I Wish I Were A Prosciutto

Sandra and Martin reflect on their recent visit to the Italian American Museum on Mulberry Street in New York, where they met the celebrated cook, Mary Ann Esposito, host of the PBS classic Ciao Italia . The main section is all about prosciutto di parma and they sample the finest: Galloni Riserva . Afterwards they have an engaging conversation about the Galloni prosciutto with Kim Sayid. Kim is an...

Sandra takes her brother and sister-in-law on a series of Bronx adventures that began on Arthur Avenue and ended in a tire shop on the Southern Boulevard. Martin and Sandra eat a variety of treats from Wave Hill Bakery in Norwalk. In the main section, they speak with Steve Solomon, a college friend of Martin's. Steve is an outstanding bread baker and pizza maker. Italian Food, Italian American...

Sandra and Martin discuss the new Netflix film Nonnas . They also explore 3 distinctive books: a novel, The Italian Party , 101 Beautiful Towns in Italy - Shops and Crafts , and Made in Italy . These books bring them to the medieval town of Volterra famous for its alabaster workshops and home to a distinctive style of pizza. This leads them to Citarella, a high end grocery store in Greenwich, Conn...

Sandra and Martin indulge in a cornucopia of Italian snacks from Brookfield and Norwalk in Connecticut's Fairfield County. They wash them down with a nice bottle of Chianti. Then, Anthony Angrisani of Arthur Cantina Wine and Liquor gives them a primer on this quintessential Italian wine. On the menu: rice balls, prosciutto balls, barley balls, potato croquettes, mozzarella caroza , grilled art...

Listen to the Signal Award winning podcast I Wish I Were a Prosciutto for stories that celebrate Italian and Italian American culture through the lens of its great culinary traditions. Sandra and Martin talk about how Kennett Square, Pennsylvania became the mushroom capital of America. In the spirit of mushrooms, Martin serves a mushroom risotto, and mushrooms and sausage. In the main section, the...

Sandra reminisces about the Easters of her youth in Chicago. Martin speaks with some of his cousins and his brother about Easter with Grandma and Nonno. In the main section, they enjoy Easter Bread, Pizza Dolce and Pizza Grana. #MadoniaBakery #MorronePastryShop #Decicco&sons #pizzadolce #pizzagrano #Easterbread #pupacavallo #kolackiy #houska #ryebread #Vesecky'sbakery #pizzarustica #arthur...

Martin finally makes his first pizza rustica. Then Martin serves a Pesto Pantesco, a savory recipe from the Sicilian Island of Pantelleria. In the main section, Sandra and Martin speak with John Savittieri, a former bespoke furniture maker who created a distinctive importing business A&J Savittieri. The company imports salts, herbs, spices, and most importantly, the delectable capers of Pantel...

Sandra and Martin enjoy an Italian picnic featuring Prosciutto Balls, Pizza Rustica, and Golfetta from AS Fine Foods & Catering of Monroe, CT and pizza and ricotta pie from Jennie's Pizzeria also of Monroe. In the main section, they speak with Martin's Aunt Rossana about Easter traditions from Ortona, Italy. Then she teaches them a number of delightful idiomatic phrases from Ortona. Il...

Sandra and Martin discuss the savory food from The Feast of Sant Joseph. Martin serves a holiday dish, Il Pasta di San Giuseppe . In the main section they speak with Lou Mezza of Del Prete Italian Pastry in Bridgeport, Connecticut and then they eat some of his delicious Zeppole di San Giuseppe . It's coming up on, I Wish I Were a Prosciutto . #ArthurCantinaWineandLiquor #StJosephDay #zeppoledi...

Sandra and Martin briefly discuss their trip to the Tre Bicchieri w ine show, and begin Lent with conversations about the delicious Easter pie, Pizza Rustica . In the main section, they speak with Martin's mom about the traditions of Lent and the Easter season, and his family's approach to pizza rustica . #pizzarustica #lent #trebicchieri #gamberosso #arthurcantinawineandliquor #hotcrossbu...

Sandra and Martin have been traveling. Sandra discusses her trip to Palm Springs, and Martin discusses his trip to Washington DC. In the main section, Martin talks about the Ace Endico Spring Showcase. There will be Prosciutto di San Daniele, and a delicious Italian spaghetti. #PalmSprings #WashingtonDC #iRichhi #osteriamozza #Georgetown #polenta #centerbe #facciabrutto #golfetta ,#mutti #mancinip...

It's Valentines Day! Sandra and Martin discuss the Italian docudrama Luisa Spagnoli - Queen of Chocolate which chronicles the life of the celebrated founder of Perugina Chocolates, the creator of Baci candy, and the founder of Louisa Spagnoli fashion. In the main segment, they speak with Martin's Mom about his Nonno Tom's poetry, his Grandma Alba's raviolis, and the profound love b...

Sandra and Martin talk about authentic Chicago thin-crust pizza including Vito and Nick's Pizzeria and Johnny's at La Grange Park. Then they sample thin-crust pizza Connecticut-style from Riko's. In the main section, they speak with Rico Imbrogno, the founder of the ever popular, ever growing Riko's Pizza. Rico talks about what inspired him to open Riko's, his commitment to qua...

Sandra prepares a delicious beef osso buco for Martin. Then they welcome Paul Callaro, author of an anthology of compelling short stories Not Down on Any Map . Paul is also the youngest son of Danny and Louise Callaro who owned the legendary Danny's Pork Store of the Belmont Italian enclave in the Bronx. #ossobuco #pork #porkstore #notdownonanymap #addeobakers #madoniabakery #antonchekhov #ita...

It's Book Club Day again! Sandra and Martin discuss Ismail Merchant's Florence - Feasting and Filming in Tuscany , The book comprises Ismail Merchant's notes on filming his beloved A Room With a View on location in Florence, his food experiences in Tuscany, 70 recipes from the region and photographs as sumptuous as the food. Martin also serves Pasta Con Piselli , one of the recipes from the book....

Sandra and Martin discuss Christmas Eve Italian style - La Vigile . They'll each reflect on their memories of the holiday from their youth. Then they'll speak with Martin's cousin Alba about her recollections and her role as one of the cooks that keep the family feast alive today.

Sandra and Martin discuss the Feast of Saint Lucy - Santa Lucia. In the main section they speak with Martin’s mom about a special Saint Lucy celebration with his daughter and grandmother. Then everyone enjoys Martin’s traditional Saint Lucy buns.

If you enjoyed Pixar's Ratatouille , then you're bound to love ciambotta . Sandra and Martin discuss this delectable Italian comfort food with a little help from Giulia Scarpaleggia's Cucina Povera and Martin's mom.

Sandra and Martin celebrate the completion of the first year of I Wish I Were a Prosciutto . They reflect on the year, play some highlights, and eat mounds of prosciutto di parma, burrata and salami. Thank you to all of our guests including Lidia Bastianich, David Greco, Mike Teitel, Anthony Angrisani, and Mom ( Martin's mom, Barbara Hawes). Good food! Good people! Lots of laughs!

Sandra and Martin speak with the Godmother of Italian American cuisine, Lidia Bastianich, about her upcoming PBS special Lidia Celebrates America: Changemakers , raising a family, cooking good food, traveling with her grandchildren, her favorite style of prosciutto, and her new Washington, DC restaurant Osteria Mozza DC .

Sandra and Martin reflect on their busy October - Italian American Heritage month. In the main section, they have a conversation with Sandra's brother and sister-in-law, Jeff and Polly Radosh, about the joys and challenges of gardening. Among their many crops, Jeff and Polly grow the best garlic this side of the Mississippi and have been supplying Sandra and Martin all summer and fall.

Sandra and Martin reflect upon the Italian enclave in Philadelphia and some of her famous food specialties. In the main section, they speak with Martin's friend Francine Wheeler who grew up in an Italian-American home just outside of Philly. Expect plenty of cheesesteaks, hoagies, peppers and eggs, and tomato pie.

Sandra and Martin recount their trip to the Feast of San Gennaro on Mulberry Street in New York City. Then Martin discusses the cultural significance of the old St. Patrick's church. In the main segment, they conclude their interview with Vinny Marano, where they discuss commedia dell'arte , the film Scaramouche , and finally resolve the question of who discovered America (spoiler alert: it may ha...

Sandra and Martin discuss and sample a distinctive brand of sparkling water from Sardinia called Smerladina , whose name harkens back to the Commedia dell"Arte, the great theatre of the Italian renaissance. In the main segment, they speak with a true renaissance man, Martin's friend Vincent Marano.

Sandra and Martin discuss and sample Detroit style pizza. Then they speak with Martin's mom about focaccia and making and enjoying home made pizza with Grandma Alba and Chad Scarborough.