Italian Food and Wine: Italian Food Myths

Author: Caleb Gould
There are many misconceptions that surround Italy's customs, and food. Lets take a look at some of the most common Italian food myths.

Italy is one of the oldest countries in the world, and thanks to the geographical boundaries of the Mediterranean Sea and the Alps it has remained largely unchanged throughout history. Even during the Roman Empire, Italy was set apart. Legions that had been abroad always knew when they had returned to the mother country. Italian food history, however, reaches far beyond the country's borders.

Another aspect of cooking Italian food is getting together some authentic Italian recipes. You can try taking a class on Italian cooking or picking up a cookbook from your local library or bookstore. The internet is another great resource, since you can search online for just about any Italian recipe that you can imagine. Save your favorites in your own files so that you can access them again easily. As your cooking skills improve you can try more difficult recipes until you become your own proficient Italian cook. You can even consider asking friends to exchange their favorite recipes with you as well.
Pasta helps create healthy Italian food because it cuts down on the amount of fat in the meal. If the meal is largely pasta, you will have no problem staying below the 30% of calories coming from fat. Of course this assumes that you are staying away from cream and cheese based sauces like Alfredo, and sticking to tomato sauce. Even most meat sauces are ok to eat. This is also true for saturated fat, again assuming that you stay away from the cream and cheese based sauces. So ordering an order of spaghetti with tomato sauce is much healthier than other alternatives.

When it comes to fine Italian foods, you must never forget the meats. There are many dishes that call for various forms of meat, and some very popular recipes ask for lamb or pork to bring the most out of the meal. The Italians have been using meat just as long as any other culture, and when you are going to enjoy a fine Italian meal you need to expect something to be offered that contains meat in it. Many of the fine dishes that grace Italian tables and wonderful Mediterranean restaurants, include poultry and or fish. This is a great way to get the meat in the dish, yet not have the recipe be too heavy where you are full by the second course. Italian meals that are made with meat can be enjoyed any time of the year, and the more you look to enjoy a fine Italian dish the more likely you are to find one that has your meat intake covered graciously.

There are many different light meals you can prepare with these simple ingredients. Here is one that will start you off, an Italian food classic, pasta with tomato sauce. You can use any type of pasta you want and you might want to try livening it up with variety. Italian food is not just spaghetti noodles. Boil the pasta in water with salt. Make sure not to overcook the pasta. You want it to be firm, yet tender. The most common mistake made in making Italian food is making mushy pasta. For the sauce simply chop up some garlic, an onion, and some tomatoes. Take a tablespoon of your quality olive oil and saute both the garlic and onions until they are soft. Once that is done add the tomatoes and cook until all the ingredients are blended together well. To top it off add your favorite herbs such as parsley, oregano, or basil. Try different combinations of herbs, there is no definitive herbs for Italian food so experiment and give your sauce your own signature flavor.

But once you do find a place with a good menu the next step is to learn to understand it. You want to make a good impression on your date by ordering something on the menu and knowing what to expect before the food arrives at the table. You surely don't want to order octopus soup because you think it is going to be a roasted pork dish. The best thing to do is learn how to properly say what you want to eat in Italian.

It really does not matter where you plan on enjoying your Italian food, as it will always please those that choose to dine on it. Whether you are going with a small family run eatery, or a large scale 5 star Italian restaurants the fact is you are looking for great Italian food. When you decide to dine Italian you can bet one thing for sure, and that is that you will leave the establishment full and satisfied. This is because the Italians know how to feed the diners that eat their food, and this is something that stemmed all the way back to when the chef was dining at their own home. Eating Italian is almost a cultural event in its own right, and if you are looking to enjoy fine food to quench your fan desire then look no further than a great plate of baked Ziti at your local Italian eatery.

One such place in Chicago that is among the most romantic of Italian restaurants is called the Italian Village. This restaurant is a staple in the Windy City and is a must visit if you are ever in the Midwest. It features three different restaurants. The upstairs is very romantic with private dining booths and a mural painted ceiling. You will feel as though you are dining under the stars in Venice. The upstairs restaurant is mostly Southern Italian cuisine.
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Italian Food An Overview. Visit Italian Food in Eugene. How to Find the Best Italian Food Restaurants. Visit Best Restaurant in Eugene.

Source: http://italianfoodandwine.blogspot.com/2012/08/italian-food-myths.html

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