If there's one thing that can be said about the Italian chef, it's that he's passionate. Italian cooking radiates passion from every morsel. From handmade pasta, to sumptuous breads there's something very sensual about the way my Italian cook moves around our kitchen. It's all about noise, and speed, and flavor. Strong, robust flavors imbibe every mouthful. Scents and tastes wrap around your senses and feed the passionate feeling that ravishes through you as you sample the dishes. From sauces to the cooked vegetables, their tastes start in the base, and continue through to the finished products.
Italian cookery in itself is actually good for you - high in antioxidant tomatoes, flavorful herbs and spices, plenty of fresh vegetable and fruit, and of course, olive oil. Olive oil is attributed to be the reason that Italians live a longer, healthier life. Believed to add to the Italian cooking and eating philosophy of smaller portions and slower eating, it also gives a feeling of satisfaction when hungry, and has a vast list of health benefits that are being investigated. From the numerous vitamins, preserved by the styles of cooking that the Italian's use - baking and boiling - they don't use deep frying as much as other nations, and creating food over the course of the day, from fresh ingredients means that their style of cooking gives a healthier lifestyle a nudge in the right direction. Using Olive oil in your cooking will add vitamins and minerals with ease, and give everything a delicate, slightly salty taste, with an unmistakably Italian aroma. Italian cooking is typified by lasagna and pizza - their traditional counterparts in Italy, are very similar - Italians though seem to prefer pasta - Italian cooking is typically made up of pasta, fish, chicken, eggs, and other farm produce, along with fresh vegetables.
Their other passion, it has to be said, is cheese. Another interest and ingredient in Italian cooking - from the hard Parmesan to Marscapone, a sweet, dessert level soft cheese, they contain the same basic tenants of the Italian eating philosophy. Olives are the biggest 'thing' in Italy though - featuring highly in their recipes - fresh, stuffed and cooked olives are considered a delicacy.
Wine and chocolate also feature highly in most Mediterranean cooking - tiramisu and fresh ice cream being two wonderful delicacies out of Italy. Gateus and fruit feature highly - their desserts occasionally laced with brandy and other spirits to give it a strongest bite.
A great site for Italian cooking recipes and tips, Italian cooking and living - http://www.italiancookingandliving.com has several suggestions for great recipes and projects. From full meals to a light salad, going Italian and using olive oil as an alternative to butter or margarine is good for you and tastes better too! Alongside their other foods, everything fits in with one another - bold and intoxicating meeting delicate and delightful.
