A Taste of Italy
Forget what you think you know about Italian food
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Italian cuisine is as hard to pin down as a wet noodle. Each region of Italy has its own unique dishes. And within those regions, the same dish may differ greatly from one kitchen to the next. So any attempt to define Italian cuisine would be almost impossible.
The key to enjoying a great Italian meal is to forget what you think Italian food should be and just dig in. So with that attitude in mind, I ventured to a local Italian restaurant to try a “taste of Italy.”
Home-style Italian
The chef, Giorgio Trivia, found it impossible to recommend one dish over another. “Everything is delicious,” he said. He uses imported ingredients to create authentic, home-style Italian dishes. So no matter what I ordered, I was sure to get a mouthwatering treat.
First, Giorgio prepared a sampling of antipasti-or Italian appetizers. Meals in Italy usually have three to six small courses rather than one large main course. Antipasti make a delicious first course, teasing your taste buds and awakening your appetite.
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Antipasti
Colorful and skillfully presented, the antipasti on my plate looked scrumptious. I enjoyed the salumi misti (a variety of sliced sausages), tonnato (tasty tuna on a slice of pork) and polenta (a soft, mild cornbread). But it was the caprese di bufala that won my heart. The dish was surprisingly simple-fresh tomato slices and soft mozzarella cheese made from buffalo’s milk. The result was a subtle but impressive treat for my taste buds. After that, I couldn’t wait for the meal’s second course to arrive.
Pasta
Next, Giorgio prepared three pasta dishes that complemented one another perfectly: cubana, tortelloni and gnocchi. The cubana’s lively flavor came from its rich tomato sauce and the subtle hint of hot chilies. The tortelloni’s soft spinach filling gave that dish a special zip.
But the gnocchi completely stole the show. A creamy sauce made from four kinds of cheese covered the soft potato dumplings. One bite left me speechless as the gnocchi melted on my tongue.
For dessert, I tried Giorgio’s tiramisu. This bittersweet treat created the perfect ending to a perfect Italian meal.
Word Bank
Pin down (idiom) 明确地说明或界定
It is often hard to pin down an exact translation between English and Chinese words.
With something in mind (adv) 把…放在心上
I wrote this story with my sister Amanda in mind.
Appetizer (n) 开胃小菜
Soup and bread are common appetizers served in restaurants.
Appetite (n) 胃口
My son Campbell has a big appetite. He always seems hungry.
Scrumptious (adj) 极可口的
These chocolate-chip cookies are scrumptious! I want another one.
Subtle (adj) 细致的；隐约的
This room is painted a subtle shade of green. It’s not very obvious.
Complement (v) 与…搭配；与…相配
You should buy this shirt. It really complements your eyes well.
Zip (n) 风味
There is something special in this sauce that gives it a zip! I don’t know what it is, but I love it.
More Information
Dig in (idiom) 开始大快朵颐
Wait until everybody has sat sown at the dinner table before you dig in!
Taste bud (n) 味蕾
Your taste buds can identify sweet, sour, bitter and salty flavors.
Mozzarella (n) 意大利白干酪
My favorite pizza has simply tomatoes and mozzarella cheese.
Steal the show (idiom) 抢尽风采
That musical was well performed. But it was the female star that stole the show.
Have you ever tried Italian food?
If so, what did you think? How would you desribe the food?
posted on 2006-02-14 15:59
lnnp 阅读(1903)
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