World Foods

REGIONAL ITALIAN SPECIALTIES

GENERAL INFORMATION

Due to transportation people throughout Italy can now buy foods that were once strictly regional.

North meat is less expensive and moderately spiced compared to southern Italy.

Southern cooking is what we find in America because our restaurants are Neapolitan (from Naples) which is in the south.

North is the home of pasta bolognese – fat ribbon shaped and contain egg

South is home of pasta naploetania – tubular and egg free

NORTHERN ITALY

Minestras – soups

Stuffed pastas and rich meat sauces

Known for its sausages like mortadella

Parma ham a popular appetizer

People serve risottos, gnocchi - dumplings, and polenta – porridge made of corn meal, instead of pasta.

Risotto is a rice dish made with butter, onion, stock or wine, and parmesan cheese.

NORTHERN ITALY

In Northern areas Austrian influence is evident in items like apfelstrudel and crauti

Other specialties include:

chicken cacciatore – chicken hunter style with tomatoes and mushrooms

minestrone soup - made with onions, carrots, zucchini, celery, cabbage, rice, and seasonings

osso buco – veal hock with rice Video clip

CENTRAL ITALY

Roman origins

Most familiar with spaghetti carbonara,

Video clip

Enjoy lamb the most

Invented cheesecake making their crostata di ricotta (cheese pie)

In Tuscany cooks use home grown vegetables, beans, and charcoal-grilled meats

Cenci (deep fried pastry) and panforte (honey cake flavored with cinnamon) are sweets with central Italian origins

SOUTHERN ITALY

Serve pasta with rich tomato sauces flavored with meat, seafood, or vegetables

Pasta varieties include: fusilli (pulled spirals), orecchetta (little ears), ricci di donna (ladies curls), spaghetti, and lasagne.

Tomatoes and mozzarella are two of Southern Italy’s major agriculture products.

Popular dishes include stuffed lasagne, pizza, soffritti, eggplant napoli, and zucchini parmesan

ITALIAN MEALS

Typically eat a light breakfast and a hearty noon meal.

Antipasto – an appetizer Examples include parma ham, anchovies, celery, radishes.

Minestra may follow or replace an antipasto

A main course of meat, poultry, or fish usually follows the soup.

A vegetable accompanies the main dish

Fruit and cheese end a meal

Evening meal is light. Soups, omeletes, or risottos are popular