How To Find A Great Italian Restaurant

How can good Italian food or a great Italian restaurant be identified, What follows is one foodie’s opinion. First of all, you must understand Italy’s wonderful tradition of fine food. The importance of cuisine to Italian culture cannot be overstated. Food is one of the central pieces of Italian life, and why shouldn’t it be, The choices are endless! It stretches far from north to south, from the heat of Sicily to the Alps. Therefore, it has a wide array of growing seasons and soil types. This means a rich diversity of ingredients for food.

It is a peninsula, meaning it is nearly surrounded by the sea but also connected to the great Eurasian land mass. This provides both an abundance of fresh seafood and foreign ingredients from neighboring lands. It is situated between Europe and Africa in the Mediterranean. It is not an exaggeration to say that all Mediterranean cultures have wonderful food cultures. This is true from North Africa to Lebanon and Israel, France, Greece, Spain and, of course, Italy.

When people think of noodles and pasta, Italy is what comes to mind. Remember, though, that those wonderful inventions came to Italy from China thanks to Marco Polo. It tells you a lot about Italian food culture that something so basic became associated with Italy even though it did not originate there. At any rate, Italian culture rests heavily on food. Therefore, the food is the most important part of any Italian restaurant.

By the way, if you leave an “Italian” restaurant hungry, this restaurant cannot be called authentic. A white tablecloth and high bill do not a great bistro make. 400 for a morsel that makes you want to stop for a slice of pizza on the way home. A great Italian ristorante will leave you full, not stuffed, but full.

The second component of a great Italian restaurant is the service. The service will be warm and professional, but not overly friendly. After the orders are taken and the meal gets rolling, the service should be nearly invisible. “How you guys doin’ tonight, ” when ladies are seated at the table.

This is most un-Italian of them. An Italian would never call a woman “guy.” Even in spaghetti-and-meatballs-type places, the waiter might say, “How is everyone this evening, ” The won’t tarry with small talk in the white-tablecloth places, not the good ones, anyway. You and your comfort are all that matter. The third aspect of a great Italian dining experience is the atmosphere.

I don’t know what it is, but Italians seem to be able to create a magical ambiance anywhere. I have eaten at places in strip malls in Kansas City suburbs — as un-romantic a setting as there is — that come very close to greatness. A truly outstanding Italian restaurant will just have a certain feeling from the minute you walk in the door, a warmth and a glow that defies description. If your favorite Italian restaurant meets all three conditions, you can call it great. For those in the New York City area, I recommend this Flushing, Queens, Italian restaurant. Check out their video, too.

] cooking methods. A meal at my house might include two stir-fries, a quick soup, and steamed rice,” she said. “Baby Bok Choy With Chicken, Simple Stir-Fried Greens, and Dry-Fried Green Beans are great dishes that aren’t that hard to make and demonstrate the principle behind the stir-frying technique,” Chou said.

You can find all three recipes in Chinese Soul Food, and you can learn how to made the Dry-Fried Green Beans below. 1. Trim the green beans and cut them in half. Line a baking sheet with a few layers of paper towels. 2. Preheat a wok over medium-high heat until wisps of smoke rise from the surface. Add ⅓ cup of the oil and heat for 30 to 60 seconds, or until it starts to shimmer.