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| presentation could have been better, but my roast was a success! |
Right. I’ve got a whole bird, some veggies, dry fruit and breadcrumbs. Perhaps if I go through my pantry I will find some sauces for the glazing and I will make another scrumptious dinner out of leftovers, basically! So here’s what I have on my table so far.
For the stuffing: breadcrumbs, pinenuts, raisins, pistacchios salt and pepper to taste, milk (to soften the breadcrumbs)
Veggies: Onions (I live the skins on as they give a lovely colour to my gravy) celery
Glazing: honey and soy sauce.
First I give my chicken a good wash and then a scrub with sea salt. Pat dry and set aside. Then I crush the nut mix and I moist it with a little milk. Once I’m done I stuff my bird. Sprinkle of olive oil and off he goes on top of his veggie bed in a nice ceramic casserole.
I baked my chicken at 200 C for about 1hr and 15 mins and I baste the bird halfway through adding a splash of dry white wine. Glazing to be done 10 mins before cooking time, just to give that lovely shine. Easy peasy huh?
11 comments:
It's good to see you're back contributing to your fabulous blog. Please don't stop...it's great. Salute!
Laird Banks
Grandson of Monty Banks (Mario Bianchi), Founder and Original Owner/Operator of El Borracho
Monty stood up "we should open a restaurant, I'll put up 10 thousand dollars"
"Oh?" I laughed, gaily. "And I'll put up 10 thousand ideas" (Pag. 108)
(pag 109) I knew Fred Cerracchio quite well. I knew he meant well, and would not beat me if I denied him his constitutional rights to put some money in the restaurant. "Let's have a drink with Monty" said Frank, taking advantage of my indecision.
(pag 110)Thus out of nowhere, and with such surprising speed that my hand quivered as I signed my name to some papers, the three way partnership was created. Before I could catch my breath I was a partner in a new project that soon became Operation El Borracho. - From Love & Dishes.
Dear Laird, my family still has copy of that papers and El Borracho was a three ways partnership. While my uncle may not had contributed in money, he did, as a matter of fact, contributed in ideas, PR and general management. I recommend you to read the book.
I have read the book and it was written after my Grandfather had already passed away in Arona (died on the Orient Express Train) and nobody cared enough to refute your uncles' assertions. Please, if you would be so kind to send me a pdf copy of those documents maybe I'll see this differently, but as for now, it's self-serving propaganda and the book serves that purpose.
Your uncle, as far as I've been informed, was the Matre'd and the person who would greet people and seat them at their tables. Subsequently my Grandfather sold the restaurant to him, so the family history has been told me. This takes nothing away from the elegance and popular personality that Niccolo obviously had and was likely the reason why Monty thought he would be an excellent "host". In years to come, he did become the owner.
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%253A%252F%252Fbeemp3.com%252Fdownload.php%253Ffile%253D8006860%2526song%253DPigliate%252B%252527na%252Bpastiglia&h=e91a9&ref=nf
I am flattered with all the attention about this blog post.
I will indeed ask my family, who live in Sicily, to dig inside Niccolo' memory box. At the same time, if you or your family have any other legitimate documentation about the restaurant I'd be glad if you could forward a copy as well. Meanwhile I kindly invite you to read all the original press reviews about my uncle and El Borracho.
Kind Regards,
Alice Simonetti, niece of Nicky Quattrociocchi, aka Niccolo' Quattrociocchi Leto - Prince of Ramacca, Baron of Pietraperzia and Knight of the Order of Malta."
Happy to review your documents authenticating Niccolo's 3-way partnership agreement, but don't believe they exist. The book was written in 1950 and was the very same year as Montys' unfortunate death on the Orient Express. Yes, he wss excellent in promoting himself, though without Monty to refute your Uncle's assertions, Nicky can say anything he likes, such as exaggeration or potential misstatements which might in reality have no basis in truth.
Looking forward to your sending the papers as PDF images, once you receive them from your Uncle's Hope Chest, located with your family in Sicily.
Monty's 2nd wife, Dame Grace Fields also had a famous restaurant in Capri, Italy named Canzonne del Mare at the Marina Piccilo.
Please do follow through with this information and I shall then supply you with additional information, photo's, etc. Niccolo's book has fantastic stories, recipes and lots of drama. It is also quite self promotional, and not the story of a humble man nor a completely forthright portrayl of the restaurant or how Prince Niccolo came to becoming a part of it.
Please prove me to be wrong and I will be the first to apologize on the internet. Again, not aware there was any partnership with the Maitre'd (Professional Host) as far as I can objectively see, based upon family and the information I've been exposed to.
Should look up Monty Banks's filmography, volume of films acted in, directed, produced and his credits, you'll understand why he didn't have time to handle patrons as they came to the restaurant at the door. Should you look up Gracie Fields and Monty Banks you'll get full perspective and better understanding of who they were and the stature each independently held in the evolution of 20th Century stage and screen entertainment.
The Canzone del Mare still exists at the same location in Capri today and is just as famous as it was over 50 years ago.
"It is also quite self promotional, and not the story of a humble man"
Dear Laird,
Please allow me to be clear on one thing here: Niccoló was not the ordinary 'alien immigrant' from Italy and I am afraid not really a humble man either.
Instead, Niccolo' was the possessor of one of Italy's rarest family names. He attended the Royal Nautical Institute of Palermo and was bought up (as all members of my family, including myself) in the upper circles of Sicilian aristocracy.
Unfortunately my uncle was also a self-adsorbed individual who loved the decadent life. That is why he travelled all his life, from Milan, Paris, London and finally New York. His desire to experience new things led him to try his fortune in a number of different professions, including the acting one. He was not as famous as your grandfather Monty of course, but he had found some small parts in Cecile de Mille's The King of Kings and other interesting stuff. Niccolo' was an actor, a gigolo', a "professional host and restaurateur" as you call it, and a writer. He was anything you could possibly thing of but a humble man. Not because there is anything wrong in being of humble origin or leading a humble life, but simply because I'd like to make things straight.
I was born and bred in Italy, but following a long family tradition of diplomats I now live Internationally. I am not sure when my next visit to Sicily will be, but I will indeed look up for as many documents I can find. Not because I want to prove anything in particular, but because I believe it will be interesting to put all the pieces together. That is all.
Yes, please do put those pieces together. It would be most interesting and revealing. Niccolo was a quite colorful man, as you mention and possibly a bit "out there" in the realm of reality…certainly not the kind of person who necessarily always keeps to the truth and nothing but truth. In this context, it's not a stretch to conclude that the book is for entertainment value and not necessarily factual, especially when it comes to how Prince Niccolo was initiated into and involved with my Grandfather's restaurant in Manhattan....El Borracho (translated, "The Drunkard").
In addition, the titles of which you deem credible, belonging to your Uncle appear not to jive with the published names of those individuals who are indeed born into the aforementioned titles or listed Orders. Before one discusses family pedigree, it would be smart and the prudent course of action to make sure that these titles are truthful and based in fact. In the world of entertainment, people stretch the truth all the time as you probably are aware. Your Uncle may have indeed been a raconteur; an unusual man…the Maitre’d at El Borracho, though it was common that these unique individuals almost always added a considerable amount of “fluff” to their incredibly entertaining stories. This was not out of the ordinary and actually quite “par for the course” behavior. Thank you; this has been a most interesting, charming and revealing discourse. I wish you well and enjoy the rest of your day.
Hi Laird, you raise some interesting points and I can appreciate your passion for your family history. Your grandfather was indeed an impressive figure and someone you should be proud of although I do think you are getting a little sidetracked here.
My uncle Niccolo was born into a noble family, lived as a noble, and despite giving up all the privilege and prestige in order to chase his true passions in life, died a nobleman. While many actors have and do perpetuate stories in order to achieve recognition, my uncle downplayed his noble origins. While he was lucky to have worked and partnered your grandfather be under no illusions that your grandfather was much more fortunate to know someone of Nicolo's stature and background.
The intracities of who owned what share of the restaurant can be
debated ad nauseum, but the debate of the stature and the prestige of
the man, Niccolo Quattrochiocchi, can not be disputed. Look it up -
you are resoucesful. Or maybe next time you are in Italy we can
invite you to our family estate where my relatives would be more than happy to discuss our peerage over a nice bottle of vintage wine from our vineyard.
Again, this is MY family, MY ancestors and MY peerage. Allow me to say that I am more than confident of who my grandmother is (she is 90 today).My peerage runs in my blood and it has for generations. And quite frankly, I do not need to prove you wrong over some non sense internet comments with a total stranger.
I wish you luck
Kind Regards
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