“There's nothing more romantic than Italian food.”
— Elisha Cuthbert
Exploring Italian Cuisine
Focaccia Bread
Focaccia (pronounced "fuh-KA-cha") is a type of Italian bread baked in a flat baking tray. The dough is flavoured with olive oil and sometimes topped with herbs like rosemary and other vegetables. It is often used a side to a main meal and is similar in style and texture to pizza.
Gelato
Although gelato translates to ice cream, it is not quite the same. By law, gelato has less butterfat than ice cream. There is 4-8% less butterfat compared to 14% for ice cream. The low fat content means that gelato is served a bit warmer and tends to melt in your mouth faster. It also intensifies the flavour and gives it a more velvety texture.
Tiramisu
Tiramisu is a coffee flavoured Italian dessert. It is made of ladyfingers then layered with a whipped mixture of eggs, sugar, mascarpone cheese and flavoured with cocoa. Traditionally, tiramisu is made with Marsala wine in the filling, and the ladyfingers are soaked in the boozy coffee mixture. The name tiramisu, means “pick me up” referring to the caffeinated ingredients.
Pesto
Pesto, or pesto alla genovese, is a sauce originating in Genoa, the capital city of Liguria, Italy. It traditionally consists of crushed garlic, European pine nuts, coarse salt, basil leaves and hard cheese such as Parmigiano-Reggiano or Pecorino Sardo, all blended with olive oil.
Polenta
Originally from northern Italy, polenta is made by grinding corn into flour and is a dish of boiled cornmeal that was historically made from other grains like spelt, rye or buckwheat. It may be served as a hot porridge or can be cooled and will solidify into a loaf that can be baked, fried, or grilled. Polenta is a great gluten free alternative, which is low in calories and has a similar texture to mashed potato.
Arancini Balls
Arancini are Italian rice balls that are stuffed and coated with bread crumbs then deep fried. They are a staple of Sicilian cuisine and can include ingredients such as minced meat, fish, potatoes or risotto rice, mixed in egg yolk. The name is translated as "little orange" referring to their shape and colour which, after cooking, is reminiscent of an orange. The best arancini balls contain different types of cheeses like mozzarella or parmesan.
Burrata
Burrata is a soft cow's milk cheese that from the outside, could be mistaken for fresh mozzarella. Both are plump white orbs of Italian cheese, one more solid and elastic than the other. Mozzarella is produced from curd, which has a more delicate taste, whereas burrata is softer and more flavourful but has higher calories due to the mixture of soft cheese and cream. The best way to enjoy burrata is to simply serve with a sprinkle of salt and a drizzle of olive oil. The mild creamy flavour means that it pairs well with summer fruit or as a topper on a good Italian bread. The Italian word “burro”, translates to butter, giving you an idea of just how rich and creamy it is.
Digestif
Traditionally, a digestif is considered any alcoholic beverage that you would enjoy after a large dinner with the purpose of aiding digestion. It is characterized by a high alcohol content with a deep, sometimes rich, flavour profile. For liqueurs, digestifs often encompass stomach-settling herbs and spices and have a bitter-sweet taste. Some examples include limoncello and schnapps but can include fortified wines, bitter liquors, herbal liquors, aged liquors and sweet liquors. We recommend limoncello.
Olive Oil
Olive oil is a liquid fat obtained from olives traditionally grown in the Mediterranean. It is made by pressing whole olives and extracting the oil, which is then used for cooking and as a salad dressing. Olive oil is also one of the healthiest foods you can eat for heart health as it reduces blood pressure and inflammation whilst also preventing blood clots.
Cannoli
Originally from Scilly, Cannoli’s are an Italian pastry consisting of tube shaped shells of dried pastry dough, filled with a sweet creamy filling usually containing ricotta. Size wise they can be anywhere between 9cm to 20cm and the ends can be dipped in a range of things from pistachios to chocolate flakes so are available in many flavours.
Panna Cotta
Panna cotta is an Italian dessert that is made of dairy thickened with gelatin and moulded. It’s name literally means “cooked cream” since the earliest versions were made of thick cream, sometimes thickened with fish bones. The cream may be flavoured with coffee or vanilla and is often served with berries.
Polpette (Italian Meatballs)
Italian meatballs are called polpettes and are typically made from beef or veal and contain ingredients such as garlic, eggs, parsley and in some cases cheese such as Parmigiana. They are often served in a tomato sauce but are not seen as a main meal because they are considered a snack.