The great bard William Shakespeare was seemingly infatuated with Italy and Italian culture. From Julius Caesar, to Romeo and Juliet, and The Two Gentlemen of Verona, his depth of understanding of the Italian culture and demographic is hard to fathom. There is a school of thought that theorizes Shakespeare was actually born in Italy as Michelangelo Florio Crollalanza and his family fled to London during the Holy Inquisition at which time his name was changed. This theory further explains that young William was educated by Franciscan monks in Latin and Greek which accounts for his well-written prose. Others believe that […]
Fine Dining Blog
The Artistry Behind Italian Desserts
Any true foodie will tell you that before you sample the first bite of any dish you devour it with your eyes first. It makes sense; if something doesn’t look appealing to you, odds are, you won’t want to eat it. Italian desserts are masterful creations; beautiful to the eye and satisfying to the palate. Italian desserts have evolved over the centuries as the availability of products expanded, providing imported goods from around the world. Sugar was not readily available to Italian cooks prior to the 1700’s and desserts were mainly sweetened with honey and fruit. The finished products were […]
Italian Food by Season
As we do here in the States, Italian cooks feature the bounty of the seasonal harvest in their dishes. During the summer, Italian cuisine will reflect the abundance of eggplant, corn, zucchini, cucumbers, berries, almonds, apricots, figs, and plums, just to name a few. Eggplant will frequently replace meat in dishes as it is very versatile. It can be roasted, grilled, fried, or sautéed. It can be served room temperature or cold. Eating lighter dishes and foods that don’t require spending a lot of time in the kitchen are the key to surviving the Italian summer. Zucchini is served from […]
Eat Like an Italian This Summer
When the weather starts to warm and we begin to spend more time outdoors in the heat, our bodies naturally start to crave lighter and fresher foods. We don’t need to be comforted by heavy soups, stews, or sauce covered pastas. The same is true for folks all around the world, and in Italy the summer is a time of great celebration of the harvest of the freshest fruits, vegetables, and the bounty of the seas. This is part of the reasons the fine dining Orlando experts at Christini’s is featuring a delicious summer menu. Leggero, which means “light” in […]
The History of Italian Desserts
Rumor has it that Italian ice was accidentally discovered by Nero sometime before the burning of Rome. It’s an amusing thought. Adding fruit juice and possibly spices to water prior to freezing is what sets Italian ice apart from its brother the snow cone. Regardless of its origins, there is nothing quite a refreshing as a fruit-flavored Italian ice to cool down a hot summer day. Italian desserts are some of the finest, most creative in the world. The availability of sugar was sparse in Ancient Rome and those who had a sweet tooth found satisfaction in dishes flavored with […]