The Big Night Timpano Recipe

[Jenise]

Anyone done it? I've been asked to make this for a friend's birthday and have downloaded Frank Bruni's adapted recipe in the NYTimes for that purpose. Not daunting, or at least it won't be once I figure out what vessel to use!

[Jenise]

So this is getting serious. We're going to have live music--a band playing Louie Prima style.

Here's a video from the movie:

https://www.finedininglovers.com/explore/articles/how-make-timpano-stanley-tuccis-big-night

This is one where I swear to God I made that once a long time ago, but I don't remember any of the specifics except that it came out well.

[Jenise]

Well I now have three recipes to contemplate but still no vessel. Can one bake in a stainless steel bowl or would the acidity of the tomato sauce cause damage? I like the idea of the dome shape, though in the movie they used an enamel wash basin. I don't want to spend money on enamel wash basins (I'll need two).

I would imagine there wouldn't be much or any reaction from stainless steel, but from carbon steel and particularly aluminum I would. Plus I would suspect you could line a bowl with parchment paper.

How big a vessel do you need? The shape of the one in the movie is just a dutch oven upside down. Admittedly, a very very large dutch oven... but a slightly sloped cylinder, nonetheless.

A stock pot? A lobster pot? It's gotta fit in your oven?

A bucket. These are 9L: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Sportsman-Medium-Stainless-Steel-Bucket-Set-3-Pack-801668/206814677?source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&fp=ggl&srsltid=AfmBOoqBBmunpDHCeOZ-AUd9U1CQvRsD1Dmi-ca0rMjbzO1QNvd9QkEuOb8

A wine bottle cooler (I have bought from these folks before): https://www.webstaurantstore.com/tablecraft-bt1914-oval-galvanized-steel-beverage-tub-19-x-14-x-9/808BT1914.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gclid=EAIaIQobChMItNz1mobnkQMVAFhHAR1OMAADEAQYBCABEgLvTvD_BwE

A baby bath?

[Jenise]

No, they didn't use a Dutch oven. They used an enamel basin like this one, but with red edging instead of blue, and larger/deeper:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DQ5 ... RX8N&psc=1

I think sloped sides will be key to getting it/them to release easily. My 8 qt Dutch oven has straight sides.