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Personal and technical writing — on data, operations, technology, food, and life.

recipeItalianside-dishquick

Cicoria Ripassata - Roman Sautéed Greens

The essential bitter side dish to balance rich meats.

4 servings25 minutes
recipeItalianbraisedslow-cook

Osso Buco Alla Romana

A rustic, tomato-based Roman version of the classic braised veal shanks.

4 servings2 hours 50 minutes
recipeItalian-Americanside-dish

Rustic Garlic & Olive Oil Mash

An Italian-influenced creamy side designed to soak up braising sauce.

4 servings55 minutes
recipeTurkisheggplantlambAegean

Aegean Style Eggplant Moussaka

A Turkish-style moussaka with layered eggplant, spiced ground meat, and a tomato sauce. No béchamel, no cheese — lighter and more honest to its roots.

6 servings1 hour 45 minutes
recipeItalianpastaquickclassic

Carbonara

The real one. No cream. Just eggs, Pecorino, guanciale, and black pepper.

2 servings25 minutes
recipeItalianriceseasonalvegetarian

Farmer's Market Risotto

A risotto built around whatever looked best at the market that week. The technique is fixed; everything else is seasonal.

4 servings50 minutes
recipeItalianpastacomfort-foodentertaining

Lasagna Bolognese

A classic layered meat lasagna made with fresh hand-rolled pasta and a slow-cooked Bolognese ragù.

8 servings4 hours
recipeItalianseafoodpastaquick

Spaghetti alle Vongole

Fresh clams, white wine, garlic, and good olive oil. One of the great simple pastas.

2 servings45 minutes
recipesoupcomfort-foodvegetariancrowd-pleaser

Warm Potato & Triple-Onion Soup

A deeply savory, comforting soup built on three alliums — leeks, shallots, and onion — slow-cooked with potatoes until everything is rich and silky.

6 servings1 hour 5 minutes
personalwriting

Hello, World

A brief introduction to why I'm starting this blog and what you can expect from it.

technext.jsdesign

Building This Site

The technical decisions behind johnserra.com — Next.js, Tailwind, MDX, and a bento grid layout.