Farfalle with Gorganzola

Friday Night Luxe. The beauty of dining in on a Friday night to pasta befitting even your favorite local trattoria – Farfalle with Gorgonzola- and the simple luxury of home.

Any night can be a luxe night dining at home savoring a simple, rich plate of pasta; add green salad, bread, a glass of red wine and put your feet up, this is going to be easy.

This pasta has been a classic Bijouxs for almost three decades, its roots go back very early in my journey with food, which always included wanderings to some of the now illustrious restaurants of Los Angeles. A favorite was Mauro’s, the warm and wonderful first restaurant of the late Mauro V. Vincente’s many treasured restaurants (Rex il Ristorante), so close to home that it was almost impossible to consider dining out anywhere else.

Pasta with Gorganzola at Mauro’s became the inspiration for the Bijouxs version. Focusing on simple Italian preparation and basic ingredients, Gorganzola cheese, tomato, cream and butter creates a beautiful pan sauce that is almost no-fail. A creamy rich, pale pink sauce, with bites of fresh tomato and always best sporting a very healthy grind of freshly ground black pepper.

Farfalle (butterfly) pasta or a tube shaped pasta works nicely and if Gorganzola is not available a toothsome Roquefort makes a great stand in. The cream keeps the sauce stable so it will not “break” as is the case with half & half or milk and not to mention creating a perfectly creamy sauce. It’s a one pan sauce, simple, yet luxurious in taste.

Luxury dining at home on a budget just as I remember, an inspired little jewel – Farfalle with Gorgonzola – the everyday beauty all around us, right here in our kitchens.

As always, enjoy. B