Peter Salerno isn’t just a master kitchen designer, he loves spending time in his own kitchen entertaining family, friends and guests. This love of cooking and creating recipes filters up and down the Salerno family for generations, and has produced some time-tested, delicious recipes.
When Peter Salerno married his wife Tracy, she brought with her a wealth of delicious recipes, cocktails and other “secret family recipes”. Tracy’s father, Mike Cavallo, was a master of many of these – but one of the family’s favorite creations from Mr. Cavallo was his famous sangria.
What makes the “Cavallo family sangria” recipe so delicious? It might be the perfect mix of ingredients, or the use of brandy and triple sec at the base. Or it may just be the special amount of love with which Mike made it.
In any event, it’s a sangria recipe that’s sure to please, and we’re sharing it with you. It’s the perfect summer sangria recipe to beat the heat!
Mike Cavallo’s Perfect Summer Sangria Recipe
Ingredients
7Up/Sprite
Triple Sec
inexpensive brandy (something like christian bros)
a bottle of cheap red wine (barefoot works) either merlot or shiraz
ice
oranges (you can add apples and pears as well)
Preparation
Fill a *large* pitcher with whole slices of orange (leave the peels on), use a wooden spoon to press on the oranges to get a little bit of juice at the bottom.
Fill a 1/3 of the pitcher with ice
Pour even parts 7Up/Sprite and wine (pouring both at the same time is the easiest way) until 2/3 of the way filled
Pour equal parts brandy and triplesec to taste (usually about 1/2 -2/3 a cup)
Fill remaining with the rest of the wine
Stir and let sit for 10 minutes in the refrigerator
Enjoy!
If it comes out too strong for you, it can be diluted by adding more soda.
DON’T add sugar, citrus fruits (lime, lemon, pineapple), or bitters!
Peter Salerno’s Family Tradition Shines In Custom Kitchen Photo
Three generations of the Salerno family met in one gorgeous Peter Salerno-designed kitchen. The result is a photograph that needs very little description:
Peter, Ross, and Anthony Salerno in a custom Peter Salerno kitchen. (Credit Peter Rymwid)
On the left is Peter Salerno – master designer, CMKBD, and founder of Peter Salerno Inc. (the most-awarded designer by NKBA since 2003). On the right is Peter’s son Anthony Salerno, the third generation of Salernos to join the custom design craft in the United States.
In the center is Rosolino Salerno, Peter’s father and the man who “started it all” for Peter Salerno Inc. “Ross”, as he is affectionately known, is the patriarch of the Salerno family and a master craftsman in his own right. His name is the inspiration for Peter Salerno’s “Mastro Rosolino” cabinet line.
This photo means the world to Peter and Anthony, as Rosolino passed away after this photo was taken. The Maestro’s signature craftsmanship, care and eye for design is reflected in every piece Peter Salerno and his team produce.
Lest we forget the kitchen! It is a one-of-a-kind Peter Salerno Inc. original custom-designed kitchen. The Saddle River, New Jersey kitchen features custom handcrafted tin range hood, custom ceiling with mirror inlays, custom cabinetry created by Peter Salerno Inc., a custom-crafted island and backsplash tile design.
Want a Peter Salerno Inc. kitchen of your very own? Fill out the contact form below!
Are Quartz Countertops Better Than Granite? A 2020 Update
Sitting in a meeting with Peter Salerno of Peter Salerno Inc. (our parent company), we were intrigued by a comment Peter made about one of this year’s hottest kitchen design trends: quartz kitchen countertops.
“Quartz [as a kitchen countertop material] is definitely in, and a lot of clients ask me whether quartz is a better option than granite,” Peter remarked.
The debate has begun to take over kitchen design, both among kitchen design experts and across the Internet. Should people be choosing quartz countertops for their kitchen design or kitchen remodeling project, or are granite countertops still the smart selection?
Quartz or granite – what’s your preference in countertops? (Peter Salerno Inc.)
Well, as is usually the case, the answer’s not so cut-and-dry.
Here’s what you need to know about quartz countertops, and how they compare to granite surfaces for your kitchen.
1. Quartz countertops are not 100% quartz – but that’s not a bad thing.
Most quartz countertops are around 95% quartz, with the remaining portion of the countertop surface made of polymers, resins and bonding materials. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Granite counters are almost always a 100% stone surface, meaning that they must be sealed to avoid stains and food items from sinking into the natural pores of the granite.
Whereas some high-end granite countertops may state they require a granite-specific cleaner, quartz countertops are virtually all amenable to simple soap and water cleaning. Many experts recommend that granite countertops should be re-sealed once a year; by contrast, a quartz countertop requires no such maintenance.
2. Quartz is harder than granite.
Due to the porous nature of granite, it’s susceptible to staining (and spills are a bit more troubling). Quartz countertops are sealed with polymer resins, so the resulting surface is actually a harder material than granite. Quartz countertop owners don’t have to worry as much about chips, falling items, spills and stains as a result.
The other upside to quartz’s hardness is it serves as a natural detractor to cross-contamination.
Quartz or granite – what’s your preference in countertops? (Peter Salerno Inc.)
3. Quartz countertops are heavier.
This isn’t an installation job that you’ll be doing yourself. Only homeowners with direct counter installation experience should be handling any countertop installation jobs, to be clear. But the weight of composite quartz countertops requires a bit more care than the average granite counter installation process.
Make sure you consult with a professional kitchen designer and installation expert to ensure that your space is equipped to handle the extra load of a quartz counter.
4. Are quartz countertops really cheaper than granite?
Again, sorry for the vague answer, but the truth is it depends on the individual job specifications. While the most inexpensive quartz counters are generally cheaper than granite, quartz’s price range is wider than that of granite.
As a result, the most expensive quartz countertops can exceed the price of high-end granite by a noticeable margin. Make sure you know exactly what you’re getting into with your countertop purchase, and don’t assume that quartz is always cheaper than granite – it’s not.
5. It’s all about your personal preference.
Granite vs. quartz is a debate that comes down to your personal taste. If you love the idea of a 100% natural surface in your home and don’t mind a little extra maintenance (and TLC), then granite countertops may be for you. If you want a little more durability, price flexibility (and color flexibility), then you should look into quartz.
Either way, a quality custom kitchen design team will point you in the proper direction and outline all the specifics on price, installation, maintenance and care.
So what’s your take on granite vs. quartz countertops? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!
Stunning Transitional Master Bath Design Updates | June 2020
It feels good getting back to work (safely, of course). The installation and design teams at Peter Salerno Inc. are hard at work bringing new designs to life in the homes of our clients, and they’re so grateful for the trust and business of some amazing, creative individuals.
When you’re the most award-winning custom kitchen and bath design company in America since 2001, much is expected of you. Peter Salerno and his team set out to turn heads immediately with a gorgeous transitional master bathroom design, in conjunction with Freed & Co., LLC.
From a stunning open shower and tub to the statement double sink, this master bath has no lack of “feature elements”. Working primarily in neutral tones allows the design to speak for itself – with large twin vanity mirrors, floor-to-ceiling shower glass and intriguing tile work, it certainly does so.
The official Peter Salerno Inc. Instagram provides a sneak peek inside this gorgeous, neutral-tone transitional master bath, with video and photos of the installed bath design. What do you think of it? Chime in and talk to us in the comments!
The phrase “beach house bathroom” has conjured up the wrong images for far too long. Ratty throws, sandy floors, and outdated showers and tubs once dominated the bathrooms of summer homes, as homeowners were preoccupied with all the things that could go wrong with its design.
Instead, why not focus on what can go right? The start of summer is the perfect opportunity to update your beach home’s bathroom to a sleek, stylish appearance that reflects the pride and presentation that you’ve built into the rest of your space.
Update your beach house bathroom to be sleek, stylish and inviting. (Credit Peter Rymwid)
Many of the questions that beach house owners have about updating their bathroom designs seem logical.
“Why should I invest in the bathroom; it’s just going to get dirty!” “What happens when family and guests track sand all over?” “Shouldn’t I just consider my beach home’s bathroom as a glorified mud room?”
The answer to all these concerns is a simple one. Your family, friends and guests will inherently assign the same value to any room in your home that you do – bathroom included. If you invest the time, focus and proper design elements towards making your beach house bathroom sleek, stylish and beautiful, its users will treat it with the same care and respect.
Great views and open floor plans can maximize your beach house bathroom’s space. (Credit Peter Rymwid)
Great views and open floor plans can maximize the space in your beach house bathroom. As Ren Miller, editor-in-chief of Design New Jersey magazine, stated in our Summer interview, “Views are important – get some big windows in your vacation home!” Make sure the designer handling your bathroom space values clean, functional design.
Also, don’t be afraid to trade in those ratty rugs and throws for tile floors. They’re much easier to clean and maintain, and once again – if you present a beautiful space, it is bound to be respected by your guests.
Finally, if you are dealing with an interior or narrow bathroom space, and space is at a premium, there are still creative design solutions! In our photo example at the top of the article, note the use of floor-to-ceiling mirrors to present the illusion of a larger space. Also, our design team was sure to stack as much functional storage as possible within the beautiful vanity and mirror combination on the far wall.
A great designer or design firm can make the most of any beach house bathroom, large or small. For more information on how Peter Salerno and his team can be of service, please visit their website.
Why Do You NEED a Custom Range Hood For Your Kitchen?
You’re ready to create or update the custom kitchen design of your dreams. Working with the very best kitchen designers (like 30-time national award winner Peter Salerno Inc.), you’ve settled on the finest luxury appliances, the perfect counter surface and backsplash, statement lighting, and a gorgeous kitchen island.
Using reclaimed tin in kitchen designs: just one way Peter Salerno Inc. creates the custom range hood of your dreams.
But what will you do to take your dream kitchen to the next level? What will make your kitchen the one-of-a-kind custom creation that will truly make it the envy of your guests?
Experts like Peter Salerno, CMKBD, agree that a custom range hood for your cooktop and range is the perfect statement piece to adorn any truly unique kitchen design.
“The hood and refrigerator are key elements in creating the ultimate kitchen,” Peter Salerno Inc. notes. “We have our own designs custom-made to our exact specifications so each of our clients has one-of-a-kind pieces, made right here in New Jersey.”
A custom range hood, when created masterfully, reflects the taste and personal style of the kitchen’s owner while adding a tone of elegance and unique backstory to your kitchen.
Another Peter Salerno Inc. custom range hood.(Credit Peter Rymwid)
Imagine being able to tell your family, friends and guests that your range hood is made from reclaimed tin collected from classic gas stations along Route 66. Think about the elegant, opulent story your kitchen will tell if your range hood is custom-made from materials taken from a speakeasy once owned by Al Capone or an historic jazz club in New Orleans.
Your kitchen can tell these stories with its very own custom range hood, designed exclusively for you by Peter Salerno Inc. and its network of master craftsmen and artisans. Working with its own staff of skilled artisans, as well as industry leaders and innovators like Rangecraft, Peter Salerno Inc. will create a state-of-the-art, unique range hood for your kitchen that is both fully functional and truly one-of-a-kind.
For more information about Peter Salerno Inc. and its custom range hoods for your kitchen, visit their official website, call (201) 251-6608, or fill out the contact form below.
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