Italy – stereotypically the land of love and romance, mandolins and gangsters, da Vinci, Galileo and Michelangelo, fast cars and fashion, but more importantly, pasta and pizza! Italian food is loved globally, with Italian restaurants located all over the world. Most households will have an Italian inspired dish at least once a week. Children are now raised on a diet of pasta, as it seems that it’s the only dish parents can get their fussy children to eat!

Italy’s warm climate and geography means that it produces some of the most wonderful ingredients; Italians love their food and are very proud of the cuisine. They will spend hours perfecting meals and then hours eating them, making dining a very social occasion. Long lunches are commonplace, with many Italians returning home from work for a two-hour lunch break with the family. When they dine out in the evenings, they eat late and take their time as dinner isn’t just about the food; it is also about getting together with the whole family and your friends.

There is an abundance of amazing Italian dishes on offer; those of us that grew up in the 70’s and 80’s were already used to Spaghetti, Lasagne, and even Cannelloni, but here is a handful of our other favourites…

Pizza

You can’t have a list of the best Italian foods without including pizza. Loved by children and adults across the globe, pizza comes in every shape and form possible, with pretty much every topping available too. Of course, you don’t have to go far to have a pizza – frozen varieties are available in every supermarket, and every town has a pizza restaurant or a takeaway. BUT…..you haven’t actually tried pizza until you’ve tried the real deal; 100% Italian made pizza. Each restaurant will have their ‘family’s secret sauce’ and the best style is the most simple, baked in a traditional pizza oven.

Gelato

Gelatarias can be found in every town throughout Italy, serving Italian-style ice cream in every style and flavour. Softer than ice cream, gelato is made with milk, cream, and sugar and then flavoured with fruits, chocolate or nuts. It’s amazing and so very moreish!

Ribollita

Known as Cucina Povera (poor man’s food), this well know Tuscan dish was invented by servants who collected leftover bread and vegetables and would then boil it together for their own dinner, (hence the name ribollita which means re-boiled). This hearty soup comes in many variations but generally includes bread, cannellini beans, cabbage, carrot, and onions.

Torrone

Sold in cafes and sweet shops across Italy, and traditionally a Christmas dessert, torrone is a sweet, like candy, made with egg whites, honey, toasted almonds and citrus. It has a creamy nougat-like texture which is sold in thick slabs. Nowadays, it comes in various forms; soft, hard, and even dipped in chocolate – what’s not to love?

Risotto

Traditionally a Northern Italian rice dish, risotto is now found across the whole world in various forms. Most risottos contain butter, wine, and onion, with various flavours and ingredients added for taste. Often using local, seasonal ingredients, the risotto on a restaurant’s menu can be dependent on the time of year. Spring risotto will often have asparagus or courgettes, whereas winter risotto may contain peas and butternut squash for a richer, heartier flavour.

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