Fall in Italy is a phenomenal gastronomical experience. You can savor the taste of the fall harvest and the most authentic Northern Italian cuisine at Christini’s Ristorante Italiano, the best of fine dining Orlando!
The Italian autumn harvest is typically abundant with squash, pumpkin, chestnuts, mushrooms, and truffles, just to name a few of the items celebrated at this time of the year.
The Spaniards are credited with being responsible for introducing pumpkins to southern Italy, and they have been integrated into Italian cuisine ever since. Whether roasted, pureed, or sautéed, the sweet flesh of pumpkin is a staple in a variety of recipes, from pumpkin soup to risotto. It is served in wedges that have been roasted and sweetened with brown sugar or maple syrup. Pumpkin biscotti, pumpkin muffins, and other pumpkin-inspired sweets are especially savored at this time of the year.
Chestnuts are another staple of the Italian fall harvest. These deeply brown-colored nuts are traditionally roasted over open fires, and their flavor is sweet and earthy. The versatile chestnut is also ground into rich flour that is used to make pasta and castagnoccio (chestnut flour cake), which is a seasonal favorite.
Another popular crop is butternut squash which, like pumpkin, can be prepared roasted, sautéed, or pureed. A favorite dish involves roasting the squash, and then adding it into browned sausage, sage, thyme, garlic, and tossing with spaghetti. The flavor combination is amazing and is eagerly anticipated as the fall approaches. Butternut squash can be used in almost any recipe as a substitute for pumpkin. Consider a butternut squash spice cake or muffins. What’s not to love?
The change from summer to fall brings in another Italian favorite: mushrooms. Now, either you love mushrooms or you hate them; there seems to be no in between. If you love them as we do, there is no better time to visit Italy than in the fall. Porcini, chanterelle, and truffles are seemingly everywhere. Broths, soups, stews, risottos, and pasta dishes all highlight the freshness and flavor of these edible fungi. Marinated, sautéed, roasted, or fried, mushrooms bring a depth of flavor and texture to any dish.
Grapes and figs are also part of the Italian fall scene. Fall wines, savory and sweet fig dishes, delicious persimmons and prickly pears – the Italian fall offerings are almost endless.
When you have that undeniable craving for some authentic Italian cuisine this fall, there is only one restaurant in the fine dining Orlando scene that will satisfy your cravings, and make you want to come back time and time again. Call Christini’s Ristorante Italiano and come enjoy the true flavors of Italy!
