The availability of fresh fruits and vegetables has shaped the world as a whole. Dedicated to bringing an authentic Italian restaurant experience in Orlando, Christini’s Ristorante Italiano takes pride in the food served and the Italian culture it represents. As a prominent Italian restorante, we take pride in describing the historical influence of food on the Italian culture. This history gives an insight into how the Italian-dining experiences has evolved. In this post, we look at the historical influence and importance of the most popular seasonal vegetable around: the pumpkin.
The mere mention of pumpkins in America immediately makes us drift off to thoughts of the fall season; cooler weather replete with Scarecrows, Jack-O’-Lanterns, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and that first special, seasonal slice of pumpkin pie. Outside of fall, the pumpkin has taken a back seat to other gourd and squash consumption here in the states. Due to very creative marketing strategies and some new recipes, over the past few years, the word “pumpkin” has been elevated to a higher plateau. The word “pumpkin” now induces us to seek out delightful spiced lattes, breads, muffins, and pancakes which are available only during the fall and pre-holiday season. Emotionally, the “p” word makes us immediately want for cooler temperatures, sweaters, and the brilliant colors of fall leaves. It’s about time that the United States got on board with the rich, delicious, and nutritious fruit of the pumpkin and started to enjoy the flavor year round. Knowing a fine and delectable gourd when they saw one, the Italians have been cooking with pumpkin since its early introduction by Spain in the 1500’s.
The city of Venice is known for bringing the rest of Italy the marina di Chioggia, which is also known as sea pumpkin. Its bright orange, deeply flavored, and rich flesh has been included in many dishes originating in Venice. It can be roasted to sweetened perfection; in fact, in days gone by, the roasted pumpkin pieces were placed on platters that were hoisted onto vendors’ shoulders and sold as sweet treats to the citizens of Venice. It can be pureed into a flavorful filling for ravioli, pickled, and even preserved. One Italian delicacy in particular preserves the marina di Chioggia pumpkin with mustard, transforming it into a delicious and tangy spread for cold meats. This particular species of pumpkin has been used to make gnocchi, a mind-blowing creamy and rich pumpkin soup, and is a great addition to risotto; however, other species can be substituted quite nicely.
Pumpkins keep long into the winter and as the abundance of crops and fowl became scarcer during the colder months, they were used as a meat substitute to make soups and stews heartier and more satisfying. Its history of being used in this region and in this manner can be traced back to the 5th century where it was used to supplement the food supply as the locals tried to escape from invaders.
The use of pumpkin in baking and other culinary preparation has become very popular throughout the Italian peninsula and thanks to canning and preserving, this vegetable is no longer just reserved as a seasonal favorite. As alluded to earlier, Americans could take a lesson from the Italians and enjoy this wonderful vegetable year round.
At Christini’s Ristorante Italiano, we like to pay homage to the pumpkin. To celebrate the fall season and its holidays, we offer a traditional turkey dinner for those looking to enjoy a relaxing Thanksgiving meal without all the hassle of cooking. If you’re looking for an authentic Italian restaurant experience in Orlando or a stress-free Thanksgiving, contact Christini’s today to make a reservation.
Do you love pumpkin as much as the Italians do? What’s your favorite pumpkin inspired dish or treat?
