Ravioli is a traditional Italian dish that dates back to the 14th century and it’s one that remains as popular today as it has ever been. This wonderfully authentic cuisine from the old country is still enjoyed by millions across the nation because of the delicious blend of flavours it offers and it even has it’s own special day. On March the 20th each year, we celebrate National Ravioli Day, as everyone pays homage to one of the oldest and best-loved elements of best Italian Orlando fine dining.
Despite the simplicity of the dish, it shouldn’t be viewed as anything other than belonging amongst the finest of Italian cuisine, as when it’s prepared in the right way, the taste buds of anyone eating succulent fresh ravioli will be delighted and stimulated in equal measure.
So, exactly what is in Ravioli?
Traditional ravioli is created from thin egg pasta dough, which is then filled with meat and cheese and served with either a pasta sauce or broth. As well as regularly being served as a main course, ravioli can also be presented as an appetiser or even as a starter.
When many people think of ravioli, the first image they have is food that comes out of a tin, but true ravioli couldn’t be any more different. Hand made, fresh ravioli created with the finest ingredients has a place alongside the best and most famous dishes in Italian cuisine.
“In terms of texture, colour and all-around deliciousness, fresh pasta wins out every time”
Since the dish gained widespread popularity in the early 20th century, it has been created with a wide variety of different fillings and can be found baked or even deep fried. In fact, there even some out there that enjoy ravioli as a dessert! However, if you want to taste the very best ravioli around, you need to sample the dish in its authentic Italian form and Christini’s Ristorante Italiano is most certainly the place to do it.
And here’s why…
Christinis Pasta Created Fresh, Every Day
At Christini’s we understand the importance of using quality, fresh produce in every single dish that we create because if you scrimp on your ingredients, it will definitely impact on the end result. That’s why, as well as sourcing our ingredients from only the best and finest sources, we prepare our pasta freshly every single day in-house.
“Ravioli Aurora – a dish that will satisfy even the most passionate of pasta lovers”
When it comes to fine Italian dining, fresh pasta is something of a necessity, as when compared to dry or pasta or pre-prepared pasta, the differences in the end result are invariably obvious. In terms of texture, colour and all-around deliciousness, fresh pasta wins out every time. We only ever use pasta in our dishes that has been made in-house that very day, which is one of the many reasons why people who know good Italian food come back through Christini’s doors time and time again.
So, let’s take a closer look at our own particular take on this fabulously authentic Italian dish.
Our Ravioli Specialities
When diners visit Christini’s Ristorante Italiano, they expect the very finest Italian cuisine and when they order ravioli from our menu, that’s exactly what they get. Our chefs authentic take on this traditional Italian meal comes in the form of Ravioli Aurora – a dish that will satisfy even the most passionate of pasta-lovers. Our Ravioli Aurora is created with tender homemade pasta and filled with four of the most amazing cheeses and served with a light cream tomato sauce.
“Ravioli dates back some 600 years and the name itself comes from the Italian word “avvolgere” which means to wrap”
Or if you’re a lover of seafood, then our Ravioli di Pesce is likely to delight your tastebuds. The same gorgeous freshly prepared pasta is stuffed with Maine lobster, shrimp, scallops and crab and then served with an exquisite lobster cream sauce. Being located in Orlando, we’re sandwiched between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, meaning that we’re perfectly placed to source the finest seafood in the world.
The History Behind the Dish
As we mentioned earlier, ravioli is a dish with a history dating back some 600 years and the name itself comes from the Italian word “avvolgere” which means to wrap. The exact origin of this particular Italian meal is not precisely known, but the earliest mention of the food can be found in the 14th-century manuscripts of famed trader Francesco di Marco Datini. The manuscripts detail the earliest known recipe for ravioli, which consisted of chopped and blanched herbs, beaten egg, fresh cheese, all simmered in broth. This recipe is strikingly similar to the dish served today.
“The 16th century saw ravioli as a dish suddenly become much more like the dish loved by so many in the modern day”
Ravioli was also mentioned around the same time in a cookbook created by the chefs of King Richard II, where the dish is described as “rauioles”. Moving forward to 16th Century Rome, ravioli also gets a mention in the memoirs of Bartolomeo Scappi, a famous chef in his day who served the dish to the Pope in the papal conclave.
It was at this point at which tomatoes were introduced to the dish, as the fruit had not yet been introduced to Northern Europe until that time. After being eaten for almost 200 years in a broth, ravioli as a dish suddenly became much more like the dish loved by so many in the modern day.
How Ravioli is Made
Ravioli is created from pasta dough, which is rolled out until it’s extremely thin. The skill in creating great ravioli lies in not allowing the dough to become too thin and begin to dry out. This is an ability the Christini’s chefs have in abundance after decades of experience in creating the finest Italian cuisine that Florida has to offer.
Once the dough has reached the perfect thickness, the filling is laid out in small pieces, before the second layer of dough is placed over the top. The next step involves rolling out any air bubbles that may exist in between the layers and finally cutting out each succulent piece of ravioli. Now you have the basis of ravioli and it’s ready to cook.
So, Why Christini’s for your fine dining dinner in Orlando?
At Christini’s Ristorante Italiano, we’d love for you to come and celebrate National Ravioli Day with us, but even now, you might be asking yourself why you should choose us out of the all the Italian restaurants in Florida. Well, there are a ton of reasons, not least because of the thousands of people who visit us every year and think that we’re the premier choice for the those with discerning taste and a love for fine Italian dining.
Let’s look now at just some of the reasons our customers hold us in such high regard.
Single Location, Supreme Standards
Our owner and proprietor, Chris Christini is a real stickler for high standards and he won’t accept anything but the best in fine Italian cuisine to be served at our tables. This attention to detail takes a great deal of dedication and it’s only possible when your focus is undivided, which exactly the reason why Christini’s is not part of a chain and run as a single restaurant with supremely high standards
“2015 Restauranteur Hall of Fame Award – Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association”
Whilst chain restaurants have their place, achieving the standards of service, atmosphere and cuisine that Chris sets all of his team would be exceptionally difficult. That’s why it was decided long ago to keep Christini’s Restaurante Italiano as a single culinary center of excellence and the reason why we are viewed by many as the finest purveyors of Italian cuisine in the state and in the country.
An Award-Winning Establishment
Both Chris and his establishment have been rightly lauded over the years for the standards they’ve set in the restaurant business. Since opening its doors in 1984, Christini’s has been one of the most regular award-winning restaurants in the US and in that time, a long and illustrious list of accolades has come our way.
Such as:
- The Nation’s Restaurant News Fine Dining Hall of Fame Award
- The Best of the Best Five Star Diamond Award
- The International Award of Excellence
- The winner of “a treasure among restaurants” award from Zagat
- The AAA Four Diamond Award
- The Golden Spoon Award
- The Ivy Award
- The Di Rona Distinguished Restaurant of North America Award
- The Epicurean Award for Outstanding Service & Cuisine
- Wine Spectator Magazine’s Best Award of Excellence for one of the best wine lists in the world
As recently as 2015, Chris was even given the Restauranteur Hall of Fame Award by the Florida Restaurant and lodging association. Of course, we don’t work as hard as we do for awards, as our primary focus is always on providing a sublime customer experience from start to finish. However, these awards are a testament to how we’re viewed in the industry, as well as with our customers.
An Array of Celebrity Patrons
Another reason why you might want to choose Christini’s Ristorante Italiano for your National Ravioli Day celebrations or any other special occasion is that there’s a very good chance you may see a famous face or two while you’re dining with us. Over the years, the rich and the famous have frequented our establishment, with stars of stage, screen and the sporting world coming to taste our world-famous cuisine.
“Our accordionist has played for the President of Poland, as well as the Queen of England and Pope John Paul II”
Amongst those who have visited us are Stan Lee – creator of Marvel Comics, Mick Jagger who needs no introduction, Gene Simmons from the rock group Kiss and movie stars Brooke Shields, Cuba Gooding Junior and Henry Winkler who played the famous Fonzie. Suffice to say that we get our fair share of celebrities coming through our doors and when you come and see us, they could be dining next to you!
Live Entertainment
Is there anything quite like dining whilst being serenaded by a master musician? Well, that’s exactly what you get when you dine with us. Our accordionist, Dariusz Grabowski has a real passion for his art and he knows an awful lot of songs, so many in fact that he takes requests. Dariusz is also a highly talented pianist who attended the finest musical academy in Katowice, Poland.
“Wherever you are in the Florida area, you’re never too far away to come and enjoy our world-class food”
He’s a musician that’s graced many concert halls and stages across the world and has played for the President of Poland, as well as the Queen of England and Pope John Paul II. It’s true to say that Dariusz has a great musical pedigree and diners at Christini’s get to witness him ply his trade right next to their table! Believe it when we say, it’s quite the honour!
Prime Location and Private Dining
Another of the great things about our fine Italian dining restaurant is that it sits in the heart of Orlando on Restaurant Row. Having such a great location means that you can organise to come and get the full Christini’s experience whilst you’re in town to take in some of the countless tourist attractions in the area. If you’re not from the area and you’re planning a holiday or business meeting in the Orlando or the wider Florida area, we’re never too far away for you to come and enjoy our world-class food.
“Our range of private and semi-private seating options allow you to enjoy Christini’s your way”
So, whether you’re here to visit the Orange County Convention Center, heading to Seaworld or Disneyland on holiday or here to entertain a business associate, our luxurious surroundings and wonderful dishes are certain to impress.
Flexible Seating Options
Another of the reasons why our amazing restaurant is so popular with all types of people is that we offer flexible options that cater for both small parties that fit around a single table, as well as large groups of as many as 50 or more people. We also have a range of private and semi-private seating options to suit your dining experience, as we want you to enjoy Christini’s your way.
For example, if you prefer a romantic Italian fine dining experience, we have more secluded areas in which to dine, whereas if you want to sample the throng of a busy Christini’s in full swing, we’d recommend sitting in our main dining area. Needless to say that wherever you sit, you’re guaranteed a wonderful time.
We’d Love You to Spend National Ravioli Day With Us at Christini’s
What better way to commemorate National Ravioli Day than to come to the foremost Italian fine dining establishment in Florida? We’d absolutely love for you to come and spend an afternoon or evening with us at Christini’s Ristorante Italiano and sample the best fresh ravioli outside of the old country. While you’re with us, you get to sample our stimulating ambience and top-class table service.
Of course, ravioli is not the only cuisine on offer, as Chris and our high-class chefs have combined their many skills to create a menu that’s simply packed with traditional and contemporary interpretations of classic Italian dishes.
We’d certainly recommend booking early, as we can get pretty busy and we’d hate for you to miss out. There are a couple of ways that you can reserve a table at Christini’s, the first of which is by calling us on (407) 545-6867. Our office is open for reservations Monday through Saturday from 12 p.m and Sunday from 1 p.m. Alternatively, you can book online via our online booking service http://bit.ly/2XQcSfr.
So, wherever you spend National Ravioli Day on March 20th, we hope you enjoy yourself. We just sincerely hope that it’s with us.
