Italian cooking can be described in an uncomplicated description as; ‘a love of simple foods prepared with care, and with fresh baked bread of course.’ Italian cuisine combines basic ingredients in a delicious way which features fresh fruits, vegetables, poultry, fish, pasta, breads and spices, together with olive oil.
Italian culinary traditions were developed as the building blocks of the Mediterranean cuisine, some refer to it as the Mediterranean Diet, but it is much more than a fad, it’s a way of life in Italy. Olive oil is an integral part of Italian cooking. Olive oil is always present on the table and is added to soups, sauces, pastas, and is drizzled over vegetables and salads. Extra virgin olive oil is served as a dip with fresh bread and balsamic vinegar.
Bread is considered as a fundamental in the Italian cuisine. It may appear as the most simple, but it is an important component of Italian food and cooking. Bread is in the midst of every meal. Italian bread is used in a variety of ways, bread dipped in fresh herbs and spices, drizzled with extra virgin olive oil, bread for stuffing, bread for bread crumbs, or toasted bread for garlic and foccacia bread.
A long baguette with sesame seeds dusted over the top is regarded as a French Loaf. It is one of many favorite Italian breads. In Sicily the round panelle bread has a real brick oven taste to it as is also favored. It can be hard and crusty on the outside, but firm but soft on the inside, ideal for soups and oil dipping.
There is something unmistakably delicious about fresh bread dipped in extra virgin olive oil and spices. It is a great snack and appetizer. Place a bit of effort in selecting a quality fresh baked bread. A Supermarket “Italian Bread” that is white and, spongy soft, is neither appetizing or a good representation of what real bread should be. Some bakeries will offer fresh baked bread from authentic Old Country recipes. Of course, it’s all a personal preference and there are many types of specialty bread to choose from, such as Baguette, French, Panelle, Ciabata, or the Tuscan bread.
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