchio:  pickled porcini mushrooms, and fennel & radish salad with fig vinegar
• Polenta Bianca con Tartufi Neri:  white polenta with Umbrian black truffles
• Lumache alle Cacciatore:  snails, hunter style
• Fricco di Angello con Lenticche di Castelluccio:  lamb shoulder braised with vinegar and rosemary, with Umbrian lentils

Here is what we drank:

• Zardetto Prosecco
• La Carraia Orvieto Classico 2005
• Sportoletti Assisi Rosso 2004

side note:  I didn't think I would have to say this but....truffles are fabulous on just about everything....but who was making salami and truffle sandwiches??? (never help yourself to truffles, especially Italian truffles, without asking!) ;-)

Final Dinner at Boat Street Cafe

Unfortunately my last dinner is sold out - I wish everyone could come!  However, if you are in the Boat Street area this Sunday, please stop by and join us for aperitivi from 7:00 - 7:30 before the dinner - salute!

Also, if you have the chance - make sure you attend the family style dinners held occasionally at the Boat Street.  I went this past Sunday  - short ribs to die for!!!

Prosciutto Tastes Like....What?!?

I just read the Chow-Bio of this week's Stranger.  I don't know wether to laugh or cry.  The new "chef" (and I use that term extremely loosely) of the Asteroid Cafe (my former employer) was quoted saying "I don't like prosciutto—it tastes like dog food."  That statement is so offensive on so many levels, I don't even know where to begin......and I'm not going to....I'll just let that statement speak for itself.  :-(

http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=89331

Cioppino

This Week's Best Bite: Town & Country

One of my favorite takeout dinners is a bowl of cioppino ($5.99/32 oz.) from the seafood counter at Central Market (15505 Westminster Way N., Shoreline), also available at other Town & Country markets.

The rich tomato-clam broth is stuffed with comfort, from big rounds of cooked carrot to hearty chunks of cod and halibut.

-- Rebekah Denn (Seattle P-I)

I get the cioppino from the Ballard Market (town & country) all the time- I actually had it yesterday afternoon for lunch!

Le Fotografie Italiane

I finally posted my photos from my trip to Italy - check them out - there's a lot!

Be on Alert!!!

I forgot to mention, for those who haven't heard, my car was stolen a few weeks ago!  The last I've heard is that the @#%*#@! who stole my car broke into someone's house in Kenmore (and dropped a reciept from the car that had my name on it).

Be on the look-out for a white 1991 Subaru Legacy Wagon, license plate 309 PBH.  The body was in good condition - the only identifier is that there is no roof rack - rare for Suby's.

FAQ's

Its been a very long time since I posted anything.  I think the best way to re-begin is to answer all those questions everyone has been asking! here goes...

1. Are you moving ?  Yes

2. Where?  Foligno, a small town in Umbria, about 20 minutes from Perugia.  It is the geographical center of Italy, so of course, Foligno-ites call their home "The Center of the Universe."

3.  When?  I am leaving Seattle on November 14.  I will return to my home town of Philadelphia to celebrate my friends' Elyse and Carl's wedding, and, of course, the holidays.  I will fly to Italy on December 28.

4. Is it true that you fell in love with an Italian?  Yes.  His name is Federico Bibi, and he makes Trampetti Olio Extra Vergine di Oliva http://www.trampetti.it/, which is used by some of the best restauants in Seattle!

5.  Is Federico jealous that you are using Mannucci Droandi Olive Oil?  Its okay, we have worked it out...

6.  What will you do in Italy?  Cook, of course!  I also plan to attend the University for Foreigners in Perugia - gotta work on il mio italiano http://www.unistrapg.it/english/

7.  Are you selling your business?  Yes, after careful consideration, I have decided to sell the business.  I will sell only to someone who intends to run it in the same spirit as I have.  Don't worry Octopus Lovers, I will train them well!

8.  What about your cat?  The Sebastianator is going to live with my Mom in Glenside, indoors, supervised, no more grass...

9.  Will you ever return to Seattle?  You never know.........  ;-)

coming soon:  photos from Italy!!!