S. Ferrari
Expertise
Italian Food & Culture, Ice Cream, Restaurants
- A Certified Cicerone (beer sommelier), food culture journalist, and educator, Stef has lived in and traveled throughout Italy, studying culinary traditions with an eye on the future of Italian foodways.
- Stef is the former founder/owner of Hay Rosie Craft Ice Cream Company in Brooklyn, NY.
- Her recipes have been featured in more than a dozen publications, including Oprah Magazine, Prevention, Better Homes and Gardens, and more.
Experience
Stef Ferrari is a three-time Emmy-winning, James Beard Award-nominated producer on the PBS docuseries "The Migrant Kitchen." She served as senior editor at Life & Thyme and is the author/co-author of several books, including "Ice Cream Adventures," Aarón Sánchez's "Where I Come From, A Woman's Place," and the forthcoming "Stuzzichini: The Art of the Italian Snack, with Little, Brown/Voracious." Stef also works as an illustrator and cartoonist.
Education
Stef attended the Lorenzo de Medici Institute in Florence to study Italian history and culture.
Today Meal’s content comes from an authoritative editorial staff that is dedicated to current and comprehensive coverage. With an aim to provide only informative and engaging content, our writers, editors, and experts take care to craft clear and concise copy on all things food-related, from news in the food service industry to in-depth explainers about what’s found in readers’ refrigerators, original recipes from experienced chefs, and more.
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Stories By S. Ferrari
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A perfectly-cooked steak hot off the grill or pan deserves the best treatment. So take this tip and serve it up on a hot plate for an easy upgrade.
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The kind of bread you use in a homemade bread pudding recipe can make all the difference when creating a dish with the perfect texture and flavor profile.
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Hummus is the slept-on ingredient for elevating boxed mac and cheese, turning this simple, classic meal into a more nutritious and creamy delight.
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Just when you thought grilled cheese couldn't get any better, there's a new, and quite obvious way to prepare it. And it's not just for your next camping trip.
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Making polenta on the stovetop is a labor of love. Standing, stirring, watching, tasting. What if there was a more hands-off approach to this tasty dish?
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Use ramekins to turn your favorite casserole recipes into single-serve delights. The convenience and creativity are limitless.
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Brown butter, which has less moisture than the straight-from-the-fridge stuff, helps create an additional richness in your sweet potato pie filling.
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Avoid rubbery textures, bland flavors, and dried-out eggs by adding a secret ingredient to your next scramble: milk powder. And no, it's not the same as milk.
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Whether it's strawberry or lemon, a cake made with fruit puree is packed with ripe flavor. But did you know that same ingredient makes for a more tender cake?
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To add an extra dose of flavor to your next batch of homemade guacamole, simply add a dash or two of Worcestershire sauce. Here's why.
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No matter what your perferred cut of beef might be, the perfect sauce can take a steak to bold new heights. But what flavor profiles work best?
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Eggs and maple syrup happily cohabit on many a morning breakfast plate. Combine the two in a omelet and you'll get a sweet-savory match made in heaven.
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French toast, with its spiced and custardy interior and beloved eggy, caramelized edges, is even more delicious when prepared in a waffle iron.
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Ice cream isn't too hard to make, but you can't compromise on certain aspects of your recipe, including this overlooked tip for the best results.
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If you made too much meatloaf for dinner, you needn't wait for lunchtime to devour those leftovers. Instead, heat that tasty loaf for breakfast.
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When you want to elevate your store-bought pasta in a way that feels totally unique and not like an afterthought, try adding some ricotta cheese.
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For top notch homemade chocolate ice cream, try incorporating cocoa nibs into the mix. Here's what you need to know about this flavor boosting tip.
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This one change to the process of making candied yams will take your dish up a notch, resulting in an evenly-distributed glaze and smoother textures.
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Freezing the cream cheese filling of your jalapeño poppers first ensures that your poppers get crispy and crunchy, while the filling gets warm but doesn't melt.
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You can elevate your pound cake without adding a single extra flavor or ingredient; simply placing it on a fiery grill can be an absolute game-changer.
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When it comes to cake, the fluffier the better. That's why it's important to thoroughly mash your bananas if you want to achieve a light and airy banana cake.
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Maybe you have the perfect recipe for making waffles. But there's always room for a little improvement, right? Taking it up a notch is easier than you think.
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While there are many different fats you can use to fry your eggs, there's one in particular you shouldn't reach for if you don't want to overpower your egg.
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Breadcrumbs are used in many different dishes to give things a nice crunch; branch out and give crushed pretzels a try for a tasty salty variation.
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Many chefs have secret ingredients that they rely on to achieve success, but when making chocolate mousse, being patient might be the most important thing.
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What's a person to do when they run out of honey and need some in a flash? Look to your cupboards for any of these delicious substitutes!
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When only the richest, moistest meatloaf will do, there is only one ingredient you need, and that is cream cheese. Yes, the same stuff you schmear on a bagel.