Pasqua, Easter in Italy In Italy, Easter is known as Pasqua. It is the second most important religious holiday in Italy, after Christmas. In a religious sense, Easter is the feasted dedicated to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. For Italian Catholics, it is a day to commemorate the women of the sepulcher who were comforted by an angel when they …
Italian Chef Profile: Ettore Boiardi
Italian Cuisine in America In the 2015 film Brooklyn, a young Irish woman new to the US in the 1950s falls in love with an Italian-American. In preparation to meet his family for the first time, her housemates teach her how to eat spaghetti with a fork and spoon. These days, such a thing would be ludicrous to imagine because …
Italian Dry Cured Meats
The Practice of Curing Meats Since the invention of refrigeration, storing meats has been easy. But for our predecessors, storing and preparing meat was a challenge. If consumed when spoiled, untreated meat could lead to serious food poisoning. Curing meat became a practice to prevent the rapid decomposition of fresh meat. This practice extends thousands of years into human history, …
Italian Chef Profile: Lidia Bastianich
A Tumultuous Childhood Born on February 21, 1947, Lidia Matticchio Bastianich’s early years were marked by the tumult in Europe after World War II. Lidia’s birthplace, Pola, was made a part of Yugoslavia on February 10, 1947, a mere eleven days before she was born. Her family faced hardship during the Communist regime in Yugoslavia. In 1956, her father, Vittorio, …
Italian Valentine’s Day Traditions
Valentine’s Day in Italy looks almost nothing like in the US. The traditions of Valentine’s Day in Italy are embedded in a long history – long before Hallmark came along! We hope that you have a lovely Valentine’s Day with your sweetie and your loved ones! History of Valentine’s Day Valentine’s Day is an old tradition from the Roman …
Cucina Toscana open Valentines Day!
Salt Lake City’s finest Italian restaurant is taking reservations for Valentine’s Day. We are open on Sunday, February 14th from 5:30 to 10:00pm and will be offering our full dinner menu! Treat the special person in your life to an amazing Italian meal from your friends at Cucina Toscana.
Italian Chef Profile: Marcella Hazan
Her Early Life Marcella Polini was born on April 15, 1924 in Cesenatico in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. During the years of war, Marcella’s family lived on their farm in the northern region. In an interview on NPR, Marcella recalls the first Christmas after the Second World War, when her family returned home. “It was wonderful to be a …
Five Italian Grains
Italian cuisine has a complex and diverse history that ranges from north to south, east to west. Regional Italian cuisine depends on the agricultural production and the influence of geography, as well as inspiration from neighboring countries. At the heart of most Italian dishes is a grain, often dressed up with a hearty sauce and fragrant herbs and spices. Here …
Italian Food in Film
It’s freezing out there! What’s cozier than curling up with a good movie with the family in the deep of winter? We’ve put together our top 5 films that feature Italian food. And how versatile Italian food is! We’ve got gangster films, kids’ films, and of course, a film for foodies. And if these flicks get your appetite going for Italian, come …
Comfort Food, Italian Style
The Joys of Comfort Food In the adorable Pixar animated film Ratatouille, there is a scene where the cruel restaurant critic Anton Ego sits down and takes a bite of ratatouille. From this one bite, he is transported back to his childhood, where his beloved mother serves him the same dish. Back in the present day, he drops his pen, …