Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Il Girasole’s family specialty
Q. We recently ate at Il Girasole in Delray Beach. Can you obtain the recipe for their Bolognese sauce? -Barbara Grossman, Delray Beach
A When I spoke with Il Girasole (1911 S. Federal Highway, Delray Beach; 561-272-3566, ilgirasoledelray.com) owner Wilma Esposito said she had to give the Bolognese recipe some thought. A written recipe doesn’t exist. After 30 years of cooking his Northern Italian specialties, Wilma’s husband and co-owner, Luigi, has been making this recipe from memory. He’s since passed on the family “secrets” to their son, Chef Gian Esposito. Luigi, originally from Tuscany, makes his Bolognese recipe by eliminating milk, a common ingredient that gives the sauce a pink appearance, and serves the ragu over pappardelle, a wider version of fettuccine. If you plan on visiting Il Girasole, they will be closed on Mondays for the summer. Looking ahead to the fall, they are moving in October. Regulars need not worry, the new location is just a block away.
pleasure never to be forgotten. I would love to surprise my mother on her 93rd birthday by baking her this cake she loves. If you can obtain this recipe it will bring great joy to my mother’s special day. Thank you for your help. -- Rosemarie Jaworski, Lake Worth
A I contacted the owner of Broccolini, who asked that I email him the details. I never got a response. So I resent the email. Still nothing. I asked Rosemarie if I could offer a substitute chocolate cake recipe for her mother’s birthday. This has been my go-to recipe for years. It also happens to be my daughter’s all-time favorite. We love this recipe for its rich, chocolatey flavor and moist, tender crumb. I hope you do, too! Because we are chocoholics, we top this cake off with a chocolate ganache, or if I have the extra time, a chocolate buttercream. The reality is, the cake is so good by itself you could get away with a dusting of confectioners’ sugar for an easy, “light” finish. Just remember, the better quality the chocolate, the tastier the cake. This includes cocoa powder.