The five best Italian restaurants in America? That's amore! Dished up by cutting-edge chefs and old school grannies, we've got Louisiana lasagna, seafood in Staten Island and Seattle's best handmade pasta -- the most craveable combinations of pasta, meat and cheese in the New World.
Five soul-soothing Italian comfort food dishes that'll help you beat the holiday stress. Braciole and Sausage Sunday Gravy; Cheesy Rice Cake Stuffed With Herbs and Greens; Potted Beef and Celery Root With Celery Gremolata; Cannelloni or Stuffed Shells With Veal and Sweet Sausage; Eggplant and Zucchini Roll Ups.
Giada De Laurentiis makes four traditional Italian recipes, then she takes a turn ... adding a few unexpected ingredients and techniques that give these familiar dishes a modern spin: Orzo With Mint Salmoriglio Sauce, Halibut With Artichoke and Olive Caponata, Rib-Eye Steaks With Smokey Arrabiata Sauce and Strawberries With Marsala and Lemon Sauce.
It's all things italian as we Tour the Chef Boyardee factory, relish how Ricotta is produced and get the "skinny" on Low Carb pasta. Visit a virtuoso turning noodles into works of art and see how garlic is prepped for packaging. Finally, cool off with Ciao Bella Gelato for dessert!
Chef Robert Irvine arrives at Italian Village in Milmont Park, Pa., hoping to uncover the keys to returning the 30-year-old staple to its early glory days. Not only will he need to overhaul the menu and dark interior, but he will need to fix the control issues hurting the business and the family behind the restaurant.
Melissa d'Arabian captures the fresh flavors of the Italian coast, starting with Mascarpone Crostini, topped with creamy cheese and roasted bell peppers or tangy pickled shallots. Fresh Mediterranean Pasta With Salsa Cruda features an uncooked tomato-caper sauce seasoned with a few surprise ingredients. For dessert, Individual Tiramisus will pick you up, not weigh you down. And the meal won't weigh on your wallet, either!
You know Guy Fieri loves his Italian food, and he's making it easy with his White Turkey Lasagna — we're taking layers of pasta, ricotta cheese, zucchini, spicy turkey sausage, mushrooms and mozzarella. To go with that, Crispy Zucchini Chips With Parmesan. Covered in herbs and crunchy panko breadcrumbs, they're awesome on their own, and even better dipped in Guy's roasted garlic aioli — bet you can't eat just one!
Tuscan Kitchen, in Salem, N.H., is a massive restaurant looking for an executive chef who can handle volume while maintaining a dedication to scratch cooking. Chef Anne Burrell brings in four candidates, who are tested on their Italian cuisine skills and knowledge. The final two chefs are each handed the keys to the restaurant for a dinner service: One chef must dig their way out of a bad start, while the other struggles with consistency.
Valerie Bertinelli's good friend, chef and Food Network personality Alex Guarnaschelli, is visiting from New York. To celebrate her being in town, Valerie brings the experience of Little Italy home by preparing some of her favorite classic Italian dishes. On the menu: Sausage and Pepper Sliders, Mom's Spaghetti and Meatballs, Prosecco with Limoncello and Candied Lemon slices, and fresh homemade Cannolis.
George Duran says Mangia! in true Ham on the Street fashion with his unique take on that American favorite: Italian food! Your spaghetti will never be overcooked again as George enlists some flame-throwing Little Leaguers to help him debunk the ol' "throw it against the wall" test. Dry meatballs? A thing of the past thanks to George's juicily delicious recipe. And if you've got olive fever, HOTS has got the cure: a fresh olive taste test. Plus, watch passersby play "Fill That Cannoli," then see how George turns spaghetti into an hors d'ouevre and converts lasagna to dessert!