Kosher Dosher...“I am a culinary Heretic"

Pasta Fazool is an all-time favorite of mine and once more  brings me back to my early childhood. I have the fondest memories sitting at my Grandfather's kitchen table while he prepared his take on Italian Classics. The Kitchen was small and so was the table. In those days (60 & the 70's) everyone used their kitchen table as their prep area.  My Grandfather on my Dad's side was the epitome of everything Italian and Sicilian. And adding to this characteristic of everything Italian was the owner of a bar. I am not kidding either. The Co-Owner of the bar and silent partner was......let's just say he was an unsavory type. The Bar was called the Queens Bar. Everyone in the neighborhood hung out at the bar. And yes before you ask it was a hangout for the  "M" . Poppi (that's what we called my Grandfather) made a lot of food for the bar and everyone loved eating there. It was not a restaurant mind you but a dark and gloomy bar. Anyhow he just loved to coo...

Again, this brings me back to my early childhood sitting at my Grandfather's kitchen table while he prepared his take on Italian Classics. The Kitchen was small, and so was the table. In those days (60 & 70's), everyone used their kitchen table as their prep area.  My Grandfather on my Dad's side was the epitome of everything Italian and Sicilian. Adding to this stereotype, of course, was the fact he owned a bar too. I am not kidding, either. The Co-Owner of the bar was......let's just say he was an unsavory type. The Bar was called the Queen's Bar. Everyone in the neighborhood hung out at the bar. And yes, before you ask, it was a hangout for the "M" . Poppi (that's what we called my Grandfather) made a lot of food for the bar, and everyone loved eating there. It was not a restaurant mind you but a dark and gloomy bar. Anyhow he just loved to cook and share hi,s food, and that's what he did. Oh, and he never charged anyone for his food ...