Allow myself to introduce... myself

If you're here, an introduction really isn't necessary since I doubt you've stumbled upon this page without first following my Instagram or knowing me in real life. But, just in case there are any first timers out there, I'll keep it brief. My name is Joseph D'Ambrosca (yes, this blog is a pun, not a misspelling) and currently work in the wine and liquor industry, having performed many roles and duties throughout my career. While I've always had a knack for making cool cocktails, I've only recently developed a passion and talent for cooking. I started out making some pretty easy (and at times, shitty) meals, like a soggy pizza, overcooked steak, or dry as a bone chicken, but after repeated attempts I feel that I'm finally ready to show my skills and meals off to the world (or, in this case, to the seven people still reading)!

I don't just use cooking as a means to get food into my belly (although that's a nice bonus). I use it as a form of stress relief, something to look forward to on a weeknight, or a project to tackle over a weekend. Food isn't just fuel to keep your body running. Food can take you back in time, make you feel like you're somewhere you'd rather be, and bring you comfort when all you want is to feel at home. Join me as I recount tales of my family and friends that have served as my culinary inspirations, which will hopefully make you shout out "Dam! That's Good!"

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You've seen the photos - now read the stories!

Every meal I've made has had a story behind it - whether it be a decades-old family tradition, a craving my girlfriend had, or just a random idea I came up with in traffic, I want to share it with all of you.

Reciblog #3 - Agnello Scottadito!

Easter is my favorite holiday. My family’s usual routine would consist of my relatives from Montreal coming down to visit, a Saturday cookout, and a giant Easter dinner on Sunday. And a lot of wine. Unfortunately, this Easter is going to be a little different thanks to COVID-19. No one is coming to visit, there is no cookout, and I’ll only be spending Sunday with my parents. Thankfully, coronavirus won’t stop me from still enjoying the main highlight of these weekends - the lamb. Now, you may want to ask me “what’s so special about this lamb”? Honestly, there’s no secret recipe that we used - just a basic marinade made of white wine, oil, garlic, and rosemary - but it’s the entire experience that made this tradition my absolute favorite. From going with my brother and cousins to Restaurant Depot or Arthur Ave (these trips deserving their own posts altogether) to pick up the meat, making the marinade and building a fire, to finally grabbing a perfectly charred lamb lollipop off...

Reciblog #1 - Vodka sauce!

Despite being a lifetime pasta lover, I've never truly enjoyed penne alla vodka. No matter if prepared at home, or from a five star restaurant, it never quite did it for me. Be it the chewy bits of meat or gigantic chunks of onion and garlic, something about the texture was just off. Fast forward 20-odd years later my family has taken to simplifying holiday meals. One way we’ve done this is by purchasing pre-made vodka sauce from a local Italian grocery store. I know it may feel sacrilegious but let me tell you, this vodka sauce was one of the best that I’ve ever had. No bits of meat, no chunks of onion. Just a smooth, velvety sauce that coats pasta perfectly and tastes delicious. Now, I like to pride myself on making most of my food from scratch, and so I set off on a journey to try and replicate this sauce to the best of my ability. A couple of YouTube videos later and I was ready to roll. And now you can be too! Please note that I never measure anything out so all ingredients co...

Dam! That's Good!

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