Lasagna and Tortellini
Italian food is supposedly well known the world over, but the world’s knowledge of Italian cuisine is somewhat limited.
Whilst speaking to the owner of the Quadrifoglio Trattoria, Franco Manzi, after having taken a few photos of the interior of his charming restaurant, he recounted a little tale about two Americans who came in to eat one evening.
What Mr Manzi told me was that the first thing his Stateside clients asked for was lasagne. When told that this was not on the menu, they asked if the restaurant did tortellini. Upon being advised that ‘No, sorry, we don’t do tortellini either’, our two American friends decided to call it a day. Presumably they headed for somewhere which did ‘real’ Italian food.
Tortellini in Brodo
Oh well, these two erstwhile Americans don’t know what they missed. The Quadrifoglio Trattoria has a wonderfully extensive menu which caters to many tastes.
This sad little tale rather sums up knowledge of Italian cooking the world over. When most people think of Italian food, they think lasagne, tortellini and good old pizza. What a great shame. The richness and variety of Italian cuisine is incredible. Each region has its own way of doing things. In fact, it is possibly more accurate to say each valley or town has a different selection from which to choose, such is the variety here.
Michelle over on her Bleeding Espresso site presents many southern dishes, as does Cherrye of My Bella Vita, and that’s not to mention the food specialists such as regular Blog from Italy contributor Judith of Think on It, and another of the forthcoming recipe contest Judges’ site Rubber Slippers in Italy, run by Rowena. Then there is Bella Baita View run by another chef, Marla.
Of course, La Cucina Italiana magazine, the US version, is doing its bit too with regard to spreading the word on Italian cooking, as are many other wonderful blog and food sites the web over. However, the fact remains that despite all the information available, many people, not just Americans by any means, enter Italian restaurants and ask for the same old same old, time and time again.
So, go on, visit the sites mentioned above and really get to know Italian food. I assure you that you will find something that appeals. You’ll also find more sites which talk about Italian food in my recently moved links section.
Then try to find some spare time to devote to the gentle art of cookery. We are all guilty of trying to cook and eat far too quickly nowadays. Eating for many of us has become a chore. This is a great shame, as eating should be a pleasure, and if you eat well, you feel good. You will also be healthier, and, if you don’t exaggerate, be slimmer as a result.
Yes, lasagne and tortellini are good, but there is more, so much more to Italian food.
And don’t forget Italian wine either. It really is excellent, but oh so poorly marketed.
When I saw restaurateur Mr Manzi on my way back from the supermarket, I asked him if lasagne was on the menu that evening. He smiled.
One of my favorite topics
Hi Maryann,
Now I wonder why this happens to be one of your fave subjects…
Hope you will enter the recipe contest, by the way!
Hi Alex,
interesting and well written post. I’ll only complete your thought by saying that this same variety of food you mention (”each valley or town has a different selection”) applies to Italian wine also. Our wine varieties are in fact much more numerous than those of France.
I was telling a Chinese friend, to make him understand the importance of this gift from Gods: “Wine is similar to your sauces in some way: we drink it to enhance food taste, and less for its alcoholic effect. Every different dish can have one or more matching wine, and it takes a lot of knowledge to know which goes with what”.
Theoretically, it could be possible here to prepare a dinner with 10 different dishes and 10 (even 20) accurately chosen matching wines.” Well, it would take too long, plus people would get lost lol.
As far as wine marketing, I agree that more can be done since as for now many excellent wine varieties are still unknown abroad, but on the whole our wine it is not so poorly marketed. Let us not forget we have have become the first foreign wine importers in the USA, beating the French (maybe Maryann can confirm this).
This was some months ago, though: now, being a moment of economical turmoil things could be different.
All the best
Hey thanks for the plug
It was a pleasure!
Have a great weekend Michelle.