Felicia's Home Eatery - Homemade Baking
Photo by Joann Pai
Nestled high among the mountains in the Pietre commune of the Amalfi Coast, Felicia’s Home Restaurant offers more than just a typical dining experience; it’s an opportunity to cook alongside Felicia in her 17th-century farmhouse, Casale De Vivo, where she spent her childhood. The breathtaking scenery will leave you in awe as you meander past the garden and enter the courtyard, where climbing roses adorn the farmhouse's weathered stone walls, grapevines intertwine with a trellis that provides shade to a beautifully set table, aprons sway gently on a clothesline, and an outdoor kitchen, equipped with a wood-fired pizza oven, showcases breathtaking mountain vistas.
Photo by Joann Pai
Photo by Joann Pai
With a warm greeting of 'bongiorno' and 'benvenuti' that felt like a warm embrace from a long-lost Italian relative, Felicia welcomed Brian Hart Hoffman and me. As she took us through her indoor kitchen, clearly the soul of any Italian household, an array of beautiful ingredients sprawled across the counter like a still life. We instantly felt at home and were eager to learn Felicia’s pasta-making techniques. Brian and I followed her as she guided us through the process of creating and kneading pasta dough, which we would then shape and cut into various forms, including traditional fettuccine and trofie, a twisted pasta shape ideal for soaking up the accompanying lemon sauce. As we prepared the pizza dough, it was set aside to rest before being stretched into rounds in the outdoor kitchen, surrounded by garden-fresh ingredients within easy reach. Fresh basil flourished, sweet sun-ripened tomatoes were plentiful—Brian couldn't resist sampling them—along with garlic, homemade tomato sauce, and fresh mozzarella. After topping the pizzas, Felicia used a wooden peel to place them in the oven, adjusting them as needed. Here, everything was guided by Felicia’s intuition, with no timers in sight.
Photo by Joann Pai
As mouthwatering Margherita pizzas emerged from the oven, we gathered around the table for a delightful lunch alongside Felicia and her daughter, Giovanna. Felicia effortlessly brought an array of delicious dishes from her kitchen: cantaloupe wedges with salty prosciutto, caprese salad, bruschetta, trofie with lemon sauce, fettuccine simply prepared with tomatoes, and the most astonishing lemon tiramisù we had ever tasted… so exceptional that we knew it deserved to be featured on the cover of this issue. Light, airy, and infused with just the right amount of limoncello and lemon, the dessert was flawless. Our hearts were full, and our smiles were wide after a wonderful day spent with Felicia and her family.
VISIT
To experience a day with Felicia in her home, check out feliciashomerestaurant.com.
Visit our YouTube channel to see our day with Felicia! Watch here.
Recreate some of Felicia’s recipes in your own kitchen!
Lemon Tiramisù
Photo by Joann Pai
Felicia’s Pizza Crust
Photo by Joann Pai
Photo by Joann Pai
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Felicia's Home Eatery - Homemade Baking
Nestled among the mountains in the Pietre commune of the Amalfi Coast, Felicia’s Home Restaurant is not a conventional dining establishment; rather, it offers an opportunity to cook with Felicia in her 17th-century farmhouse, Casale De Vivo, where she spent her childhood. Upon arrival, you'll be captivated by the stunning views as you attempt to absorb the surroundings.