Here in the United States, we love pizza and pasta. But we wondered, what about Canada, Mexico, England and others? What Italian that foods do other nations go gaga for?

The U.S.

Here in the United States, our number one Italian dish, of course, is pizza. We have a pretty poor habit of making it in ways that suit our boredom, but the dish will always be Italian at heart. We also love Italian sub sandwiches, but we make those our own as well.

England

In England, they too have a love affair with Italian cuisine, but one that differs to ours. The Brits have a special love for a dish called Spaghetti Bolognese. It’s a less saucy version of the familiar spaghetti with a meatier sauce. The English are also quite fond of Lasagna.

Mexico

Mexico has a lot of Italian restaurants, especially in Mexico City- the world’s most populous metropolitan area. It’s tough to pin down a particular favorite, but it’s safe to say that the Italian palate and the Mexican palate are birds of a feather with strong flavors, rich sauces, heavy use of hearty herbs- and of course the spices. There’s a lot of overlap as well between the two great cooking traditions, but we find that many of the most popular Italian dishes in Mexican-Italian restaurants are soup dishes heavy in beans and peppers. That was a bit of a surprise.

Canada

In Toronto, Canada- Pasta dishes are a big deal. Some ten percent of Toronto residents claim to have some Italian heritage- not that you need that to love Italian foods. Naturally, there are a lot of variations, like Canadianized Spaghetti and other pasta dishes.

Japan

We were surprised to find that Italian food also is quite popular in Japan despite their fierce nationalism. The truth is, Italian food is somewhat of a big deal in the land of the rising sun. They also take liberties with their pizzas, so we Americans can stop beating ourselves up about it. Japan enjoys a deep dish version of pizza with a soupy tomato sauce with islands of sharp cheese scattered around inside. They sauté whole leaf vegetables inside this tomato broth and eat it with chopsticks!

Russia

It turns out, in Moscow, Italian food is generously represented in a number of popular restaurants. The dishes range from pizza to pasta and seafood, but all with a particular Russian take on the theme. The hearty Russian eating habits are a good match for Italy’s influence. Russian-Italian fare has a strong Mediterranean influence as well as a great deal of accompaniment from South America. The Russians seem to take the cuisine of the romantic nations as a whole- which is a sweeping, but fair, take on a theme.

For dishes containing the best of what Italy and America have to offer, visit L’Amore today.

Up until the middle 18th century to the early 19th century, a handful of herbs were largely exclusive to the nation of Italy. The relative geological exclusivity of these herbs gave Italian cuisine, (with the aid of a wonderfully creative culture), the distinctive succulent, savory, and rich character that people around the world enjoy today. These herbs are Basil, Garlic, Oregano, and Rosemary.

Another interesting fact about these herbs is that on top of being potent flavor enhancers, they are also in the group popularly known as “superfoods,” foods so high in nutrient content that they are considered by nutritionists and other health professionals to have the ability to prevent a range of illnesses and improve overall health.

Basil

The most widely used of the four Italian herbs, Basil is a staple in kitchens around the world today. Many of the dishes made with this herb also contain tomato or tomato sauces and products. It is the perfect foil to naturally acidic vegetable flavors like zucchini and peppers. It is common in soups, sauces, and marinades. It is also an excellent enhancer for pesto recipes. Basil is an excellent source of Vitamin K, which is relatively rare in other foods and is necessary for the binding of calcium within bones.

Garlic

Widely loved as it is loathed, Garlic is the one herb strong enough to repel the dreaded vampire of Scandinavian lore. Garlic’s potent aroma and flavor make it an excellent herb for use in just about any savory dish. Garlic is also an extraordinarily powerful ‘superfood,’ and is well known for its potent antioxidant qualities. Research has shown that people who eat garlic on a regular basis are significantly less prone to all manner of cancers. Its health-promoting properties are best when eaten uncooked, and it is also the ideal replacement for salt.

Oregano

Another powerful green herb from Italy, oregano is known as the “ying” to the “yang” of Italian cooking represented by basil. Oregano, like the other herbs on our list, is common in kitchens across America, and the developed world. Oregano is also rich in vitamins A, C, E, and K. It is also a good source of magnesium, iron, folate and more. It has been noted for its ability to kill microbes and could even be used to treat MSRA.

Rosemary

Finally, we come to the sweetheart of our list, Rosemary. Not truly an herb, Rosemary is a shrub- but is no less essential to the heart of Italian cuisine. It is commonly used in landscaping, which makes it especially handy when you need to add flavor to your cooking. Rosemary has been noted for its ability to improve cognitive abilities like memory and attention, and it is an indispensable item on our Italian cooking shopping list.

For dishes containing the best of what Italy and America have to offer, visit L’Amore today.

Pasta sauce from the jar is filled with ingredients, like sugar, that most people can do without.  And let’s face it, pasta sauce from a jar just doesn’t taste as good as the slow cooked homemade version.  But most people still buy the jar because making spaghetti sauce can seem like a huge undertaking, especially if the kitchen isn’t your favorite room in the house.  

The truth is, making tomato sauce from scratch isn’t that difficult and the best part is that you can jar or freeze your own sauce for easy pasta meals down the road.  If you’ve never made pasta sauce, your biggest question may be how to get it smooth.  Well, you drop the tomatoes into boiling water for five minutes. This will make it easy to peel off the skins after the tomatoes cool.

Your next question is probably, “So what kind of tomatoes should I use to make Italian sauce from scratch?” We’ve outlined the top 5 tomatoes to use for your next pasta sauce here:

1.  Roma

This plum tomato is fleshy and meaty enough to give you the substance you need for your sauce.  They are oval shaped and a favorite among Italian chefs.  

2.  San Marzano

These tomatoes originated in the mother country and are a deep red color.  Their flavor comes out when they’re cooked so this variety makes a very flavorful pasta sauce made from scratch.  

3. Viva Italia

This variety of tomato is also meaty like the Roma but has a tinge of sweetness to it. This is the perfect tomato to use for a sweet sauce low on sugar.  

4. Amish Paste

This variety originated in the United States and is a juicy tomato to use for your next pasta sauce.  It also makes for a great slicing tomato to complement the salad at the end of the meal.  

5.  Super Italian Paste

Having originated in Italy, the Super Italian Paste is a tomato full of flavor. The color is reddish-orange and the flesh is meaty.  This flavorful variety is perfect for homemade tomato sauce from scratch.  
Finding a recipe to follow using any of these tomato varieties is easy.  Simply pick a tomato and search for recipes specific to that plant.  Gather your ingredients and start the adventure. Once you go homemade, you’ll shun the jar, we promise.

For dishes containing the best of what Italy and America have to offer, visit L’Amore today.

Pasta is made from just three ingredients: flour, egg, and salt.  So why is it that most people prefer one shape of pasta over another?  You have your spaghetti people vs your angel hair pasta people. Then there’s ziti vs zit with lines.  Some people despise macaroni but will gobble up linguine all day.  What is it about the shape and texture of pasta that shapes our palate’s preferences?

It’s all in Your Mind

According to scientists, there is a known condition called synesthesia where people involuntarily have a “union of the senses”. For example, these people can “see” music, converge colors and numbers into one, see time inside their minds arranged a visual way; the months of the year may be seen as a circular kind of map or other spatial sequences in the person’s mind. In the case of pasta, what we see is the merger of the senses of touch and taste.  While the later seems like a stretch, it is, by definition, a form of synesthesia and could explain why we all have our individual pasta preferences which typically form in childhood.   

Size Matters

Pasta of varying thickness will cook differently and affect the taste. A thick pasta, like gnocchi, will be more done on the outside while a thin pasta will cook more evenly throughout.  For anyone who has ever had undercooked pasta, the taste can be so doughy that if tastes raw.  Overcooked pasta can taste slimy and squishy, but then again it all depends on your palate’s preferences, although al dente is always the recommended goal.  

Shape and Sauce

The shape of the pasta will determine how it holds the sauce and this can make all the difference in taste.  Plain ziti in tomato sauce tends to really soak up the sauce while ziti with lines holds the sauce like a grate.  This is the ziti you push around on your plate to soak up just the right amount of sauce.  

Visual Appeal

We can’t leave out the sense of sight when it comes to food.  Presentation, color, and many other variables will automatically give you a preconceived notion of what something is going to taste like. When the waiter brings your plate, you either exclaim, “That looks good!” or your silent.  Sometimes you’re presently surprised, especially if it is a dish you’ve never seen before but when it comes to familiar food like pasta, you can usually lend your eyes to be correct with the first impression.  

For dishes containing the best of what Italy and America have to offer, visit L’Amore today.