Pasta Perfection: Expert Tips for the Best Fillings, Sauces, and Gnocchi
How an Italian comfort food launched a community, plus recipes and shopping advice. As the founder of Pasta Social Club, Meryl Feinstein does not shy away from cheese. It’s a staple in her culinary arsenal, enhancing dishes featured in her cookbook manuscripts, newsletter recipes, and workshops. Fresh out of culinary school and on the heels […]
Four Shopping Tips From a Pasta-making Professional
Love eating Italian cheese? Read this before your next trip to the grocery store. Meryl Feinstein, the pasta-making professional behind the popular Instagram account @pastasocialclub, doesn’t mess around when it comes to her Italian comfort food or cheese picks. Below is a list of her top shopping tips for selecting the best cheeses. Meryl Feinstein’s […]
Meryl Feinstein’s Caramelized Onion Cheese Sauce
This caramelized onion cheese sauce is a fan favorite—like “fancy mac and cheese,” Feinstein says. Though technically simple, this dish takes time, but “it’s worth the effort.” A mix of mild and aged cheddars with gruyère (or gouda, Comté, or Emmentaler) provides a “nice balance to the sauce,” she says.
Meryl Feinstein’s Alpine Cheese Fondue Filling
Meryl Feinstein claims this Alpine cheese fondue filling is one of the “most glorious things” she’s ever made. The fonduta-style filling (a traditional filling for some variations of agnolotti) emerged while trying to develop a pasta filling that wasn’t meat-based. “It’s like a burst of fondue in your mouth—a technical marvel,” Feinstein says. Boasting melty […]
Meryl Feinstein’s Ricotta Gnocchi
Meryl Feinstein adores this gnocchi recipe because “it’s simple, quick, and a little unexpected.” While potato gnocchi is more common, Feinstein prefers ricotta gnocchi because it has a little “extra bite.” She also appreciates how versatile the quick-cooking pasta can be: “It goes with pretty much any sauce.”
Utilize Winter Citrus To Make Your Holiday Brunch Pop
Photographed by Taylor Peltons A much as I love the traditionally beige food parade that ushers in The HolidaysTM, I envision a world in the not-so-distant future where it is more than commonplace for those (albeit beloved) foodstuffs to share a table with less nap-inducing creations; creations rich with tongue-tickling spice, exotic citrus, and palate-cleansing […]
How To Incorporate Blue Cheese Into Your Holiday Menu
Elevate entertaining with a robust Spanish cheese that swings sweet and savory Photographed by Derek Bissonnette Crafted from both cow’s and goat’s milk in the mountainous region of León, Spain, Valdeón is an artisan cheese that has a rich and distinctively tangy taste with a silky texture. This versatile cheese is not only beautiful to […]
Valdeón-Crusted Beef Tenderloin with Steak Frites and Chimichurri
The crust on this beef tenderloin is inspired from a dish at the White Barn Inn in Kennebunkport, Maine. Slightly spicy chimichurri adds a lively kick when paired with the equally piquant cheese. This recipe will yield enough crust for 6 to 8 steaks, so feel free to freeze the unused portion for a future […]
Valdeón Cheese Ball
Add a bit of festive flair and elevate the bland cheese balls of past holiday get-togethers. Pair with candied Ritz Crackers for a fancy touch, and get ready for scores of compliments.
Candied Bacon Valdeón-Stuffed Dates
Elevate your appetizer game with these Valdeón-stuffed dates wrapped in candied bacon. Rich, savory, and sweet, this dish marries smoky bacon with tender dates and creamy, pungent Valdeón cheese. Don’t be afraid to make a double batch, as they won’t last long after you serve them!
