Larry's Italian Salad & The Original Aperol Spritz
From Alatri to Huntington Beach, the Prince's simple salad that captures authentic Italian flavors in five perfect ingredients
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Mr. Larry Restrosi.
That’s how I addressed him. Not because he was super fancy or requested that title, but because we were taught at a young age by our parents to address our elders with respect. So there was always a Mr. or Mrs. before any name when we addressed my parents’ friends. My good friend, Tina, still refers to my mom as Mrs. Blair!
Larry called me Jeniferous. I don’t know where that nickname came from - it must have been my sparkly personality - but I loved it. I still do. I had a special nickname from Mr. Retrosi, the Prince of Huntington Beach, his perfectly matched nickname.
Larry and Nancy, his wife, were my parents’ best friends. My sisters and I are still fast friends with their kids. Growing up, we spent a lot of time at their house, and they spent a lot of time at ours. They were both terrific cooks, making all manner of Italian food and any other themed gourmet dish they could conjure. But I remember the Italian Salad best.
Larry Retrosi Fun Facts
Hails from Alatri, an Italian town in central Italy
Larry had an identical twin brother, Anthony.
Married to Nancy Gibbons; they had 4 kids: Mia, Tina, Nikki, and Michael.
Served our country in World War II
Worked for Boeing for 37 years and never called in sick
Traveled to Europe over a dozen times
Known for his resemblance to Tony Bennett
Skied the slopes with gentlemanly finesse until he was 83
Larry and Anthony; Larry WWII; Larry and son Michael
Larry Italian Salad
This salad, for some reason, is imprinted on my soul. Mr. Retrosi, Larry, would stand in his kitchen, toss the ingredients, including the vinaigrette, into a very large salad bowl, then, with one hand, toss the bowl around until all the ingredients were happily combined. From my vantage point, it seemed so simple, and yet, how could something so simple be so delicious? Here’s the recipe. You can find out for yourself!
Serves 6-8
Tools
Salad
2-3 romaine lettuce hearts
2-3 beefsteak tomatoes, thick slices, cut in half
Vinaigrette
1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
3 tbsp. white wine vinegar
2 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
Instructions
Put all the vinaigrette ingredients into a mason jar and shake. Set aside.
Chop the lettuce, then load the lettuce into the salad spinner and wash. Spin to dry.
Using a serrated knife, cut thick slices of the tomatoes, then cut them in half
Add the lettuce and tomatoes to a large salad bowl. Mix.
Pour the vinaigrette over the salad. Mix.
Aperitif before your meal? Aperol Spritz!
As Spring tiptoes towards Summer, the temperatures in the desert increase significantly. And when you know your day will peak at 99 ºF, you take a spin to the store and shore up supplies for Aperol Spritz. Garnishes of oranges or green olives are optional, depending on whether you’re pairing with Venetian-style appetizers or just drinking for refreshment.
A little history…In the early 1800s, the Veneto region of Northern Italy was under the control of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Visitors and soldiers to the region found Italian wine ‘too strong’, so they added a ‘spritz’ of water. Over time, ‘still water’ was upgraded to ‘water with bubbles’. Then, in the early 20th century, the Barbieri brothers launched Aperol liqueur. Thirty years passed, then in the 1950s, the recipe for the Aperol Spritz was born. The rest is history! #spritzlife
The Original Aperol Spritz
Equal parts Aperol
Equal parts Cinzano Prosecco
Splash of Soda
Instructions
Mix the ingredients in a wine glass with ice, then gently stir. Garnish with an orange slice or a green olive.
Notes:
Food upgrade: I chose to use Romaine, a more nutritious lettuce than Iceberg. Feel free to use Larry’s traditional choice. Both give you the crispiness you’re looking for.
Food pairing: I made What’s Gaby Cooking Chicken Milanese to pair with Mr. Retrosi’s Italian Salad. The crispy chicken was the perfect match for this fresh, crunchy salad.
products I love: My kitchen is full of Crate & Barrel products. That has a little something to do with the fact that I worked at C&B for 7 years. And, well, when you get a discount, you buy the best. After 7 years, you collect a lot of good stuff. Their products are top-notch, beautiful, last forever, and most kitchen items ship free of charge. If I can’t find what I’m looking for on C&B, I go to Amazon and search through their top-rated kitchen products and brands. Then I choose a brand I know well to recommend. Total Wine is in 28 states and online; you can usually find a wine or style you’re looking for. Wine.com is a great alternative if you can’t find the wine you’re looking for at Total Wine. McEvoy Ranch, in Petaluma, California, is known for its estate-produced, sustainably crafted extra virgin olive oil. It’s delicious. Good for you. Good for nature.
Saluti!
Great article Jeniferous.