Italian Gourmet Food

Italian Gourmet Food: What makes it Gourmet?

Many of the world famous gourmet dishes originated in Italy. Truly, if one wants a gastronomic experience of a lifetime, then he or she should try true Italian food.

Italian gourmet food varies a lot. That's because Italian cuisine is a mix of everything, and is not easily understood as one might think. Part of the reason is that its cuisine is influenced by many civilizations, including the Chinese, Greek, Romans, Germans, Slavic and many others. Secondly, each area in Italy carries its unique specialties.

It can be said that Italian gourmet food is quite seasonal. That's because Italian chefs give emphasis on availing only of fresh, seasonal products on their masterpieces. This distinguishes Italian gourmet food from imitations that are made in the majority of the world.

In general, North and South Italian gourmet food is differentiated by the ingredients used in their preparation. North Italy uses more butter and cream in their dishes. Chefs of South Italy, on the other hand, use more tomato and olive oil in their food.

There are a lot of regional differences of Italian gourmet food. For example, in case of pizzas, Roman pizzas are thinner than Sicilian pizzas. Roman cuisine features pecorino or sheep milk cheese and offal, while Tuscan cuisine offers white beans, meat and unsalted bread.

Even common ingredients are different in each region. For example, Piedmont rice is different from Lombardy rice. But both types are used in the preparation of risotto.

Italian chefs put great care in their menu structure. A traditional Italian menu may include an antipasto or appetizer and a primo or first course. Usually, a primo is a high carbohydrate dish like risotto or pasta. Then, there is a secondo or the main dish which provides the protein content. Usually, it is made out of meat such as veal. There is also a contorno or side dish such as a salad, a dolce or dessert, a caffee or coffee which is usually expresso, and digestive which is liquer. All in all, it constitutes an artful, satisfying meal.

An Italian meal is never complete without wine. Italy produces the finest wines such as Barolo, Amarone, Pinot Grigio, Chianti and Primitivo. Each of these wines is the specialty of a region in Italy.

So, the next time you visit Italy, try to travel to the country's different regions and taste the food there. You will be pleasantly surprised at the huge variety of delicious gourmet food. You will never look at spaghetti or any pasta the same way again!