This week, for our first trip, we’ll be heading over to Italy – a country with an internationally cherished and renowned cuisine.
Ingredients:
Though it does vary by region, some of the most common and popular ingredients in Italian cuisine overall are basil, olive oil, tomatoes, and cheese (the most common of which being mozzarella or parmigiano-regianno. You can see these ingredients features across almost every course whether it be a caprese salad, margherita pizza, or an olive oil cake, these ingredients are fundamental to Italian cooking. Each ingredient serves a different key role; for basil it’s a garnish and used to add a nice kick of herby flavour to a dish. Olive oil is used as the main base in the cooking of any dish and as a light dressing or base for salads, sauces, and more. Tomatoes add a subtle and juicy flavour to any food and give it the moisture without overpowering any of the other stars of the dish. And speaking of those stars, lastly, cheese – a staple of any pizza or pasta dish, save any seafood pastas, it’s used to add richness and extra flavouring, while also serving as a bridge to bring together all the other ingredients and flavours in a dish.
Preparation:
In cooking an Italian meal, often the meal’s preparation is a lengthy affair. Partially, this is because of the complexity and overall detail of the recipes themselves. And related to this, the time-consuming nature of the recipe lends itself to periods of inactivity while waiting for various stages of the cooking process to complete. During these periods, and even in between them, there’s a lot of engagement between the cook and their guests or whoever they may be eating with, making the preparation process a highly social and interactive one.
Dining:
The dining experience, much like the preparation of the food is very active, with everyone continually sharing and talking together. In Italy, as in many other countries and cultures, though maybe to a slightly greater extent, food brings people together and serves as a way to interact with others.
Overview:
holistiaclly, the traditional Italian culinary and dining experience is just that – an experience. There is less concern for time or other happenings, and a greater emphasis on enjoying the company of those you’re with and simply using food as a medium to have people come together.
Fun Fact:
The margherita pizza was inspired by the Italian flag. It was created with the idea of having a pizza with 3 toppings to represent the 3 colours of the Italian flag; thus, basil (green), mozzarella cheese (white), tomato (red).
Another non-food related fun fact is that Italy recently won the UEFA Euro 2021.