Beyond Pasta and Pizza: Discovering Italian Food

Many people associate Italian food with a million different kinds of noodles, olive oil, and everyone's favorite: pizza. If you're interested in Italian cuisine, though, you have a whole world to explore beyond the Americanized dishes. Today, take a look at a few elements of the classic Italian foods you can find in an authentic Italian restaurant.

Fresh cheese, specifically when made with goat or sheep's milk, provides a lot of health benefits in small amounts. It's common in Italian dishes because of the warm temperatures, which aren't friendly to curing cheese. You might get fresh cheeses stuffed into pasta, in an antipasto, or garnishing any number of other dishes.

For an authentic Italian meal, you'll have some kind of bread, but it doesn't have to be slathered with tomato sauce and buried under cheese and toppings. Instead, think about bread on the side, more notable when made with whole-grain flour.

The rustic flavors are more authentic to their home culture, and they're often developed to complement the flavors of the entrees that were native to the area. For example, in areas where the cuisine is extremely salty, the bread is made without salt to balance it out, while in other parts of the country, the bread has more flavor to complement milder proteins.

So much of Italy is coastland that it's not surprising to see a variety of seafood dishes in their cuisine. You'll find various ways to prepare calamari, scallops, and shrimp in the main course or topping another meal. The traditional flavors of Italy come out strongly and complement the seafood well.

Fish dishes are prevalent in Italian restaurants as well. You might find them breaded and pan-fried or grilled alongside vegetables or mushrooms. When they're topped with a delectable sauce and alongside vegetables like legumes and potatoes, you'll find the seafood options to be a delicious and healthy choice for your night out.

Many countries have found a way to incorporate chicken into their cuisine, and Italy is no exception. Many meals feature breaded cutlets and chicken breast, often cooked in some form of wine and, of course, a savory sauce. You may also encounter pan-fried chicken or find it in a casserole of different flavors.

For more special occasions, you'll find an Italian host or hostess pulling out some form of beef, especially a veal dish. You'll often get the tender meat breaded and sautéed with a multitude of flavors, topped with the sauces and cheeses you know and love from your other experiences with Italian cuisine.

You may assume that every Italian food involves carbs, oils, and cheese, but that's not quite the truth. As in most places, people in Italy focused on food they could create with readily available ingredients, so farmers have created many dishes featuring fresh and cooked vegetables. Bell peppers, artichokes, banana peppers, and olives are all fundamental parts of Italian cuisine.

Of course, don't forget tomatoes, which not only form the base for many of their sauces but can be a part of the salad course as well. You'll find salad fairly popular, usually including peppers alongside meats and cheeses. If you're looking for a vegetarian option, check out everything an Italian chef can create with eggplant as a protein source.

If you're ready for an authentic Italian experience, check out Picano's Italian Grille. The founder came from his country in 1949, desiring to create a restaurant with a true Italian dining experience. With the chefs' house-made pasta, garlic rolls, and other specialty dishes, that dream became a reality. Stop by today, or schedule an event here, and taste the difference for yourself.