Smelly Feet

My favorite neighborhood pizza place recently changed their menu to my distain! Radius pizza in Mt. Pleasant, Washington DC is a great neighborhood restaurant that is well known for its free bottle of wine Wednesday special and for me their gorgonzola gnocchi. Since Radius is literally two blocks away from my apartment it has become a staple in my weekly diet. Their gorgonzola gnocchi is e at the center of my love of Radius. Unfortunately, Radius recently changed their menu and took the gnocchi off so now I am left to my own devices.

My love of gorgonzola gnocchi started about a year ago when I went to my best friend, Malea’s house. (Actually my love of gnocchi is a sordid affair: I have one bad memory of ordering it, under peer pressure, at my birthday dinner at Pasta Mia in Adams Morgan, it was served with a tomato sauce and I hated it. Like most loves I gave it another try and now have a lasting relationship with it.)

After work Malea and I stopped by Calvert Woodly to get some wine and cheese. As we were waiting in line I smelled the foulest smell emanating from under Malea’s arm. It literally smelled like rotting flesh and stinky feet all bound up in one. I was reluctant to say anything to Malea because I was starving and looking forward to her home cooked meal. Plus, I pretty much trust her cooking instincts.

A stinky cheese purchase and half mile walk to her apartment later we were in the kitchen boiling potatoes to make our own homemade gnocchi. My responsibility was to roll the gnocchi against the fork and let to drop (according to the directions from Marcella Hazan). Soon, I realized the under the heat of a flame and sliced with heavy cream, the pungent odor of gorgonzola gives way to a rich creamy sweetness that pairs wonderful with homemade gnocchi.

Last night I decided to recreate my favorite gnocchi meal. This time I didn’t make my own Gnocchi. Instead, I purchased it from the farmers market that I work at. The gnocchi was a perfect little pillow of potatoes. For the sauce I first caramelized onions in olive oil and then added the gorgonzola to melt and then added cream. Finally, I dropped the slightly boiled gnocchi in and served it. Next time I think I might add some mushrooms to the sauce. I also roasted fresh asparagus from the farmers market. YUM! Mold that smells like funky feet never tasted so good!