Added: 10/31/2005 |
That Divine Italian FoodItalian food is a mixture of gentle cheese, spicy sauces, exotic fruit and refined wine. Native cuisine absorbed traditions of many countries but very original and colorful at the same time. Nevertheless, food - is the part of Italian culture and strongly mingled into the life of both common and noble people. That`s why they have so many traditions, connected with classical Italian meal, regardless whether it is an expensive top Italian restaurant or a small local steakhouse.
For example, each meal begins with so -called antipasti (beginning), when fresh vegetable salads or other appetizers are offered. Usually different kinds of sausages, mozzarella- cheese made of buffalo`s milk with tomatoes, sometimes parmesan and baked or grilled melon are given as an addition. The most popular Italian food in antipasti (and not of it only) is "carpaccio"- fresh pickled meat, very soft and gentle. But it's important to be very attentive in choosing carpaccio- only top Italian restaurants can provide well-done meat, and guarantee its safety.
Then comes "primi piatti", in Europe corresponding to the time for soup, which in Italy is replaced by pasta. To enumerate all its kinds is useless and impossible thing, because the number of sauces and seasonings constantly increases. Risotto, soups and ragout build up "secondi piatti". Italian soups- "minestrone"- can be both thick and creamy and broth-like. To cook this soup one must use over seven types of vegetables, meat, and spices, which symbolize seven virtues of cardinal (according to a legend). Ragout is extremely beloved Italian food all over the country, has nothing in common with European stew. It is a big piece of meat fried to the crust before being extinguished in sauce. In fact, Italian food is rich in different meat-dishes, preferably made of beef. Such meals like "osso buco" - the specialty of Italian food - is nothing more but extinguished with vegetables oxen`s tail, and "saltimbocca" is veal escalope, wrapped in bacon and fried in wine. The top Italian restaurants always offer "abbacchio"- mutton with rosemary under the sauce of white wine. Other native meals of Italian food are even more exotic as the previous ones- spaghetti with octopus`s inks, sea-cock with fennel and shrimps on rasps.
The wide choice of ice-cream in Italy strikes imagination of the most experienced gourmet: with exotic fruit, nuts, figs, herbs, and even the taste of cheese and garlic (served as antipasti). Quite a thing to be tasted! The processing is unique as well - part of a fruit pulp is taken away and replaced by ice-cream, providing natural smell and taste of the dish. But be ready that these culinary masterpiece will cost much, as well as other desserts of Italian food. The must-eat things are cakes "Canolli" ,"Tyramisu" and "Cantucci" - cookies, soaked in sweet wine Vin Santo, then in jelly, chocolate and pistachio. And of course, Italian food is inconceivable without coffee and wine, rich selection of which is presented in every Italian restaurant.
So, to speak about Italian food is a bit useless - the words are too miserable to express all the edges and colors of it. Taste it yourself , if haven`t done it yet!
Article comments:
No comments for this article yet. Post your comment now!
