Spaghetti alla Carbonara is a simple dish and also very cheap to prepare. It wasn’t born, after all, in high society, but… after all, its history is unclear. There are different theories about Carbonara’s origin. Some people say it was invented by charcoal makers (carbonaio = charcoal makers) that used to work in bushes around Rome, others claim that the idea was given by American soldiers arrived in Rome in 1944 after the city liberation. But which Italian will believe in that…? Continue reading “Spaghetti alla Carbonara” →

Since I have been living In Italy I modified a bit my cooking habits. Before I preferred Asian tastes and my fridge was always full of ginger, lime, fish sauce, or such “inventions” like tamarind paste…The reason of this change is quite easy to explain. First of all the assortment of ethnic food is very limited in the nearest shops, and secondly now I have access to typical products that usually are difficult to get in Poland (like zucchini flowers, e.g.). So, I’ve taken the opportunity to cook Italian dishes using local ingredients.

The recipe below is a perfect solution in hot summer days and for everybody that can’t afford to spend too much time in the kitchen. Can’t get sheep cheese (pecorino)? No problem at all – simply use Parmesan! I recommend to buy it in one piece (not grated) and to restore it in the fridge into lid covered container with a small glass of salt inside (to capture humidity). Continue reading “Pasta with fresh tomatoes” →