What To Know About Italian Restaurants

Are you out of inspiration for lunch or dinner; would like to try something new but not sure what? Then why not have a shot at some Italian restaurants. If you think that Italian food is only spaghetti and lasagna, well you are in for a surprise! Of course pastas are a part of an Italian restaurants regime, but there is much more to it!

The different regions of Italy were unified in 1861. The Italian food was then influenced by many factors: the different regions of Italy as well as by Greek, Arab, Roman and Norman cultures. Today's Italian restaurants reflect mostly either the southern or northern part of the country.

Nowadays, the main differences are affected by the southern and northern parts of Italy. The difference in the type of fat and type of pasta used are the main ones. In the south, the cooking mostly includes olive oil, mozzarella cheese made from buffalo milk, dried pasta and plenty of tomatoes. In the north, they will have a tendency to use cream, fresh egg pasta, butter, Mascarpone cheese and risotto.

The menus are mainly made of 5 different parts. The antipasto is the hot and cold appetizers. Some examples of antipasto could be some stuffed olives, baked artichokes hearts, Caprese salad (fresh mozzarella and basil on a ripe tomato) or some breaded squid rings (calamari).

The next meal would be the primo. This is the first of two main courses in Italian cuisine. This course regularly is a warm dish, like risotto, pasta or soup. The second of those two main courses, the Secondo, is one of meat. So there are no vegetarian options for this one. Authentic Italian cuisine prefers the veal, but since the Second World War, beef has become exponentially popular and more affordable.

All meals come with a Contorno, a side dish. Those are either vegetables, or a fresh salad of your choice, many of which can be tailored to suit individual tastes. The best has been saved for last, with the dolce. Dolce is the dessert that finishes the meal in beauty!

Diverse versions of this menu can be found, with only minor differences. Again, whatever region of Italy the restaurant owner is from will affect the menu. Overall it almost always follows the same sort of routine.

Italian restaurants are now common in northern America, citizens enjoying its flavor all over the continent. The Michelin guide reviews establishments, and can help you pick the one of your choice, that your entire family should appreciate. With today's technology, you can find restaurant's full or partial menus in phone books, or online. So with all these tools in hand, enjoy your meal!