Love Latin-Style with Debi Mazar and Gabriele Corcos

Although Italian food blogger Gabriele Corcos and his movie star wife Debi Mazar have become famous for their home-cooked twist on traditional Tuscan cuisine, it’s actually Latin music that brought them together.

They met at a party hosted by a French pianist (who happened to play at Madonna’s wedding to Guy Ritchie). Mazar, who was visiting Firenze on a break in between movies, met Corcos, who, at the time, was playing in a Cuban band as a congero. “That is where I met my Ricky Ricardo,” she often says. Mazar considers Corcos the Italian version of the legendary actor and big band leader. Contrary to popular belief, food wasn’t the spark that started the fire. Mazar explained that it was music that drew them together.  “Our connection actually happened over Afro-Cuban music and salsa.” 

Corcos is an accomplished musician and, for a while, thought that music was going to be his life. “I started studying music in Florence with foreign musicians living in my town,” said Corcos. “Then traveled to Brazil, Cuba, Israel, Morocco, and attended the conservatory in Paris.”

The night the two met, they headed out for a pack of cigarettes and never made it back to the party. The rest is true love history. They made a home together first in LA, then in Brooklyn, and created a sensation with their food blog Under the Tuscan Gun. The site quickly got the attention of TV execs and the result is Extra Virgin, Cooking Channel’s ode to their love affair with food.

Currently acting as ambassadors for coffee brand Lavazza, Mazar and Corcos love to mix it up in the kitchen with Latin food recipes. “I love the Cuban ropa vieja, the plantains,” she said. “I’m always striving for the best black beans I can find.” It’s the freshness of Latin food and spice of the flavors they find appealing. “I like the freshness of fruit incorporated in food when it’s done right. Cilantro is one of my favorite herbs, and I always go for the hottest sauce!”

Who ‘does it right’ in their (cook)book? José Andrés. “We actually just attended a culinary event in Washington, DC and had the pleasure of dining in one of Jose Andres’ restaurants. Oh my! The best refried beans I’ve ever had in my life,” Mazar said. 

Even when Italian is on the menu, their love of all things Latin is never far behind. Corcos shared their kitchen playlist with us. “When cooking, we dig Afro-Cuban music from the 50’s and 60’s, and old school Bossa nova. Otherwise, we have to survive tween pop music that our daughters play!” 

Want to get a taste of what’s cooking in Corcos and Mazar’s kitchen? Check out their recipe for coffee shortbread. 

Coffee Shortbread

• 2 cups of Flour
• 2 tablespoons Lavazza Qualita Rossa Ground Coffee
• 1 cup butter at room temperature
• 1/2 cup of sugar
• 1 vanilla bean
• zest of 1 orange
• pinch of salt
• powdered sugar for garnishing

Get the full recipe.