Gourmet Italian

photo credit: jessicafm

You won’t find a more authentic Italian food than the Italian pasta and bean soup called Pasta e Fagioli or Pasta Fagioli.  This is an ancient peasant dish and some say you will find the best ever made in Tuscany.  It always includes lot of vegetables, beans  and herbs and some smallish pasta like little tubes or shells.  If you are old enough, you may remember Dean Martin singing about this soup in his wonderful song “That’s Amore”.  This Italian Pasta and Beans soup is now served all over the world – and not only in Italian restaurants.

photo credit: gildas_f

Gourmet bread makers know the secret to a good stromboli is to have a good dough to start with.  The stromboli was actually given its name in a hoagie shop outside of Philadelphia in 1950.  The chef named Nat Romano was selling these lots of these baked sandwiches he thought they should have a name, but he didn’t know what to call them.  At that time, actress Ingrid Bergman – who was married at the time – was rumored to be having an affair with actor Roberto Rossolini.  They were both starring in the movie “Stromboli” – which was being filmed on the Isle of Stromboli.  Someone suggested calling the sandwich Stromboli and the rest is history!

photo credit: Maggie Hoffman

Cioppino with Italian rustic bread is a meal fit for a king!  I remember the first time I had it.  We were literally sitting in the Pacific Ocean off of San Luis Obispo, California.  We had to drive our car out onto the pier and park.  The meal was one of the best I’ve ever had – especially with their homemade crusty San Francisco sourdough bread.

photo credit: Barbara L. Hanson

A traditional Italian celebration occurs every March 19th and it is called St. Joseph’s Day.  It is customary to eat Sfingi – also known as zeppole – on this day.

There are many types of sfingi.  One type is much like fried bits of sweetened bread dough dusted with sugar.  However, the traditional Italian “sfingi di San Giuseppe” is often made with ricotta cheese.  They are delicious served warm, but they can also be cooled and filled with cream or whatever you like.

photo credit: stu_spivack

Chocolate Italian Souffle Cakes are surprisingly easy to make, yet they always impress dinner guests who can’t imagine making them themselves.  You must be sure to use a good quality chocolate, as that is the star of the Italian dessert.

The very best chocolate I ever tasted was a bar of chocolate that my good friend brought back from Perugia, Italy.  It was so creamy and had the tiniest little bits of chopped hazelnuts throughout.  It was heaven on earth.  That was some years ago, and I still have the wrapper.  The artwork on the wrapper is so gorgeous, and every time I run across it in my “junk” drawer, I smile.  Perugia is the chocolate mecca of Umbria  and they are best known for their Perugina Chocolate Factory that produces chocolate hazelnut truffles called Baci - translates to “kisses”.

Photo by Gepiblu

When cooking gourmet gifts for Christmas, why not try the wonderful Sicilian traditional “Croccante” or Nut Crunch.  It is very similar to a French praline except pralines are sweeter.  Croccante is made with carmelized sugar and nuts – most often almonds.  If you are not fond of almonds, try hazelnuts or whatever you like!

photo credit: Mark and Allegra

Well here it is December already!  Are you thinking of making some Italian food gifts for the holidays?  Why not consider the lovely, fruity Panettone – Italian Christmas Bread.  Tradition has it that if you sip a bit of sparkling wine while having a piece of Panettone, you will be assured good health and good luck throughout the year.  Panettone can be eaten alone, or served with marscapone cheese, jams or butters.