ITALIAN FOOD, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS

Italian Food: The Italian food section of Life In Italy is divided into several categories: First we have our Italian food Ratings database, a rating of Italian food by selected Italian and American consumers. Second we provide recipes by Venetian chef Francesco the co-owner and chef at award winning restaurant Remi in New York City. Third we provide some general articles about Italian cooking like how to make Italian Pizza at home, bread, and articles about Italian foods such as olives, cheeses, herbs used in Italian cooking. First-time travelers to Italy may be surprised on finding such a diversity of regional food. Unlike your typical Italian restaurant in the States, Italian food has much more variety than spaghetti and meatballs or Eggplant Parmesan. Even though you can find Italian specialties like pizza and tortellini all over Italy, it is well worth sampling the local dishes for a bit of authenticity. When eating foods grown or raised in the surrounding countryside and complemented with the local wine, both your Traveling and eating experiences are taken to a whole new level. The pride that Italians have in their locally grown produce, regional specialties and exceptional wine is something you cannot find in a supermarket.

ITALIAN RESTAURANTS: Some restaurants:

1. Zafferano: Knightsbridge is awash with Italian restaurants & Zafferano sits at the top of the tree. To Zaff’s many fans, ‘it never fails to exceed expectations’ with its charming blend of rustic brick walls, contemporary furniture, comfortable but buzzing atmosphere & ‘benchmark service’ – conscientious but not too fussy. Head chef Andy Needham leads an accomplished kitchen that executes everything with aplomb, from more complex dishes of finely shredded veal shank encased in billowy ravioli parcels & crowned with a rich, orange-tinged veal jus to less elaborate creations that allow the flavours of superior ingredients to shine through: perfectly griddled seared yellowfin tuna, for instance, is simply accompanied by super-sweet cherry tomatoes & rocket. Desserts are no less exciting – molten chocolate fondant with praline ice-cream is sublime.




2. Square Meal Theo Randall at the InterContinental:One of the most lauded openings of 2006 has proved a unanimous hit with those foodies undeterred by its very hotel-ish – & often very quiet – setting within the revamped Interconti. There’s much that impresses: service from the ‘friendly, happy’ staff is first-rate while no expense has been spared either on the dining room’s elegant interior or the sourcing of quality ingredients. As at chef Theo Randall’s alma mater, the River Cafe, provenance is key, allowing strong, clear flavours to shine through, whether a blamelessly fresh assembly of Devon crab with mixed leaves, herbs, aioli & bruschetta or Randall’s signature dish of char-grilled Limousin veal chop with roseval potatoes, roasted artichokes & salsa verde: possibly the juiciest piece of meat in the capital. Pastas & an impeccably kept cheeseboard are other highlights. The only note of caution is that if you want a reminder of how ingredients are supposed to taste, this is an expensive lesson.




3. Sartoria: A meal at this tailoring-themed D&D London outpost might well persuade you that bespoke suit you’ve just been measured up for round the corner on Savile Row might need a more generous waist. For, though starters such as octopus carpaccio with tomato & olive dressing sit lightly on the stomach, the rest of the menu is a carb- & protein-lover’s paradise: veal ravioli with butter & marjoram, chicken breast stuffed with mushroom & ricotta with broccoli & chilli, with perhaps a side order of Jersey royal potatoes. The mixing of sweet & sharp flavours stops the overall sensation from being too heavy &, though you might finish with wild berries with fresh mint & vanilla cream, why pass up the opportunity of eating a plate of Italian cheeses? Slick service fits the smart surrounds & corporate ambience to a T, but be warned: Sartoria is ‘excellent but expensive’.




4. Riva: There’s no middle ground in discussions of this famous Barnes Italian. Regulars love Riva & will not hear a bad word said about it; one-off visitors & celebrity hunters hate it, citing the brusque service, tired decor, close tables & uncomfortable seats. Though it’s undeniable the staff favours diners they know, the charm of the place can grow on you with repeat visits. There’s a lengthy menu of Italian classics, but those in the know ignore it & ask the urbane proprietor Andrea Riva for his recommendations. The better he knows you, the more appropriate & well judged his suggestions will be & the more you’ll feel part of the restaurant’s inner circle, so much so that you may agree with regulars who say that ‘here is a restaurant you want to go to for the rest of your life’.
   

ITALIAN HOTELS:

Some Hotels in Italy, "La casa Negli Orti", "Villa Bellini", "Katane Domus", "Portatenea", "Scala", "Lo Chalet", "Windrose", "Cappuccino", "Atmosfere", and others.