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Category: Pasta

Chicken Parmesan

Chicken Parmesan is an Italian American Classic. Serve it up with a Caesar Salad and some Garlic Bread and you’ve got yourself a delicious Italian dinner that will rival your red-and-white checkered tablecloth joint any day of the week.

Posted on April 14, 2025 by jamesbradfordgrayPosted in Chicken, Complete Meals, Dinner Tonight, In the Kitchen, Inspiration, Italian, Old World, Pasta, Recipes4 Comments

Classic Marinara Sauce

This classic Italian sauce is a staple for many dishes and can easily be enjoyed on it’s own over pasta. It can also be used as a dipping sauce for bread, calamari, or mozzarella cheese sticks.

Continue reading “Classic Marinara Sauce” →

Posted on March 2, 2025March 11, 2025 by jamesbradfordgrayPosted in Dinner Tonight, In the Kitchen, Inspiration, Italian, Old World, One Pot Wonders, Pasta, Recipes, Rubs and Sauces, Sides and Salads, Weeknight Dinners8 Comments

Tuscan Grilled Chicken with Burst Cherry Tomatoes and Angel Hair Pasta

This bright and flavorful pasta is especially suited to warm summer evenings, but can be enjoyed any time of year. It pairs perfectly with a crisp, dry white wine (such as pinot grigio).

Total cook time is probably around an hour, but can be shortened to 30 minutes by using rotisserie or pre-made grilled chicken from the deli section at the grocery store.

Continue reading “Tuscan Grilled Chicken with Burst Cherry Tomatoes and Angel Hair Pasta” →

Posted on January 20, 2025March 11, 2025 by jamesbradfordgrayPosted in Chicken, Complete Meals, In the Kitchen, Inspiration, Mediterranean, Old World, On the Grill, Pasta, Recipes, Weeknight DinnersTagged burst cherry tomatoes, Tuscan chicken, Tuscan grilled chicken, tuscan grilled chicken with burst cherry tomatoes, Tuscan grilled chicken with burst cherry tomatoes and angel hair pasta. Leave a comment

Lemon & Pistachio Pesto Pasta

This variation on Pesto Genovese gets a jolt of acidity from the addition of lemon juice and zest, and uses a 50/50 blend of pistachio nuts and pine nuts (both are tree nuts), lending a unique color and luscious flavor to the dish. It also comes together quickly, making it a perfect weeknight meal.

Best of all, it can be made in advance – up to a week ahead of time; simply drizzle some additional olive oil on top and store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Continue reading “Lemon & Pistachio Pesto Pasta” →

Posted on January 6, 2025March 11, 2025 by jamesbradfordgrayPosted in Complete Meals, In the Kitchen, Inspiration, Italian, Pasta, Weeknight DinnersTagged lemon-and-pistachio-pesto-pasta, lemon-pesto, lemon-pisatchio-pesto, pesto, pesto-variations, pistachio-pesto. Leave a comment

The Notorious B.I.D. (Big Italian Dinner)

Here it is: Your complete guide to making a Big Italian Dinner that will warm your heart and soul this winter.

Crank up the Pavarotti (or Sinatra, or whatever makes you feel Italian), open a nice Chianti, and get ready to feast like a wise-guy.

Continue reading “The Notorious B.I.D. (Big Italian Dinner)” →

Posted on January 2, 2025March 2, 2025 by jamesbradfordgrayPosted in Complete Meals, In the Kitchen, Inspiration, Italian, Old World, Pasta, RecipesTagged Big Italian Dinner, big-italian-dinner, Italian Dinner Party Ideas, Italian Dinner Party Menu, Italian-dinner-party, italian-dinner-party-ideas, italian-dinner-party-menu. 1 Comment

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⛋ Field Notes | WINTER 2026

Seasonal Feature

6 Comforting Recipes to Make in the Dead of Winter

Just because the Holiday Season is over doesn't mean that Cooking Season is - we still have a lot of winter left to make delicious, cozy recipes. Here are 6 that are guaranteed to warm you up until things thaw out.

Featured Dinner

Roasted Salmon with Mustard, Miso & Brown Sugar

This simple but delicious weeknight dinner takes around 30 minutes to make, but feels luxurious enough for a weekend. Pair it with some roasted asparagus (which you can do on the same sheet pan if you like), and rice pilaf.

Gear

Here Are The Best Chef’s Aprons You Can Buy This Winter

Aprons – even expensive ones – are still cheaper than clothes. Here are the best aprons money can buy in 2025 for all your Fall cooking adventures.

Morning Coffee Read

Steak au Poivre with Apple Brandy Pink Peppercorn Sauce

Using Pink Peppercorns elevates this dish by contributing a fruity, floral depth while Himalayan Pink Salt provides a minerality which perfectly complements any cut of beef.

Tips & Tricks

7 Kitchen Hacks Used By Pro Chefs That You Should Be Using At Home

If you want to learn to cook like the pros, start with some of these tried-and-true pro hacks that have the potential to make your life infinitely easier in the kitchen.

Gear

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things…

“Japanese chefs believe that their soul goes into their knives once they start using them… You wouldn’t put your soul in the dishwasher, now would you?” — Masaharu Morimoto

About The Intrepid Gourmet

Hi! My name is Jim. I'm so glad you found your way to my blog!

I'm an avid cook, recipe developer and culinary enthusiast. At the end of the day though, I'm just a regular guy who loves cooking, eating, and sharing a fantastic meal with others.

I firmly believe cooking is for everyone, and that anyone who wants to learn to cook - and cook well - can do so.

As my grandfather used to say "If you can read, you can cook!" There is literally nothing to stop you from trying your hand in the kitchen - you'll be surprised what you can do!

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Category: Pasta

Chicken Parmesan

Chicken Parmesan is an Italian American Classic. Serve it up with a Caesar Salad and some Garlic Bread and you’ve got yourself a delicious Italian dinner that will rival your red-and-white checkered tablecloth joint any day of the week.

Classic Marinara Sauce

This classic Italian sauce is a staple for many dishes and can easily be enjoyed on it’s own over pasta. It can also be used as a dipping sauce for bread, calamari, or mozzarella cheese sticks.

Tuscan Grilled Chicken with Burst Cherry Tomatoes and Angel Hair Pasta

This bright and flavorful pasta is especially suited to warm summer evenings, but can be enjoyed any time of year. It pairs perfectly with a crisp, dry white wine (such as pinot grigio).

Total cook time is probably around an hour, but can be shortened to 30 minutes by using rotisserie or pre-made grilled chicken from the deli section at the grocery store.

Lemon & Pistachio Pesto Pasta

This variation on Pesto Genovese gets a jolt of acidity from the addition of lemon juice and zest, and uses a 50/50 blend of pistachio nuts and pine nuts (both are tree nuts), lending a unique color and luscious flavor to the dish. It also comes together quickly, making it a perfect weeknight meal.

Best of all, it can be made in advance – up to a week ahead of time; simply drizzle some additional olive oil on top and store in an airtight container in the fridge.

The Notorious B.I.D. (Big Italian Dinner)

Here it is: Your complete guide to making a Big Italian Dinner that will warm your heart and soul this winter.

Crank up the Pavarotti (or Sinatra, or whatever makes you feel Italian), open a nice Chianti, and get ready to feast like a wise-guy.

Featured Dinner

Roasted Salmon with Mustard, Miso & Brown Sugar

This simple but delicious weeknight dinner takes around 30 minutes to make, but feels luxurious enough for a weekend. Pair it with some roasted asparagus (which you can do on the same sheet pan if you like), and rice pilaf.

4 minute read

Gear

Here Are The Best Chef’s Aprons You Can Buy This Winter

Aprons – even expensive ones – are still cheaper than clothes. Here are the best aprons money can buy in 2025 for all your Fall cooking adventures.

4 minute read

Morning Coffee Read

The Truth About MSG

MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) has gotten a bad rap for decades, but the question remains: is it really as bad for you as everyone thinks?

15 minute read

Quick Read

Steak au Poivre with Apple Brandy Pink Peppercorn Sauce

Using Pink Peppercorns elevates this dish by contributing a fruity, floral depth while Himalayan Pink Salt provides a minerality which perfectly complements any cut of beef.

3 minute read