It is mind boggling to think that Durham wheat (semolina) mixed with water or eggs was transformed hundreds of years ago into one of the most popular and delicious foods recognized almost anywhere in the world! It can be challenging to correctly identify what is estimated to be over 250 different types and shapes of pasta–let alone determine which one is best suited to the dish or sauce you are preparing. Let’s break it down this way. If we sort the pasta shapes into the following categories the selection process becomes a little less overwhelming: Long Pasta: Spaghetti, vermicelli, linguine, […]
Fine Dining Blog
Italian Summer Treats to Help You Cool Off
The hot, dog days of summer in Florida are here. The humidity is so thick at times you feel like you are drowning and there’s no way out. Your appetite decreases in the heat of the summer, and it’s time to turn your family menus into lighter and more refreshing fare. The experts suggest eating smaller meals more frequently to help keep your energy level high and your body temperature feeling cooler. Of course, there have been many creative recipes developed over the years to help our bodies cool off in this steamy weather. Cold beverages, cool summer salads, fresh […]
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 […]
The Artistry Behind Italian Desserts
Any true foodie will tell you that before you sample the first bite of any dish you devour it with your eyes first. It makes sense; if something doesn’t look appealing to you, odds are, you won’t want to eat it. Italian desserts are masterful creations; beautiful to the eye and satisfying to the palate. Italian desserts have evolved over the centuries as the availability of products expanded, providing imported goods from around the world. Sugar was not readily available to Italian cooks prior to the 1700’s and desserts were mainly sweetened with honey and fruit. The finished products were […]
Italian Food by Season
As we do here in the States, Italian cooks feature the bounty of the seasonal harvest in their dishes. During the summer, Italian cuisine will reflect the abundance of eggplant, corn, zucchini, cucumbers, berries, almonds, apricots, figs, and plums, just to name a few. Eggplant will frequently replace meat in dishes as it is very versatile. It can be roasted, grilled, fried, or sautéed. It can be served room temperature or cold. Eating lighter dishes and foods that don’t require spending a lot of time in the kitchen are the key to surviving the Italian summer. Zucchini is served from […]
