Chi Mangia Bene, Mangia Italiano - Those Who Eat Well, Eat Italian
People love Italian food.�From Pasadena, California to its Sister City Xicheng (shee-chung) District, Beijing, Peoples Republic of China, Italian Restaurants are universal. What is it about Italian food that we love?
Americans are addicted to the combination of tomato and cheese. That tangy tomato sauce brightens and lightens the heaviness of cheese. �Or perhaps what we love is the traditional flavors we've come to recognize as Italian; herbs like rosemary, oregano, marjoram and thyme. Even though pizza doesn't really count as authentic "Italian", it's almost everyone’s favorite.
However, the Italian Fine Dining experience is a plate apart from these. A typical dinner menu might include:
Small Cove Oysters on the Half Shell
California Citrus Colossal Shrimp - "Property Grown" Fennel and Cilantro Salad
Beef Tenderloin Carpaccio - Porcini, Lemon Vinaigrette, Parmesan
Ahi Tuna Tartare - White Truffle, Soy, Pine Nut and Avocado
Dungeness Crab Cakes - with House-made Sweet-Hot Mustard, Heirloom Radish Salad and Dried Tomato Aioli
Cocoa Crepe �- Stuffed with Sauteed Lobster in a Lobster Cream
Vine Ripened Tomato Pizza - Fresh Basil, Roasted Garlic, Fresh Mozzarella
Brick Oven House Flat Bread
Proscuitto Ham, Arugula and Sun-Dried Tomato Pizza
Pappardelle Pasta - Porcini Mushrooms, Beef Tenderloin, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, "Garden Sage"
King Crab Ravioli - Asparagus, Baby Greens and Lemon "Musto" Oil
This menu is from a high-end restaurant. As you can see, pasta and cheese are there, but with refinements, and most fine Italian cuisine features seafood. �Many such restaurants make their own bread daily from scratch. Another thing we like about dining a la Italiano is the serving style called "family". �This is much more hospitable for families with children, as the food is placed in the center of the table in containers which encourage people to serve themselves, and is reminiscent of eating at home. The portions are usually large, geared to serve 2 or groups of 4 or more. Here is another example of an Italian restaurant menu:
Baked Pasta Specialties:
Chicken Cannelloni - Stuffed with chicken sausage, provolone, ricotta, and fresh sage, smothered with Romano and marinara, and baked to perfection.
Lasagna �- Nine layers of lasagna noodles stuffed with our homemade meat sauce and a savory combination of ricotta, mozzarella, provolone, and romano cheeses, baked in made fresh daily marinara.
Roasted Specialties - Served with roasted potatoes and fresh vegetables
Porchetta Rustica - Herb roasted boneless pork loin topped with a rustic red wine sauce that blends balsamic vinegar, blueberries, capers and hazelnuts.
Tuscan Chicken & Vegetables - �Rosemary marinated bone-in chicken.
Fresh Salmon with Pesto - Sun-dried tomatoes, pesto cream sauce and pine nuts, served with vegetables
Entrees -
Chicken Saltimbocca with prosciutto and artichokes
Chicken Marsala with fresh mushrooms
Chicken Parmigiana with prosciutto
Veal Limone with escarole and white tuscan beans in a lemon butter sauce
This menu sounds less pretentious, yet the food might be just as good tasting. Only you as the diner decide which you prefer.
Italian food is comfort food. �Maybe that’s what we like most about the italian dining experience.
About the Author
Written by Glenda Glayzer of Whispergrass Artworks for Bjorn Enki - Web Presence Specialist
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