Top Delicious Foods To Try On Your Next
Italian
Holiday
If you were to ask people what they immediately think of when you mention Italy, we pretty much guarantee that food will be up there as one of the most popular answers. After all, when it comes to food, the Italians really do know what they're doing!From pizza to pasta, tiramisu to truffles, there is a vast range of Italian food to try when you are on your holidays to Italy. Here, we look at some of the foods you absolutely need to try!
Pizza
“Anyone who says that money cannot buy happiness has clearly never spent their money on pizza.” – Andrew W.K.
Pizza and Italy are synonymous with one another. While flatbreads with oils and toppings have been around for a long time, it was Italy that grabbed it and made it their own. In 1889, the Italian Queen Margherita (you can see where this is going, right?) visited Naples and asked to try this delicious looking snack that she saw so many people eating. She was served with a cooked dough base, topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella and basil, which is why we now know this fabulous combination of flavours as the Margherita.
These days, you can choose from two different types of Italian pizza. Neopolitan or Roman style. Neopolitan pizzas are generally a little smaller in diameter but have a larger, thicker crust. Roman-style pizza is larger but thinner and crispier. One thing to remember is when in Rome, eat like the Romans, and when in Naples, go for the Neopolitan.
Now, you might be used to ordering pizza at home with all sorts of toppings, but when it comes to the authentic Italian experience, less is always more. There is a focus on fewer ingredients of the highest quality rather than overloading with inferior toppings.
Lasagne
“For me to make lasagna would be a desecration of a great Italian dish … I don't mess with sacred things.” — Mario Cuomo
Also Garfield’s favourite food, lasagne is one of Italy’s most iconic dishes. Made with flat pasta sheets, a rich, tasty ragu, bechamel sauce and plenty of cheese, the dish is thought to hark back to the Roman times, although the version that we know and love today came from Francesco Zambrini from Bologna, who introduced it in the 19th century.
Like pizza, different areas of Italy do lasagne a little differently. The Northern parts of Italy tend to stick to the more traditional and simple version as described above, so if you are staying in one of our villas in Tuscany that’s what you can expect in the local restaurants. However, go a little further down south and you will find more complex recipes, involving ingredients such as ricotta and spinach.
Breads
“I say to my industrialist friends when you have guests from out of town, I don't care how important they are, you should feed them the essence of Italian culture: spaghetti, bread and olive oil’ – Brunello Cucinelli
Bread in Italy is a staple, and the best one is always going to be the one that the local bakery has made that morning. We are sure that you will be spoilt for choice though!
Tuscan bread is generally made without salt, making it tastes completely different to loaves of bread from other areas. Enjoy it in its simplicity with olive oil and herbs.
Head to Liguria, and you will be surrounded by the famous Foccacia. Not all that dissimilar to pizza dough, with plenty of salt, olive oil and topped with ingredients such as rosemary, cheese and olives.
Staying in one of our villas in Sicily? You need to try a Pane Siciliano. It is a fairly simple white bread with a crust of gently baked sesame seeds. It’s perfect for breakfast slathered generously with butter and fresh fig jam while overlooking your private pool.
Gelato
“So… Italian gelato. Take the deliciousness of a regular ice-cream cone, times it by a million, then sprinkle it with crushed-up unicorn horns.”― Jenna Evans Welch, Love & Gelato
When visiting Italy, do not forget to indulge in some gelato! We recommend a scoop or three every day at least!
Despite the fact that gelato literally translates to 'ice cream,' it is not the same thing. It is lower in butterfat and served a little warmer. This gives it a smooth, velvet-like texture and intense flavours.
Look for fresh artisanal gelato – it should not be brightly coloured, it should use the flavours of in-season fruits and shouldn't be voluminous and whipped.
Where is the best villa holiday destination to try this delicious cold treat? Surprisingly, it is Umbria, where we have some superb villas. The Gelato University (yes, that is a thing!) tested gelatos from all over the world, and this tiny little Italian town came up trumps with its flavour combo of three different types of Sicilian pistachios that are slow-roasted for 24 hours before Madagascar vanilla bean, milk, caramelized sugar, and a sprinkle of Adriatic sea salt are added. Delicious!
Tiramisu
“Tiramisu is my favourite.”— Hugh Jackman
Tiramisu is the country's most popular after-dinner dessert. This no-bake parfait is made up of layers of soft, sweetened mascarpone cheese and coffee-soaked ladyfingers It's quite a recent addition to Italian menus, only existing since the 1960s, but is a firm favourite.
Do you fancy trying out these delicious Italian foods for yourself? Book one of our beautiful villas in Italy, which has everything you could possibly want in a holiday villa – a private pool, air conditioning, Wi-Fi amongst many other things. Get in touch with us today to find out more.