Renowned filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola has always loved to cook. He told Bottom Line reporter Linda Gassenheimer that he learned his culinary skills from his southern Italian mother and grandmother. When he was 14, he took a cooking class in school because “we could eat what we cooked, which was infinitely better than the school food.” Coppola continued cooking in college “because I didn’t have much money and it was better and cheaper to make my own food.” Coppola does most of the cooking at home. Gathering a new cast together around his dining room table is his way of breaking the ice and starting a film project. What does he like to cook? “My meals often include onions, garlic, fresh vegetables from my own garden and top-quality olive oil. I like to let the natural flavors shine through.” One of Coppola’s favorite quick and easy dishes is a lemon chicken created by the mother of his good friend, another renowned director, Martin Scorsese. “Martin Scorsese’s mom was a wonderful cook,” says Coppola. “Her secret to this chicken is to place it in a very hot oven, which seals in the juices.” Coppola suggests serving it with cooked spinach, so we have paired it with a traditional Roman spinach dish with orzo.
Two 8-ounce chicken breasts, with skin and bones, each breast cut into 2 pieces
2 Tablespoons olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 large garlic cloves, crushed
Juice of 2 lemons (about ¼ cup)
3 Tablespoons fresh oregano leaves
Preheat oven to 475°. Place chicken in a roasting pan, skin-side up, and pour olive oil over chicken. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Add garlic, lemon juice and oregano. Place in oven and roast for 30 minutes. When done, a meat thermometer should read 170°. Serves two.
2/3 cup orzo
5 ounces fresh spinach (about 5 cups)
¼ cup raisins (optional)
1 teaspoon olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Boil three quarts of water in a saucepan. Add orzo to boiling water, and cook 10 minutes. Add spinach and drain. Add raisins, olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Toss well. Serves two.
