Italy Food and Italian Recipes

It is often said that Italian cuisine can be summed up in two words: seasonal and regional. However, when visiting Italy it becomes apparent that the Italian love of good things includes good food which is at the heart of everyday life. In fact Italians are natural gourmets, almost from birth, and their enthusiasm and natural flair make eating a very pleasant experience in Italy.

Travelling through Italy and holidaying in villas and apartments in different areas is like like a culinary exploration; what a delight ! There is an Austrian influence on the in the Tyrol or Alto Adige with rich soups on the menu and the use of dumplings. In the north west area of Piedmont the Alps influence cooking with the use of the famous white truffles and dishes can be accompanies by the equally famous red Borolo wine.

Friuli and Veneto (the region encompassing Venice) are well known for fabulous seafood and great risotto dishes. Equally well known for seafood recipes is Liguria on the north west Italian Riviera coast. This contrast with Umbria in central Italy which is not so well known form dishes but has superb quality ingredients from pork, lamb or game, to local olive oil and black truffles.

Le Marche on the Eats coast boasts good meat in the form of cured pork and sausages. Tuscany, one of the more popular holiday regions for renting holiday villas and apartments in Italy, has marvelous food. The olive oil in Tuscany is reputedly the best in the world and originates from olive trees first planted by the ancient Greeks. Vegetables also grow abundantly in the fertile Tuscan soil. Pecorino cheese also originated in the area around Siena.

Lazio is also very good for food with Roman restaurants being some of the best in the world. The region is well known for rich sauces and robust flavours and pasta and semolina gnocchi are more popular than rice.

Abruzzo has more traditional and rural food owing to the mountainous landscape of the region. This is based on locally cured meats, sausages and cheeses with lamb being the most popular meat. On the coast fish and seafood are more prevalent. Puglia – Apulia by contrast is based on a more vegetable diet. There is also a lot of fruit such as figs and melons eaten. Lamb is preferred spit roasted or stewed with fresh herbs in this region.

Campania including Naples includes Pasta and pizza in their heritage with Naples claiming to be the inventor of the Pizza. Meat is not so often on the menu in Campania but is more than compensated for by fish and seafood.

For more on Italy and Italian Recipes click on:

italian food

italian cuisine