The Wood-Fired Blog
A Few of My Pizza Oven Favorites
Oct 26, 2015A little more than a year has taught me a few things about pizza out of a Forno Bravo pizza oven. To name just a few: the woods and the flavor of smoke, the fire and how to trust in the dome-licking flames, the illusion of controlling the dough, yeast, humidity and time, and of course the toppings–spicy, sweet, tart, bold, creamy, sharp and all delicious. The most important lesson... Read More
Fire Roasted “Ratatouille”
Nov 21, 2014Okay so not really a true ratatouille in that you are not stewing the vegetables together but the high heat of the Forno Bravo gives the vegetables a great sear and roasted flavor. I’ve also taken liberties from the classic and added fennel, one of my favorites, for some extra depth. You do not need to be fancy with this one, let your knife and the shape of the vegetable... Read More
Steak And Tomatoes
Oct 31, 2014A late ode to the summer grill Our local farmer’s market had a handful of late harvest tomatoes left and I just could not resist a simple, fast and delicious ode to a summer meal off the Tuscan grill. Once your fire has burned down most of the way and your are left with a great bed coals, spread the coals evenly across the hearth and insert your Tuscan grill... Read More
Classic Dough And Smoky Tomato Sauce
Sep 19, 2014I am thrilled to be a part of the Forno Bravo community, and I am excited to share recipes, techniques, videos, photos and musings through the lens of a professional chef. My first post, of course, has to be pizza. However, I promise that I will keep you on your toes with different dishes and cooking methods to show off the versatility of the Forno Bravo oven. My first dough... Read More
Braised Beef “au Chasseur”
Jan 09, 2013Don’t let the fancy name fool you – what we’re talking about here is pot roast. I took my inspiration for the flavors in this dish from the classic French sauce chasseur, or hunter sauce, so I thought I’d give credit where it’s due. Sauce chasseur is a hearty amalgam of tomatoes, mushrooms and wine, so I have all those flavors working here, plus a couple more just because. This... Read More
Seared Beef Tenderloin With Black Sheep Cheese and Roasted Tomatoes
Jan 09, 2013This is one of those dishes that isn’t really a dish at all – just a confluence of good ingredients that happened to be at hand, with the end result being something beautiful and delicious. You’ll never really be able to recreate this dish: My tomatoes were grown by a family friend, and my cheese came from a farm that anyone outside of Illinois isn’t going to have access to.... Read More
Mussels With Chorizo and Beer
Nov 26, 2012Your first instinct might be to disagree, but mussels are actually a great food for entertaining: They’re cheap, they’re quick and easy to cook, and they give your guests a tactile connection to the communal aspect of sharing a meal as everyone dives in to a steaming pile of mussels to unearth the tender treasures hidden inside. What more could you need? Pairing mussels with chorizo is a classic combination,... Read More
Pizza With Roasted Mushrooms, Cherry Tomatoes, Red Onion and Basil
Aug 27, 2012If some evil, freedom-hating pizza dictator locked me in a cage and told me I could only have one topping on my pizza for the rest of my life, I would probably go with mushrooms. So here’s a recipe for a simple, more “traditional” pizza sporting some flavors that play well together, while still highlighting my personal desert-island topping. You will notice that I roast my mushrooms before I put... Read More
Oven Roasted Shellfish
Jan 16, 2012This is a quick and simple recipe for any combination of shellfish – clams, mussels, etc. Be sure to have lots of crusty bread on hand to help soak up the sauce and juices. Read More
