Gnocchi Alla Romana

A few weeks back Eileen contacted me because she was working on a food photography documentary and was wondering if I’d like to participate. I was intrigued. I proposed that we meet for coffee so that she could tell me a little more about her project and get to know her a little.

A few days later we met up for breakfast at a cool little café called Mokonuts. She told me she was making a documentary about how people connect through food. She was contacting strangers that were in some way or another related to food, via social networks. Eileen asked if I would be open to cook for her at my home and tell her my story of how I came to be in the food world and in Paris. She would be taking photos of the whole thing, me cooking, talking, plating, eating.

I thought it was an interesting idea, but mostly I admired her courage to ask, and put herself out there. I said yes off course. And on top of it all I got to keep the beautiful photos Eileen took of me that day. The ones featured in these post were all captured by her, off course!

I planned a menu based on things I love to eat, ingredients that inspired me that day at the market and things that would photograph well :) I made scallops with leeks as an entrée, gnocchi alla romana as the main dish and caramel crème brulée as a dessert! I am happy to report that she loved the food! And I was one very happy cook :).

A note on the gnocchi: they remind me of my childhood. We loved them at home, and every time we had them for dinner I remember being very very happy. Later on when I was allowed to take my lunch from home to school, at least twice a week I was lucky enough to have "ñoquis de sémola". I vividly remember my friends wanted to steal my food!

I thought I would share this dish that's close to my heart with Eileen. And with all of you. I hope you like them as much as I do!