Italy World Foods

Italian Cuisine The Romans and Sicilians contributed to Italy’s cuisine. Most common agricultural products in Italy are grapes, wheat, corn and sugar. Haute Cuisine originated in Italy. This type of cooking includes extensive, elaborate food preparation and includes rich sauces, exotic ingredients and ornate garnishes.

Italian Cuisine Parsley, Rosemary, Basil, Saffron, and oregano are common herbs used. Italy has a vast coastline on the Mediterranean sea, so seafood has become a major food staple. A harvest from sea and land is brought daily to local markets.

Meals There are 5 courses to a traditional Italian meal. – 1. Antipasto-Appetizer: Marinated olives, bread & cheese, or wine. – 2. Primo-First Course: small portions of pasta, rice, soup or polenta. – 3. Secondo- Main or second course: small portions of meat, chicken, or fish. – 4. Contorno- Side dish: usually a vegetable dish. – 5. Dolce- Dessert: bowl of fruit or biscotti. The main meal of the day is served in the mid- afternoon.

Cheese There are many popular types of cheese that originated in Italy. – Parmesan – Provolone – Mozzarella – Ricotta – Gorgonzola – Romano

Pasta Pasta is one of the most common dishes in Italy. Italians always serve pasta al dente, which means it’s cooked so it’s slightly firm when eating. Common types of pasta include: – Spaghetti – Fettuccini – Mostaccioli – Rotini – Farfollini

Common Foods Biscotti- A hard cookie Minestrone- Vegetable soup Frittata- Omelet Polenta- cornmeal mush Chianti- Wine Risottos- rice dishes Gelati- ice cream Gnocchi- dumplings Ravioli- stuffed pasta Mortadella- sausage