Italian Pizza Oven

Everyone loves Italian food, and sampling the local specialties is one of the best parts of traveling to Italy.  Each of Italy’s regions has its own distinctive cuisine, and Italian restaurants run the gamut from elegant to earthy.

Here are the dishes you don’t want to miss if you travel to Italy.

Roman food.

Known for its rustic comfort food, Rome serves some of the meatiest  meals in the country.  But vegetarians will appreciate the abundance of fresh produce that’s always available.  In spring, artichokes (carciofi) appear on virtually every menu, a dozen different ways.  In late summer and fall, deep fried zucchini (zucca) flowers stuffed with cheese and a little anchovy paste are extremely popular.  A Fritto Misto or mixed, fried antipasto might include both.  Fried rice croquettes (Suppli di Riso) and Gnocchi are other good non-meat choices.  The two quintessential Roman pasta dishes are Bucatini all’Amatricani, made with pancetta, tomatoes, and onions, and Spaghetti alla Carbonara, made with pancetta, eggs, and Parmesan cheese.  Although most Americans shy away from organ meats, offal is an essential part of Roman cuisine.  If you’re not that adventurous, try Salimbocca, veal cutlets stuffed with ham, cheese, and sage.  Or Porchetta, roast suckling pig.  And if you have any room left over, order the local cheescake, Torta di Ricotta.

Naples food.

Southern Italy serves the dishes most Americans think of as typically Italian.  Lots of tomatoes, garlic, onions, herbs, and cheese.   Neapolitan pizza is the best you’ll ever eat, and you owe it to yourself to have it several times.  The nearness of the Mediterranean means that seafood is prevalent.  Squid (calamari), shrimp (gamberetti), and mussels (cozze) are all wonderful dressed with lemon juice and olive oil.  Simply grilled fresh swordfish is also frequently available.   Neapolitan cuisine downplays meat, but cheese, especially mozzarella, is front and center.   It’s essential to local favorites like Eggplant Parmesan (Parmigiana di Melanzane), Lasagna, and Pasta alla Sorrentina.  For dessert, have Sfogliatelle, puff pastry shells filled with ricotta cheese and almond paste.   Citrus is an important crop here, and this area is the home of Limoncello.  Have a glass before or after your meal. Look here to learn all about Neapolitan pizza.

Sicilian food.

Sicilian desserts

If you love big, bold flavors, Sicily is the spot.  As you’d expect on an island, fresh seafood is the star, with sardines, tuna, and swordfish on every menu.  You won’t find much meat, but vegetables are always available.  Try Caponata, which combines tomatoes, peppers, onions, and olives.  And Panelle, a snack made from fried garbanzo beans.  Sicily also has terrific desserts, the most famous of which is the Sicilian Cassata made with ricotta cheese, candied fruits, and nuts.  Riccota-filled Cannoli and Almond Biscuits are also delicious.

Tuscan food.

You won’t find heavy sauces or elaborate preparations in Florence and the surrounding area.  Just simply grilled meats, fresh vegetables, and lots of beans (fagioli).  The best beef in Italy is raised here, and Bistecca alla Fiorentina — steak marinated in garlic, herbs, and olive oil and then grilled over charcoal — is the way to try it.   Of course, Tuscany is also noted for its marvelous red wines, so be sure to order some Chianti or Montepulciano.  Wild boar , rabbit, duck, and cured meats, especially Parma ham, are also good choices, as is Baccala, or salt cod, mixed with tomatoes and garlic and cooked in an earthenware pot.  For lunch, try Panzanella, a salad of toasted bread, tomatoes, and basil, or Pappa al Pomodoro, a thick tomato soup.  Bologna’s major contribution to Italian cuisine is Spaghetti al Ragu, pasta enrobed in a rich meat sauce.  Sample either lemon tart or Panforte, a delectable spice cake, for dessert.

Other Italian dishes you should try include Trenette al Pesto and Pansoti with Walnut Sauce from the coastal region outside of Genoa.  Manzo Brasato at Barolo, beef braised in Barolo wine, from Piedmont.  And risotto and Costolette alla Milanese, rice with wine, onions, and Parmesan cheese and breaded veal cutlets from Milan.

To help plan your next trip to Italy look here. And for more information about traveling in Italy read here.