Today’s column relates to food that the newly-elected President seems to crave. We have had a White House kitchen dominated by steaks, burgers, fast food, and little vegetables. I can attest that our current President has been known not to be a fussy eater. Years ago, I worked for an International award program as a trustee, and the Honorary Trustee of the entity was Mr. Trump. As trustees, we were treated to the most lavish establishments globally, and our current President was never one to create a kitchen storm. He dined on simple foods and without fanfare. President George W Bush craved pizza, Bill Clinton suffocated on cheeseburgers and fries, while Obama snacked on cheese nachos right after playing basketball.
But Mr. Biden has a passion for Italian food, specifically pasta. He really cannot resist the smell of fresh tomato sauce. He certainly owes the Italianate to his wife Jill, an Italian American with roots in the province of Messina, Sicily. Jill cooks several foods based on Italian traditions, and President-elect Joe has no other choice but to eat them. Also, it seems that he enjoys Mozzarella Caprese salad with basil and extra virgin and occasionally splurge on some good-quality brick-oven pizza. In a column published recently, I wrote on Mr. Biden’s passion for ice cream.
Chef Franco Nuscese, owner of Cafe ‘Milano in Georgetown in Washington DC, has been cooking for the Bidens for several years, and after a visit to their site, I discovered what Mr. Biden loves. It’s called Capellini Ann Hand made with angel hair pasta, Corbarino tomatoes, and fresh basil.
Sounds unpretentious and straightforward? Well, it is. And in tonality with the simplicity of Italian cuisine is low on the difficulty scale. But there is a catch: choose wisely the quality of the ingredients and in optimum seasonal conditions.
Note on Corbarino tomatoes: The tomatoes are from Campania from the Corbara hills, and precisely on the Monti Lattari’s foothills. The fruit’s flavor develops from the rich soil and the sea winds from the Tyrrhenian sea a short distance from the Amalfi coast. Long in shape but smaller than the San Marzano, the Corbarino carries a strong and intense taste with a sweet undertone deriving from nature’s slow pace. They are available in tins or jars packed in Italy and with the label’s DOP designation logo. When you can travel to Campania, you can choose the fresh varietal from the vines. If you are unable to find the Corbarino in your local specialty food store, feel free to substitute with San Marzano Brand Piennolo and be sure not to purchase a label that reads:
”San Marzano Style.” Those are packed in California and occasionally even in China. The DOP Yellow and red logo ought to appear on the label.
The recipe for President-elect Joe Biden’s Angel hair with Corbarino tomatoes and basil.
Ingredients for eight people
One package of high-quality brand angel hair pasta
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Two cloves garlic peeled and crushed
One teaspoon red chili pepper flakes (optional)
1 – 24 ounces tin of Corbarino tomatoes
Five leaves fresh basil
1/2 cup Romano Pecorino cheese. freshly grated
Directions
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add marine salt and taste the water. It should have the flavor of the ocean water. Heat olive oil in a large skillet for 1 minute, add garlic, and chili, stir delicately and shut off the heat. You do not want to burn the garlic because it will release an unpleasant flavor.
Cut the cherry tomatoes in half and tear the basil into small pieces. Add the Corbarino tomatoes to the skillet, and simmer for 5 minutes on low heat. Adjust the flavors with salt. Discard garlic cloves. Cook Angel Hair pasta according to package directions, about 3 minutes. Drain and toss with sauce and the basil. Garnish with freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese or Parmigiano Reggiano. Before serving, drizzle some extra virgin olive oil on top.
Note: I have seen chefs use locally grown cherry tomatoes, but I feel that the dish’s high acidity overwhelms me. Corbarino tomatoes are Kosher approved.
