What about Italian food and Italian American food?

Italian cuisine is known for its use of fresh, high-quality ingredients. Many traditional Italian dishes are made with locally-sourced ingredients, including fresh vegetables, meats, and cheeses. Italian cooking also emphasizes the importance of seasonality, with many dishes using ingredients that are in season at the time. Overall, Italian cuisine is a rich and diverse culinary tradition that has become beloved around the world. Whether you’re looking to enjoy a classic pizza or explore some of the regional specialties, there’s always something new and delicious to discover in Italian cuisine.

Is the Italian food different in Italy than abroad?

If you are used to the food served on the Italian restaurants abroad you might be surprised by the original Italian food you can eat in Italy. Here are some of the most popular dishes in Italy and the US versions:

1. Pasta: Italy is famous for its pasta dishes, which range from the classic spaghetti to the tortellini and lasagne, but some dishes were developed abroad, spaghetti meatballs became popular in the United States in the 1920s and 1930s, when Italian immigrants began to adapt their traditional recipes to American tastes, it’s not easy to find in Italy also fettuccine Alfredo, or penne alla vodka.
2. Pizza: is another iconic Italian dish that has become popular around the world. Italian pizza is typically thin and crispy, with a variety of toppings. Although the neapolitan original pizza usually has a very reduced variety of toppings, but made by very high quality ingredients.
3. Risotto: Risotto is a creamy, rice-based dish that is popular throughout Italy, but especially in the North. It can be made with a variety of ingredients, from seafood and mushrooms to peas and asparagus. But please forgot to add Parmesan cheese on a sea-food Risotto.
4. Antipasti: small plates of appetizers that are typically served before the main course. These can include dishes like bruschetta, caprese salad, and prosciutto-wrapped melon. But don’t expect a plain bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar served in the restaurant before your meal, simply it’s not an Italian habit.

What’s the difference between Ice Cream and Gelato?

The Gelato is a type of Italian dessert that is known for its smooth, creamy texture and intense flavors. The following difference between Gelato and ice cream are recognized only abroad:

1. Gelato is made using a slower churning process than ice cream. This process results in a denser texture with less air incorporated into the mixture.
2. Ice cream is churned at a faster speed, which incorporates more air, resulting in a lighter, fluffier texture.
3. Serving temperature: Gelato is typically served at a slightly warmer temperature than ice cream. This allows the flavors to be more pronounced and the texture to be softer and smoother.

Actually in Italy all products are called Gelato, the word ice cream is considered just as the english translation and it’s not used. So to underline the different products in Italy we say Gelato artigianale (homemade Gelato) or Gelato industriale (industrial ice cream)

How to recognize real Italian food?

Usually abroad we forgot that Italian cuisine has a broad Regional diversity. A a rich culinary tradition with diverse regional cuisines, each with its own unique specialties and flavors. From the Venetian seafood-rich cuisine of the coast to the hearty meat-based dishes of the north, pizza in Naples, tortellini and lasagne in Bologna, T-bone steak in Florence, pasta with pesto in Genoa, and so on….

The best suggestion is to taste something local: Sicilian Cannoli are better in Sicily than in Venice!

If you want to discover some more secrets about Italian food book a Venetian cooking class

Davide Calenda