The history of Italian cuisine and culture is a magnificently blended palette of textures, colors, and, most importantly, flavors from all of the regions of Italy. Combine that with the culinary and cultural influences imported from nearby countries and you have a bounty of offerings that are hard to ignore. In much the same way as there is no definitive American cuisine, Italian cuisine embodies the cross-culture and cross-regional development of flavors and available resources. It is believed that the oldest cookbook ever written is the Roman book Apicius which is thought to be written between the 4th and 5th […]
Fine Dining
Even Shakespeare Loves Italy
The great bard William Shakespeare was seemingly infatuated with Italy and Italian culture. From Julius Caesar, to Romeo and Juliet, and The Two Gentlemen of Verona, his depth of understanding of the Italian culture and demographic is hard to fathom. There is a school of thought that theorizes Shakespeare was actually born in Italy as Michelangelo Florio Crollalanza and his family fled to London during the Holy Inquisition at which time his name was changed. This theory further explains that young William was educated by Franciscan monks in Latin and Greek which accounts for his well-written prose. Others believe that […]
Eat Like an Italian This Summer
When the weather starts to warm and we begin to spend more time outdoors in the heat, our bodies naturally start to crave lighter and fresher foods. We don’t need to be comforted by heavy soups, stews, or sauce covered pastas. The same is true for folks all around the world, and in Italy the summer is a time of great celebration of the harvest of the freshest fruits, vegetables, and the bounty of the seas. This is part of the reasons the fine dining Orlando experts at Christini’s is featuring a delicious summer menu. Leggero, which means “light” in […]
The History of Italian Desserts
Rumor has it that Italian ice was accidentally discovered by Nero sometime before the burning of Rome. It’s an amusing thought. Adding fruit juice and possibly spices to water prior to freezing is what sets Italian ice apart from its brother the snow cone. Regardless of its origins, there is nothing quite a refreshing as a fruit-flavored Italian ice to cool down a hot summer day. Italian desserts are some of the finest, most creative in the world. The availability of sugar was sparse in Ancient Rome and those who had a sweet tooth found satisfaction in dishes flavored with […]
The Differences in American and Italian Life
When considering the differences in American and Italian lifestyles, the first noteworthy and openly observable trait is the passion for life that is expressed throughout Italy. Within that fervor is a sincere passion for everything! What’s most interesting is that Italians tend not to keep their feelings a secret. Italians are well known for their ability to be expressive and emotional – they don’t keep things bottled up. Italians tend to take things in stride and to be more accepting. They tend to have a “live and let live” approach. Don’t get the wrong idea; it’s not that Americans aren’t […]
