A Taste of Terminology
Whether you’re in the privacy of your own kitchen sipping on a glass of wine as you peruse over your Italian cookbook, or at an authentic Italian restaurant, coming across more than one foreign word is inevitable. Rosette? Bufala? Polenta? It’s difficult, and sometimes impossible, to make an educated decision in these cases without a basic education on the description of various dishes. Understanding exactly what each dish entails is a good way to combat the same old “Let’s-just-stick-to-spaghetti-and-meatballs” night and explore the many flavors of Italian cuisine.
When eyeing that menu, keep a lookout for basic terms, like al dente, antipasto, primavera and dolce. Each of these terms are ubiquitous in menus describing various dishes. Al dente literally translates into “to the teeth” and refers to the texture of fully cooked pasta. Pasta that is cooked al dente will be firm and chewy when bitten. Antipasto means “before the meal” and is an umbrella term similar to appetizers. A lot of descriptions include the word primavera, or “spring,” which means that the dish uses a pasta sauce that is traditionally made in the spring using fresh vegetables from that season. Lastly, keep an eye out for the dolce section of the menu. This section, for some, is the most important, as it lists and describes all the available desserts.
Once you understand the basics the possibility of embarrassing yourself in front of your dinner guests will decrease significantly, but why be safe when you can impress them? A few more terms that you may run into are scaloppine, parmigiana, and zabaglione. You might see the term scaloppine in the antipasto section of your menu, as it is often used to describe thinly sliced cuts of meat. Parmigiana means “covered in Parmesan cheese,” but really describes a dish with deep-fried filling, layered with cheeses and tomato sauce, and then baked. Zabaglione is an Italian dessert made of egg yolks, sugar, and sweet wine. It can be served with various fruits, or enjoyed plain.
Understanding descriptions is vital in creating an enjoyable experience with your food. We’ve all experienced the scene before–a person finds the menu intimidating and ends up with a comical dish they never intended to order. Get the most out of your dining experience by learning how to understand your options. Swing by Christini’s to get hands-on experience with all of these terms from one of the best Italian restaurants Orlando and enjoy the authentic Italian cuisine!
