The Secrets of the Chefs
MARISA IOCCO
Born and raised in coastal Italy, Marisa Iocco has cooked for and owned several of Boston's most celebrated restaurants, including Galleria Italiana and La Bettola. Today she's executive chef at Bricco, Mare, and—our pick this year for best new restaurant—Umbria.
WHERE TO SHOP
Harbour Food Service Equipment "Harbour furnished my first restaurant in 1992. They have everything: inexpensive, very expensive, Rosenthal dishes, Limoges dishes. If they don't have it, they'll make it happen." [229 Marginal St., Chelsea, 617-884-3900]
Regina "They have everything you can imagine for Italian food: jarred tomatoes, homemade sausage, artisanal pasta, a huge variety of extra-virgin olive oil. The best is their great selection of Italian biscotti, which I love to eat at night with a glass of milk." [203 Main St., Everett, 617-387-1655]
Lilly's Gastronomia Italiana "My favorite pasta is the simplest, but Lilly makes fantastic pumpkin, chestnut, and lobster ravioli." [Retail sales: Blackjack Pasta Bar, 210 Main St., Everett, 617-387-8787]
Mike's Pastry cheesecake/Modern Pastry pasticiotto "My first job in America was at Mike's Pastry. My favorite thing was the cheesecake, but I gained so much weight that I had to stop eating it. Now it's a treat. At Modern Pastry, they make a pasticiotto, a little pie stuffed with ricotta; the freshness and la fragranza are amazing." [Mike's Pastry, 300 Hanover St., Boston, 617-742-3050; Modern Pastry, 257 Hanover St., Boston, 617-523-3783, and 20 Salem St., Medford, 781-396-3618]
WHERE TO EAT
Caffè Graffiti "They have great espresso and everyone is very friendly. I bring my dog in, and they're like family there. They all speak Italian. I go almost every morning." [307 Hanover St., Boston, 617-367-3016]
Trattoria Il Panino "It's close to where I work, and the food is simple and fantastic. The chef is from El Salvador, and became an Italian chef. There's something magical about his passion and love for food." [11 Parmenter St., Boston, 617-720-1336]
Billy Tse My favorite takeout is [pan-Asian restaurant] Billy Tse. Get the tofu and basil chicken with brown rice or noodles. It's very simple, very spicy, and very satisfying." [240 Commercial St., Boston, 617-227-9990]
TIMESAVING TIP
"I always keep on hand a bottle of olive oil, some cheese, bread, and olives. Together, that is the best quick dinner."
HOLIDAY ENTERTAING TRICK
"Imagine the food as a photo and the dish as a frame. Make it symmetrical; use a single-color plate and garnish with fresh herbs. I believe that people eat first with their eyes, but anything can look professional if it's made with love."
