Across the world, every culture has its own special New Year’s Eve traditions based in folklore, superstition, and increasing luck and wealth. In Italy, to wish a happy new year, one says “Felice anno nuovo!” or “Buon anno!” As we anticipate ringing in the New Year 2016, we’ll explore some of Italy’s favorite New Year’s Eve traditions. New Year’s Eve Rituals …
Italian Christmas Traditions
Buon Natale! Natale is the Italian word for Christmas, and people generally greet each other with “Buon Natale!”In Italy, Natale spans from December 24 through January 6, with some feasts and celebrations occurring earlier in the month of December. Christmas is the time where Italian families come together, share meals, and celebrate with gifts. Feasts & Celebrations Saint Nicholas …
A Guide to Italian Herbs & Spices
In the early years of ancient Rome, food was prepared simply, without much in terms of herbs and spices. During the Roman Empire, the cuisine had a makeover from simple preparations to strong flavors, influenced by use of herbs and spices. Recorded in De re coquinaria, a 1st century CE cookbook – known at the time as an apicius – …
Pasta Al Dente: The Perfect Bite
Al dente is known universally as the degree of firmness at which pasta is best served. But where did it come from, and when did it become the preference? To answer this question, we’ll have to travel back in time. The Origins of Pasta Pasta can be traced back to the very early centuries of our ancestors, as early as …
Regional Cuisine of Italy: Southern Cuisine
Regional Cuisine of Italy: Southern Cuisine In this final installment, we’ve reached Southern Italy, the soul of Italian cuisine and bedrock in the history of Italian cooking. Influenced by the bounty of the Mediterranean and the agriculture of the region, Southern Italian cuisine showcases bold flavors of tomato, fine olive oil, and the fragrance of herbs and spices that …
Regional Cuisine of Italy: Central Cuisine
Regional Cuisine of Italy: Central Cuisine Continuing the exploration of regional Italian cuisine, we travel to the central region. The expanse of Italy covers a diverse range of geography, with its edges bordering a number of other European nations. As a result, Italian cuisine reveals the influences of its neighbors and landscape. The cuisine of Central Italy is perhaps …
Regional Cuisine of Italy: Northern Cuisine
Italy is a small country, but the characteristic “boot” shape stretches across an immense region, with the northern part sharing borders with France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia, with the Mediterranean bordering its west coast, and with its east coast across the Adriatic Sea from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, and Greece. Italy’s regional cuisines express influences from both the geography …
Guide to the Traditional Italian Meal Structure
L’appetito vien mangiando. As this popular Italian food saying goes, “the appetite comes while you are eating.” With Italian meals, there is a specific structure cultivated over centuries of eating that is a master class in how to best enjoy food and company. Not all dinner meals – known as cena – consist of all of these courses; often times, …
How to pair your pasta shape with the perfect sauce
Perfect Couples: Pasta Shapes and Sauces Gnocchi. Fusilloni. Tagliatelle. Farfalle. Rigatoni. Capellini. Penne. Orecchiette. Spaghetti. Linguini. There are hundreds of beautifully crafted pasta shapes in Italian cuisine, and with good reason. “The right sauce in combination with the right pasta creates gustatory magic,” says Italian American chef Lidia Bastianich. “You may not think about it every time you open …
Health Benefits of 10 Essential Italian Ingredients
Italian cuisine has a rich history, cultivated since the time of the ancient Romans. As one of the oldest and most respected traditions in the culinary world, Italian cuisine encompasses a wide-range of regional flavors and is dedicated to preparations that maintain the integrity of fresh ingredients. With essential ingredients such as olive oil, colorful fruits and vegetables, seafood, and …