BIG NEWS: The Artful Gourmet Is Launching on Patreon (And I Have a Gift for You 🎁)

For years, The Artful Gourmet has been so much more than recipes.

It’s been a place where food meets storytelling. Where travel inspires creativity. Where photography captures moments worth savoring. Where music, memories, culture, and conversation come together around the table.

What started as a simple food blog has grown into a multimedia platform that now includes recipes, food photography, podcasts, videos, interviews, workshops, travel stories, and creative inspiration shared with readers and listeners around the world.

And today, I’m excited to announce the next chapter.

Welcome to The Artful Gourmet Patreon Community

I’ve officially launched a Patreon page where you can access both FREE and premium member content while helping support the future growth of The Artful Gourmet.

This new community gives us a chance to connect on a deeper level and gives me the opportunity to share even more of what I love creating.

Think of it as your all-access backstage pass to everything happening behind the scenes.

What You’ll Find Inside

🍷 Exclusive recipes and cooking content

🎙️ Bonus podcast episodes and extended interviews

📸 Behind-the-scenes food styling and photography content

🎥 Live cooking demonstrations and food styling/photography workshops

💬 Monthly Q&A sessions

📚 Digital downloads, free guides, templates, and e-books

✨ Early access to new projects and content

🌎 Travel stories, restaurant discoveries, and local guides

🎵 Groovy Eats bonus content and retro food inspiration

📷 Food photography and content creation tips

🎤 Private coaching opportunities and member experiences

📸 Special member rates on food styling and photography shoots

❤️ A supportive community of food lovers, creators, travelers, photographers, and lifelong learners

Whether you’re here for the recipes, the storytelling, the photography, the podcasts, or simply the inspiration, there’s a membership level designed for you.

Membership Levels

FREE MEMBER

Perfect for staying connected.

✔ Public posts and updates

✔ Select podcast episodes

✔ Community announcements

✔ Content previews and sneak peeks

BASIC MEMBER

For readers who want more exclusive content.

✔ Everything in Free

✔ Exclusive recipes

✔ Bonus articles and newsletters

✔ Early access to content

✔ Behind-the-scenes updates

✔ Downloadable resources

PLUS MEMBER

For food lovers and creative explorers.

✔ Everything in Basic

✔ Live workshops

✔ Cooking demonstrations

✔ Expanded tutorials

✔ Premium downloads and guides

✔ Member-only videos

✔ Interactive Q&A sessions

PREMIUM MEMBER

The ultimate Artful Gourmet experience.

✔ Everything in Plus

✔ Private 1:1 video calls

✔ Personalized creative feedback

✔ Content and photography mentoring

✔ Priority Q&A access

✔ VIP member experiences

✔ Exclusive coaching opportunities

✔ Private mastermind-style discussions

✔ Annual virtual member events

BONUS FREE MEMBERSHIP GIFT 🎁

To celebrate the launch, I’m offering a special gift to my community.

The first 5 people who sign up will receive a FREE 1-Year Plus Membership to The Artful Gourmet Patreon.

That’s a $120 value absolutely free. 🎉

This special promotion starts today and ends on July 14, 2026, or whenever all five memberships have been claimed—whichever comes first.

If you’ve been curious about joining, now is the perfect time.

🎁 Sign Up & Claim Your Free Membership Gift

Subscribe for free 👉 https://www.patreon.com/cw/KristenHessxTheArtfulGourmet

Become a Member 👉https://www.patreon.com/cw/KristenHessxTheArtfulGourmet/membership

Refer a Member & Get 20% Off 1 Month 👉 Get 20% off one month membership (any tier) when you refer a someone to become a paid member – use code E59AF

Listen to the Latest Podcast Episodes

THE ARTFUL GOURMET PODCAST | With Kristen Hess

Welcome to the intersection of culinary artistry, creative business, and retro soul. Hosted by Kristen Hess—professional Food Stylist for KitchenAid and Food Network, Commercial Photographer, and featured cast member of the 2026 “Women In Power” TV series—this is the podcast for those who believe life should be lived artfully, one bite at a time.

From the high-stakes sets of NYC to the vibrant flavors of the modern kitchen, Kristen pulls back the lens on what it truly takes to build a creative life and a thriving brand.

The Artful Gourmet Podcast features three signature series:

✨ INTO FOCUS Bring your vision and your business into high definition. This mindset and motivational series dives deep into the psychology of creativity, the “Art of the Pivot,” and the resilience needed to succeed as a modern entrepreneur.

🎙️ UNFILTERED (Interview Series!) Raw, real, and inspiring conversations with the Creators, Tastemakers, and Movers & Shakers who are redefining their industries. Kristen sits down with world-class entrepreneurs to uncover the unfiltered stories behind their greatest successes and most pivotal lessons.

🕺 GROOVY EATS Step into the culinary time machine! This nostalgic series celebrates the iconic food, music, and culture of the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Featuring guest artists and reimagined retro recipes, we’re bringing the “Groovy” back to the kitchen with style and soul.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY: Whether you’re a foodie, a chef, food writer, creative entrepreneur, or a fan of the “Hero Shot,” subscribe to stay inspired, stay focused, and stay groovy.

🎙️ Listen to the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/rss/KristenHessxTheArtfulGourmet?auth=fMS-Co7Y9z2670p5OmDLtZan2lCypB-A&show=2216657

🎬 Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.YouTube.com/@theartfulgourmet

Why Patreon?

Creating meaningful content takes time, passion, creativity, and a tremendous amount of behind-the-scenes work.

Your membership helps support:

Recipe development
Podcast production
Food Styling, Photography and video creation
Workshops and educational resources
Travel and storytelling projects
New cooking video series and creative experiments
The continued growth of The Artful Gourmet

Most importantly, it allows me to keep creating independent content that inspires, teaches, entertains, and brings people together through food and storytelling.

Let’s Build Something Amazing Together

Whether you’ve been following along for years or you’re just discovering The Artful Gourmet, I want to thank you for being here.

Your support means more than you know.

I’m incredibly excited about what’s ahead, and I can’t wait to share this next chapter with you.

Pull up a chair.

Pour yourself a glass of wine, a great cup of coffee, or your favorite cocktail.

The table is set.

And you’re invited.

I’m so glad you’re here.

With gratitude,

Kristen

Founder & Creative Director

The Artful Gourmet

Food Stylist • Photographer • Writer • Podcast Host • Storyteller

Follow Along:

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/theartfulgourmet

Website: https://www.kristen-hess.com

Blog: https://www.theartfulgourmet.com

Substack: https://artfulgourmet.substack.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artfulgourmet

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theartfulgourmet

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theartfulgourmet

June 11, 2026

Gutsch’s Famous Linguine & Clams Recipe | Easy Garlic Butter Seafood Pasta

This buttery garlic clam pasta recipe has been a family favorite for more than 35 years—and it’s still one of the best seafood pasta dishes you’ll ever make.

Summer always puts seafood on my mind.

Maybe it’s the warm weather, the longer evenings, or memories of family dinners back home in Rochester, New York. Whatever it is, there’s something about a big bowl of seafood pasta paired with a crisp glass of white wine that feels like summer itself.

One of my favorite recipes is this classic Linguine & Clams recipe from Bill Gutsch, a beloved Rochester, NY news anchor whose recipe became famous after it won a local city-woe recipe contest an appeared in the Democrat & Chronicle food section decades ago.

Long before recipes went viral on social media, great dishes spread the old-fashioned way—from newspaper clippings to recipe boxes, from neighbors to friends, and eventually to family dinner tables like ours.

My mom clipped the recipe years ago and it quickly became a family favorite. She would make it for special occasions, summer dinners, or Friday nights when everyone gathered around the table with a green salad, garlic bread, and a bottle of wine.

To this day, every time I make it, I’m transported right back to those evenings.

Why This Linguine & Clams Recipe Works

Let’s talk about the flavor combination.

Bacon.

Butter.

Garlic.

Clams.

Fresh parsley.

Black olives.

Pasta.

Need I say more?

The salty bacon and briny clams create an incredible depth of flavor, while the butter and garlic bring everything together into a silky, savory sauce that coats every strand of linguine.

Is it diet food?

Absolutely not.

Is it worth every bite?

Absolutely yes.

Sometimes it’s okay to indulge a little.

In a world obsessed with counting calories and cutting carbs, recipes like this remind us that food is meant to be enjoyed. There’s something comforting about old-school recipes that don’t apologize for being rich, satisfying, and delicious.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to appreciate these recipes even more. They’re not just meals—they’re memories. I remember my Mom and Dad making this dish on a Summer Friday night- windows open, a Frankie Valli record playing in the background, a Gin and Tonic or glass of wine in hand, just enjoying the perfect setting of a family dinner together around our kitchen table in the mid-80s.

The Perfect Summer Seafood Dinner

This easy linguine and clams recipe comes together in about 30 minutes, making it perfect for:

Summer entertaining
Date nights at home
Beach house dinners
Family gatherings
Casual weekend meals

Serve it with:

Crusty Italian bread
A simple green salad
Sauvignon Blanc
Pinot Grigio
Finger Lakes Riesling
Vermentino

The bright acidity of these wines balances the richness of the butter while enhancing the sweet, briny flavor of the clams.

10 minutes

Gutsch’s Famous Linguine & Clams Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings 2-4 servings

Ingredients

4-5 slices bacon, cut into ¼-inch strips
1/8 cup sliced green onions
1 garlic clove, minced
3 tablespoons butter
1 (6.5-ounce) can chopped clams or baby whole clams
¼ cup sliced black olives
1/8 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Freshly ground black pepper
6 ounces linguine pasta

Optional

¼ cup dry white wine
Extra parsley for garnish
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

Cook bacon in a large skillet until crisp. Remove and set aside, reserving about 1/8 cup bacon drippings in the pan.
Add green onions and garlic to the skillet and sauté until tender but not browned.
Stir in butter and allow it to melt completely.
Drain clams, reserving the clam juice.
Add clams, bacon, black olives, parsley, and black pepper.
Pour in half of the reserved clam juice and, if desired, add the white wine. Simmer gently for 2-3 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook linguine according to package directions until al dente. Drain.
Add cooked linguine directly to the skillet and toss until evenly coated.
Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with additional parsley and black pepper.
Serve immediately with crusty bread and a chilled glass of white wine.

Recipe Notes

Substitute olive oil for butter for a lighter version.
Fresh littleneck clams may be used instead of canned clams.
Add crushed red pepper flakes for a little heat.
For extra garlic flavor, double the garlic.

The Story Behind the Recipe

The full story behind this Rochester classic—including memories of family dinners, summer evenings, and why recipes like this become part of our lives for generations—is featured in my latest Substack essay.

If you enjoy food stories, nostalgia, travel, wine, and recipes inspired by memorable moments, I’d love to have you join me there.

👉 Read the full Substack essay here:
https://open.substack.com/pub/artfulgourmet/p/the-butter-garlic-and-clam-therapy?r=6fy3xt&utm_medium=ios

And while you’re there, subscribe to The Artful Gourmet newsletter for weekly recipes, food stories, travel inspiration, wine pairings, The Artful Gourmet Podcast, and behind-the-scenes content.

Final Bite

Some recipes don’t just feed us.

They transport us.

This Linguine & Clams recipe has been doing exactly that for my family for more than three decades.

A little butter.

A little garlic.

A little nostalgia.

And one very good reason to pour another glass of wine.

Salut!

— Kristen
The Artful Gourmet

More Groovy Eats retro recipes you might enjoy:

Amazing Macaroni and Cheese

A Recipe in Memory of Dad: Beef Stroganoff Casserole

Straw & Hay Pasta with Pancetta, Peas and Cream

Subscribe to Groovy Eats cooking show on YouTube 📺

Listen to Groovy Eats episodes on The Artful Gourmet Podcast 🎙️

#LinguineAndClams #LinguineAndClamsRecipe #SeafoodPasta #SeafoodRecipes #GarlicButterPasta #ClamPasta #ItalianFood #ItalianRecipes #PastaRecipes #SummerRecipes #ComfortFood #FamilyRecipes #FoodStories #FoodNostalgia #HomeCooking #EasyDinnerRecipes #WeeknightDinner #SeafoodDinner #WinePairing #FoodAndWine #RochesterNY #NewYorkFood #TheArtfulGourmet #SummerEntertaining #ItalianAmericanFood

April 16, 2026April 16, 2026

Straw & Hay Pasta with Pancetta, Spring Peas & Cream

A simple Italian classic that turns weeknight cooking into a little spring celebration

“Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party.’” — Robin Williams

There’s something about spring that just makes you want to cook again.

The light changes, the air softens, and suddenly the kitchen feels less like a chore and more like a place you actually want to be. Markets start filling up with bright greens, and you find yourself grabbing armfuls of anything fresh and in season without even thinking twice.

That’s exactly where this dish comes in.

Straw and Hay Pasta—or Paglia e Fieno—is one of those effortlessly beautiful Italian recipes that looks impressive but couldn’t be simpler to make. It’s named for the mix of golden egg pasta and green spinach pasta, tossed together like ribbons of sun and grass. Add a silky cream sauce, sweet peas, and crispy pancetta, and you’ve got something that feels special… without trying too hard.

The Best Part? It Tastes Like Spring

This dish isn’t just pretty—it’s all about what’s in season.

Sweet peas are the real star here. They bring that fresh, slightly grassy sweetness that only shows up this time of year. Frozen peas work perfectly (honestly, they’re a weeknight lifesaver), but if you spot fresh English peas at the market, grab them. They’re worth it.

Scallions add a soft, delicate onion flavor that melts right into the sauce, and

Pancetta brings that salty, crispy bite that balances everything out. It’s creamy, fresh, savory, and just a little indulgent—in the best way.

Make It Your Own (Easy Spring Swaps)

This is one of those recipes that plays well with whatever you have on hand:

Asparagus – sliced thin and sautéed for a little bite
Leeks – soft, buttery, and slightly sweet
Sugar snap peas – for crunch and freshness
Fava beans – if you want to elevate it a bit
Prosciutto or bacon – both work beautifully in place of pancetta
Think of this as your base—and then make it yours depending on what looks good at the market.

What to Drink With It 🍷

A cream-kissed pasta with salty pancetta and sweet spring peas calls for wines that are bright and structured enough to cut the richness without overwhelming the dish’s delicate character.

Pinot Grigio – clean, citrusy, classic pairing
Vermentino – a little more interesting, slightly herbal and bright

Both cut through the richness and keep everything feeling light and balanced.

Why This Is Perfect for a Weeknight

This is a true 30-minute pasta—no shortcuts, no compromises.

You build a quick sauce, cook the pasta, toss everything together, and finish with plenty of Parmigiano-Reggiano and fresh herbs. That’s it.

It’s simple, comforting, and exactly the kind of dish that reminds you why Italian cooking never goes out of style.

Straw + Hay Pasta with Pancetta, Spring Peas & Cream

Cuisine: Italian | Serves: 4 | Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
4 scallions, trimmed and sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup baby peas (fresh or frozen)
4 oz pancetta, diced
⅔ cup chicken broth
½ cup heavy cream or half-and-half
½ lb egg pasta (fettuccine or linguine)
½ lb spinach pasta
½ cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
Fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Heat olive oil in a saucepan. Add scallions and cook 1–2 minutes.
Stir in peas and cook another 2–3 minutes.
Add pancetta and cook until crisp and golden.
Pour in broth, simmer until reduced slightly, then add cream. Cook until silky.
Cook pasta until al dente, then transfer directly into the sauce.
Toss everything together over high heat until glossy.
Finish with Parmesan, black pepper, and parsley. Serve immediately.

Final Thoughts

This is the kind of dish that feels like a reset after winter—light, fresh, and just a little indulgent. Perfect for a casual dinner, but pretty enough to serve to friends with a chilled bottle of wine and a good playlist in the background.

Simple, seasonal, and seriously satisfying—this is spring on a plate. 🌿🍝

Keep Exploring

If you loved this recipe, there’s more where that came from:

👉 Read the full, more personal essay on Substack (deeper storytelling + behind-the-scenes inspiration)
🎙️ Listen to The Artful Gourmet Podcast for conversations, stories, and creative inspiration
📺 Watch on YouTube (@theartfulgourmet) for recipes, Groovy Eats, and behind-the-scenes cooking content
📸 Follow along on social media @artfulgourmet for daily inspiration, food styling, and new recipes