Today one of my blog readers asked me what are my favorite Italian foods and/or dishes. Gosh, that's a really good question!!
If I had to list my favorite Italian foods, I don't think that I would know where to begin!!! But I'll give it a try . . .
- Pasta, of course, any shape
- Tomatoes of all kinds, Romas are really good though
- Olive oil
- Garlic
- Balsamico vinegar
- Gnocchi
- Polenta
- Lasagna (mine, I'm pretty particular)
- Pizza
- Basil, Rosemary, Oregano
- Pesto sauce
- Italian artisan bread (big fan of Asiago cheese bread)
- Cheeses: Asiago, Parmiggiano, Pecorino, Fontina, Buffalo Mozzarella
- Proscciuto
- Genoa Salami
- Cappocalla
- Pepperoni
- Anchovies
- Olives
- Antipasto(i)
- Veal Satimbocca
- Osso Bucco
- Ziti
- Mannicotti
- Tortellini (en brodo or crema)
- Bolognese sauce
- Biscotti
- Marinara sauce
- Alfredo sauce (maybe every ten years though)
- Vodka sauce (gee, I think I like the sauces, huh?)
- Risotto
- Focaccia
- Caprese Salad
- Artichokes
- Sausages
- Lemons (Limoncello is superb)
AND I FORGOT SOMETHING THAT "Dusty Lens" brought to my attention that was not on the list above: GELATO!!!!
My bad, and a really big bad at that! Thanks Dusty Lens for pointing that out! I would love to make gelato someday too!
I love anchovies and anchovy paste to make the pasta puttanesca. Mmmmm....
ReplyDeleteJoie,
ReplyDeleteOh yes, gotta have those anchovies!
This is an "old standby" and I'll stand by it. My favorite Italiana thing to make is.........
ReplyDeletereservations at our favorite Italian Restaurant :-)
Now all you have to do is teach us how to make everything on your list.
Ah, I didn't notice gelato on this list. I'll suggest stracciatella and amarena gelati.
ReplyDeleteMicki, That's one of my favorites too . . . we have recently become a fan of Carraba's Italian Grill . . . do you have one near you? For a chain, it is very good. And then of course are those delightful little romantic places that are owned/operated by one family. They, too, are very special places to dine.
ReplyDeleteIf you like German food, we found an awesome little German Inn with authentic and wonderful food in the Georgia mountains called Edelweiss. Oh my gosh, it was just delish!
Dusty Lens,
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, you are so RIGHT! What the heck is wrong with my brain that I did not remember gelato....I'll add it to the list with your name for reminding me. I just had a bite of lemon gelato yesterday at our local Whole Foods Market . . . m-m-m-m-m! So creamy and light! It was 72 degrees here yesterday in the middle of February, so I just felt a desire to have a small, very small, bit of gelato and sit outside to enjoy my lunch hour!
Dusty Lens,
ReplyDeleteI made note of you and your suggestion of gelato on the post . . . thanks so much again!
Thank you so much for you compliments, I appreciate them as a novice.
ReplyDeleteOur go to sources are cookbooks from; Giada Di Laurentiis, Lidia Bastianich Matticchio, Buca di Beppo restaurant- (yes, I have their hardcover cookbook!), and La Cucina Italiana magazine.
My Favorites;
Saltimbocca di Pollo, Chicken Piccata, Roman Chicken. Fresh pizza at an outdoor cafe in Rome, Caprese salad and ravioli de bologna in Venice. And for breakfast, a tall glass of blood orange juice.
Wine is rosso, not bianca. ;)
Chianti, Valpolicella, and Brunello.
Now to think about making some gelato!