Fiore Featured on MSN.com Travel Show on Seattle!

Fiore and brother Mario are featured on the MSN.com travel program “Re:Discover”, which gives an insider’s view of the great cities of America!  Check out some of my favorite spots in the Emerald City and beyond in the short video entitled “Family Ties” at:

 Fiore on MSN.com

Fiore a Guest Contributor to Windermere Real Estate Podcast!

I recently was invited to join our general manager Laura Smith and Windermere legal counsel David Daniels for a conversation on working with sellers in a shifting market.  We dug deeply into the nuances of how to best prepare and represent our sellers today.  Check it out at:

Casa Fiore Cooks Spaghetti alla Puttanesca on KCTS 9! Video Link and Recipe Here for YOU!

CLICK HERE to View Fiore Pignataro Cooking Spaghetti alla Puttanesca on KCTS 9 Cooks

What a total blast it was to share with YOU Spaghetti alla Puttanesca, my signature dish, on live TV Saturday, November 11th, 2014!  "KCTS 9 Cooks:  Pasta, Rice, and Grains" was the latest installment of KCTS 9's viewer-led cooking show, and it was so cool to have been a part of it.  Check it out via the link above.

This quintessential Southern Italian "soul food" dish is a bold and saucy and pairs perfectly with big Italian red wines.  While a majority of my cooking comes directly from home chefs such as Grandma Carm, Grandpa Rossetti, Nana, Pop, Grandma and Grandpa "P" and my dear parents Marianna and Fiore, this fiery concoction is all mine.  This dish is the culmination of their method, style and love in the kitchen, as reflected through me.  I really don't use exact measurements with this recipe (though I offer you some here), so feel free to follow your whimsy a bit; a little extra red pepper here or a little extra oregano there won't hurt!  As always, let me know if I can help you with this in any way!  Buon appetito e cent'anni!

  

1. Chop or mince in a garlic press 6-8 cloves of garlic.  Sauté in 1/4 cup olive oil until translucent but not browned in a wide, flat pan.

2. Puree one 28 oz. can of tomatoes.  Add to garlic and bring to a simmer over low-med. heat.

3. Add 1 tsp. fresh ground pepper, 1 plus tsp. red pepper, 1/3 cup coarsely chopped oil-cured black olives, 1 tin of anchovies (patted dry of oil), 3 tblsp. capers, 1 plus tblsp. oregano and simmer over low-med. for 10-15 min.

4. Cook 1 lb. spaghetti “al dente”, that is, a little on the firm side

5. Add “al dente” spaghetti to the sauce and let simmer with 3 tblsp. chopped parsley until dish melds together (1-2 min.).

6. Serve immediately with grated Romano or Parmigiano and a hearty red like Barolo, Barbaresco, or Brunello di Montepulciano.

From the Chef ~ An Italian Christmas Eve Feast

From the Chef ~ Fiore, Fiore, and Fiore's Roasted Leg of Lamb

From the Chef ~ 3 Ways with Plums!

For those who subscribe to the old-school snail mail version of Casa Fiore, here is the link to the Plum Tart referenced in edition #99 (Nov-Dec 2018)

CLICK HERE for Savuer magazine's Plum Tart Recipe

For those who do not subscribe to the old-school snail mail version of Casa Fiore, here is the rest of the tasty recipes for plums below.

  

For those of you suffering from FOMO because you are not receiving your very own copy of the old-school snail mail version of Casa Fiore:

It's all good!  

Just send along your address and I will put on the list!

My best, Fiore

pignataro@windermere.com

206.355.1919

From the Gardener and the Chef

 Plums 3 Ways!

While I wish I had my own Italian plum tree, thankfully everyone else seems to have one.  Thus, a windfall of Italian plums is always a possibility come September. My sister Carmela has one that I plunder from time to time. Of course, fresh plums ripened properly and enjoyed “as is”, as we say in real estate, are tough to beat. For the ones I can’t manage to eat fresh and fully ripened, here are three other ways I have come to enjoy this rite of the fall harvest. No fresh plums on hand? Find some good ones at your local grocer and get busy!

1. Plum Sauce.  Or stewed plums if you prefer… however you want to say it, this is a simple preparation:  cut plums in half—4-5 cups or so if you can get your hands on them—and dispose of pits.  Add 1/4 cup of water and some sugar—roughly 1/4 cup.  Sample them as you simmer them down to a chunky sauce over med-low heat.  Add more sugar as suits your taste.  Awesome alone or over toast, yogurt, or vanilla ice cream.

2. Brandy Soaked.  Preserve the summer with… booze!  Same as above:  halve and pit some plums and fill a quart jar (if available, wide-mouthed).  Add 1/8 cup or so of sugar.  Add brandy to the top, seal, and shake.  Let sit for month—or round up to 40 days and 40 nights if want to go all Old Testament on ‘em—and enjoy all winter long.  Got cherries or apricots?  Try them as an option.

3. Plum Tart.  This one is tasty on Day 1, and even better on Day 2 as the flavors meld a bit.  (See link above!)

From the Grillmaster

Get Your Grill All Fired Up for 

These Hot Summer Grilling Ideas!

From the New York Times:  101 Fast Grilling Recipes

Endless inspiration for even the most seasoned Grillmaster!

https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/30/dining/30mini.html

From Food52:  Grilled Red Cabbage with Mustard Sauce

Surprisingly Awesome Preparation!

https://food52.com/recipes/72002-grilled-red-cabbage-with-mustard-sauce

From Me:  Grilled Carrots with a Curry-Honey Drizzle

Check out my creation! Buddies-up well with the Grilled Red Cabbage above!

1.  Slice 1 lb. of carrots into 1/4 - 3/8 inch slices.  Set aside.

2.  Whisk together the following rough measurements:  1 tbsp. curry powder, juice of 1 lemon + zest of 1 lemon, 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, and 2 tbsp. honey.  Set aside.

3.  Grill on high heat until charred on each side.

4.  Drizzle carrots with curry-honey mixture, sprinkle with kosher or Maldon salt, and serve warm or let marinate and serve at room temperature.

An Iconic Listing in Historic Downtown Roslyn!

Own a Piece of History in Roslyn!

Own a Piece of History with ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES at Harper Lumber!  9 lots - 31,500 sq ft and almost an entire city block - that comprise the heart & soul of Historic Downtown Roslyn!  Included with sale of lumber store:  large 2005 warehouse, 14,500+ building sq ft, 2 retail spaces, a 7,000 sq ft vacant corner lot, 224' street frontage, and more spaces to develop.  Opportunity for growth abounds in Roslyn, Washington's favorite Cascade town with Suncadia, Snoqualmie Pass, and 4-season outdoor recreation at your fingertips!

Offered for $2,500,000

Harper Lumber has been an anchor in Downtown Roslyn for over 70 years. 

 I bet there's a good chance you have bought a hammer and some nails 

or have had your saw sharpened there at some point!

There's a 7,000 sq ft vacant lot to the left of Harper Lumber and 

a small park with a garden to the right.

Much cooler and supremely more important than any game of Monopoly, 

this legacy property comprises nearly an entire city block and

offers the chance to invest in both the past and the future of Roslyn.

A modern, working warehouse complete with equipment and inventory 

adds a big bump to the commercial upside of this property.

Classic store fronts from 1925 currently leased to a bike shop and market/cafe.  The second story of these buildings offer more spaces to develop.

Back in 1895…

Harper Lumber has been a fixture for over 70 years in the historic mining town of Roslyn, a Northwest jewel nestled in the eastern foothills of the Cascades.  This one-of-a-kind legacy property is comprised of an original 1895 building, two classic 1925 retail spaces, and a modern warehouse facility.  Oh, if these walls could talk!  Right across the street is The Brick Saloon, the 128-year-old tavern famous for its running water spittoon, and other hot spots like Heritage Distillery and Roslyn Cafe help make Downtown Roslyn a happening destination.  Suncadia Resort brings evermore visitors to this charming town, and with Snoqualmie Pass nearby for skiing and with endless outdoor recreation opportunities, a vibrant mountain lifestyle is at your disposal.  Harper Lumber offers a unique opportunity to tap into the past and future all in one investment.  

Please contact me for more details 

about this very special property!

Who doesn't LOVE Roslyn?  There's the oldest tavern in the state, an original craft brewery that brews some of the most luscious ambrosia around, the set of a popular 1990s sitcom, a new distillery, a great old theater, booming Suncadia Resort, access to the great outdoors (my Uncle Mike Rossetti from Cle Elum loved to hunt, fish, and forage boletus mushrooms in these parts - I loved a nice float down the Yakima River), and a historic cemetery.  Don't forget your stop in Cle Elum for the best torchetti cookies and apple fritters you will ever eat
and for a frolic at Owen's Meat, "The Candy Store for the Carnivore".  

Here's my standing order:  

1-2 lbs. of bacon sliced the way they like it 

smoked pork shank for homemade soups

smoked pork chops

jalapeno-cheese frankfurters

a whole smoked chicken

a couple of thick ribeyes - just because why not

From the Chef ~ Buster Solomon's "Super Seward" Sloppy Joes

As many of you know, I was a teacher for 12 years prior to becoming a Realtor.  My first official day as a broker was set to be Windermere Community Service Day, a day spent spiffing up a local organization.  Oh, the irony!  As I split from my many years of teaching, my first day in real estate was spent at a...school??  And irony of all ironies:  it was Seward School (now known as TOPS), MY very own elementary school from the ‘70s!  As I launched my new life at Windermere, weirdly I’d come full circle!  Setting foot on campus, good memories flooded over me, the best of which were  the belly laugh of Mr. Buster Solomon, as kind a human being as you’ll ever find, and the heavenly perfume of Sloppy Joe day.  For a kid who happily brown-bagged-it with salami sandwiches and apple sauce, a “Super Seward” sloppy joe was a welcome deviation from Mamma’s loving-packed sack.  And if you were Super Seward lucky that day, Mr. Solomon would invite you to help clean up the cafeteria, which meant more belly laughs and then an ice cream social with potato chips and blow pops down at his shop after school.

1. Over medium-high heat, brown 1 ¼ lb. lean ground beef (turkey works well too!) in 1 tsp. olive oil.  Use a wooden spoon to break up the meat into small pieces.  Pour off any excess fat. 

2. Reduce the heat to medium-low and add 2 tbsp. brown sugar, 2 tbsp. dried minced onion, 1 tsp. paprika, ½ tsp. garlic powder, and 1 tsp. chili powder.  Cook, stirring to blend, for about 2 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper.

3. Stir in 1 can (15 oz.) tomato sauce, 2 tbsp. tomato paste, 2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce, and 2 tsp. red wine vinegar.  Bring to a gentle simmer over high heat.  Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring often, for 5 more minutes. 

4. Spoon over the buns of your choice:  we like fluffy brioche buns or King’s Hawaiian buns.  Served with a side of potato chips and blow pops and you, too, will enjoy a Buster Solomon belly laugh! (Source:  The Cookbook for Kids, Atwood)

Fiore Pignataro: 2016 LISTING AGENT OF THE YEAR!!!

Fiore Pignataro has received a Green Genius Award for 2016 Listing Agent of the Year by The Master Builders Association's Built Green program!  The award is given to the listing agent with the "most green home transactions and most impactful marketing" and who "demonstrates critical market intelligence". Over the past few years, Fiore has worked with a handful of builders who follow sustainable building practices.  In the lead up to the 4th Annual Green Genius Awards on September 13th, 2016, Fiore was interviewed about sustainability and marketing for the Built Green Conference blog. Here is a link to that interview:

http://www.greencanopy.com/blog/the-pnw-is-the-hub-of-greener-living-thanks-to-these-geniuses

Free Summer Events for YOU!

Please join me at these two great summer events hosted by Windermere!  Let me know when you will be there and I will keep an eye out for you!  Thanks a lot and please let me know how I can help you in any way!

WINDERMERE SUMMER SPLASH, SATURDAY, AUGUST 19!

WINDERMERE EASTLAKE FREE SHREDDING EVENT, SATURDAY, AUGUST 26!

From the Chef ~ Tuna Under Olive Oil

When your brother is a fishing nut, good things come your way in the form of rich adventures in the kitchen and on the dinner plate!  This fall, Mario hooked into a couple hundred pounds of tuna off of the Washington coast.  What to do with piles of albacore? We came up with many options - poke, sashimi, ceviche, and seared in spices - but my favorite is poaching it in olive oil.  The final product matches the delicious, top-shelf Italian and Spanish tuna canned in olive oil.  This preparation works great as the signature protein of a classic Salad Nicoise (see recipe below) or worked into red sauce with spaghetti.

Here is the link to the recipe:
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/237725/olive-oil-poached-tuna/

From the Chef 

Salade Niçoise du Fiore

As I was researching this favorite dish—Niçoise Salad, an untiring testament to deliciousness—my coworker looked over my shoulder and wondered aloud, “Fiore, I am surprised you need to look up that one!” In truth, I do more or less know this dish, having enjoyed it endlessly along the Italian and French Riviera.  But as I enjoy doing, I huddled up with some trusted, go-to online resources—Saveur, Ina Garten, Julia Child, Food Network, Epicurious, The Naked Chef—and crosschecked my recipe.  Sure enough, their versions confirmed in essence the same delectably fresh statement of Mediterranean love on a salad dish! Bon Appetit!

For the Salad. Arrange on 4 plates or one large platter 1 head cleaned bibb lettuce. Then top with the following ingredients:

1 lb. small new potatoes, boiled until tender

1/2 lb. haricot verts, blanched

3/4 lb. the very best tomatoes you can find, halved

8 small radishes, trimmed and thinly sliced

1/2 cup black Niçoise olives

4 hardboiled eggs, quartered

One 2 oz. tin quality anchovies

2-3 cans (8-12 oz. total) high quality tuna in olive oil

(I have a GREAT recipe for preparing your own from fresh tuna steaks—visit CasaFioreOnline.com for the recipe!)

Optional: Thinly sliced shallots or onions; boiled beets, pealed and sliced; thinly sliced cucumber

For the Dressing. This is from Savuer and I really like it.

Mince 1 clove of garlic on a cutting board and sprinkle heavy with kosher salt.  Using a knife, scrape garlic and salt together to form a smooth paste.  Transfer paste to a bowl and whisk in 1/3 cup olive oil, 2 tbsp. lemon juice, 1 tbsp. Dijon mustard, 1 minced shallot, and salt and pepper to taste.  Now drizzle over salad and enjoy!

What are Built Green Homes? A Primer on Sustainability

As2016 Listing Agent of the Year for Built Green, I'd like to give you an overview of what it means for a home to be sustainably "Built Green".  Please let me know if ever I can help you in any way!!

Did you know that 30% of homes built in King and Snohomish County are now Built Green?  Homes that are Built Green are more sustainable, more comfortable and more efficient (ie:  less expensive and wasteful from a utility bill perspective) than homes built to code requirements from any era. Taken from the Master Builders Association web site, 

"The Master Builders Association established Built Green as an environmentally friendly green building certification program to set standards of excellence that can make a significant impact on housing, health and the environment."

These standards of excellence can be summed up in the following five categories:

Green Codes

Site and Water

Energy Efficiency

Indoor Air Quality

Material Selection

Visit www.BuiltGreen.net to learn more!

Here is a look at sustainably built homes I have listed in 2016.

Dep City 15 at 16th and Yesler by Dep Homes

***Winner of Green Genius Award as a Builder***

Final 10 of 15 homes near the First Hill Streetcar

4-Star Built Green

Rare 5-Star Custom Wedgwood Home
Designed by Malbouf Bowie Architecture

***Winner of Green Genius Award for Remodel Builder***
Built by Ulric Dihle

Four Detached Town Homes by Barcelo Homes on North Beacon Hill

4-Star Built Green

(All sold in presale, so photos unavailable!)

Three North Beacon Hill Row Houses by Barcelo Homes

4-Star Built Green

Other Sustainably Built Homes

"Passive Palatine", an award-winning Passive House in Greenwood 

Designed and built by Malbouf Bowie Architecture 

Modern Home in North Admiral by Maston Properties and Construction

Targeting 4-Star Built Green Certification (in process)

Quartet of Homes by Maston Properties and Construction 

In Shoreline and Edmonds built using 4-Star Built Green Practices

Other Listings to Date - Each with Their Own Story!

Ballard "Loft" House

Greenwood Home with Accessory Dwelling Unit

Darling Pinehurst Bungalow

Lake Washington Expansive View Home

North Seattle Remodel

8th Hole at Inglewood

Convenient Maple Leaf Condo

Stylish Madison Valley Town Home