Frankies

I got many great gifts this Christmas, but one of my favorites is this new cookbook from the two Franks behind one of my all-time favorite restaurants of the same name, Frankies Spuntino.  Although I have never made it to the original location in Brooklyn, I happen to live near their second one on Clinton Street on the LES of Manhattan.  Whether my mother is in town amd we are making dinner plans or its weekend brunch with the girls, Frankies is always a failproof choice. 

Addictive food with an Italian-American bent and a warm, inviting atmosphere make it the perfect spot for pretty much any situation that involves eating.  Which is why I was so beyond psyched when I found out that they were coming out with a cookbook and I would be let in on the secrets behind some of my favorite recipes straight from the pages of their menu.  

This "Kitchen Companion & Cooking Manual" is proof that some of the best tasting food is often simply prepared using fresh, but not necessarily expensive ingredients and will transform you into a great home cook, whether you are cooking for yourself, your family or entertaining for friends.  Some of my personal favorites include: Cipollini Onion Vinaigrette, Lentil Soup with Smoked Bacon and Sweet Potato Ravioli in Cheese Broth.