L'amore Italian Restaurant

  • L'amore Italian Restaurant
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Menus
    • Dinner Menu
    • Cocktail Hour Menu
  • Reservations
  • Galleries
    • Food Gallery
    • Restaurant Gallery
  • Reviews
    • Our Reviews
    • Leave a Review
  • Contact

March 7, 2016 by Kim Abbott

You Say Tomato – I Say Superfood!

You Say Tomato - I Say SuperfoodThe tomato has been called many things throughout history: Peruvian apple, love apple, and even, by Americans at least, a vegetable.

Today, however, this lovely fruit is fast becoming known as Superfood!

While not able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, this super hero of the nutrition world is able to do some pretty amazing things. For example, some studies show the tomato may help decrease the risk of prostate cancer, as well as breast, lung and stomach cancers.

And the Herald Sun reported in 2003 that the yellow jelly around the seeds have yet another benefit: They may stop blood cells from clumping together, which sometimes leads to strokes and heart attacks.

What is it about this little red fruit that makes it so amazing?

Answer: Lycopene.

Okay, so the word lycopene doesn’t sound very appetizing, but this powerful antioxidant is the chemical in tomatoes that not only is responsible for it’s red color, but also responsible for its disease-fighting powers.

Just ask an Italian.

Italian cooking relies very heavily on tomatoes and tomato products. And, some studies have suggested that this heavy intake of tomatoes by Italians has resulted in a lowering of cancer of the digestive tract.

Do I have to eat tomatoes by the truckload?

Now, you’re probably thinking you have to consume tons and tons of fresh tomatoes to enjoy any health benefits. Not true.

In one research study it was reported that people who ate tomatoes at least every other day had greater lung capacity. And, the tomatoes don’t even have to be fresh! Again, research shows that the lycopene in tomatoes is more easily absorbed by the body if processed into ketchup, sauce and paste. So, not only are tomatoes a superfood, they’re an easy superfood to include in your diet.

Of course, fresh tomatoes are still beneficial, and packed with wonderful nutrients (not to mention delicious). Just remember the one rule of fresh tomatoes: don’t put them in the refrigerator. The refrigerator destroys not only the flavor, it also destroys the nutrients.

So, go ahead, do something good for your health tonight. Have a tomato!

Filed Under: Healthy Food Tagged With: castup, ketchup, superfood, tomato, tomatoes

March 1, 2016 by Kim Abbott

Rosso or Bianco? Veneto or Toscana? How to Pair an Italian Wine with Your Dinner

10405143_SThe food and wine pairings that often appear at the bottom of a restaurant menu might seem like a difficult thing to dream up, but the reality of an elegant and unforgettable dinner party does not have to be hard to execute. If you’re organizing a dinner soon and are considering food and wine pairings that will be sure to impress, here are a few guidelines that will make for a successful evening replete with a meal your guests won’t soon forget.

Start Out with Sparkling

There are few more impressive ways to begin an evening than with a good glass of sparkling, so if you’re offering up olives and an antipasti tray, reach for a Prosecco or Spumante that will pair great with this first course. It’s a great way to get conversation flowing and will quickly engage your guests in the excitement of the evening.

Following with White Fish or Seafood?

There’s a standard rule that white wine is the best option if you’re serving a main dish like fish, seafood or anything that includes a cream sauce. While the crisp finish of a white will pair ideally with almost any food in these categories, a chardonnay or pinot bianco will provide further compliment.

If You’re Indulging in Red Sauce

If fish and cream sauce are not on the menu and you’re planning for traditional tomato sauce, it would be wise to reach for a bottle of light or medium-bodied red. While this type of wine will do well with tomato sauce, if you’re also serving veal or chicken, a merlot or chianti will be among the most perfect of pairings.

Go Bold with Game or Roast

The choice of a meaty main dish that is carried off without a hitch will likely impress your guests on its own, but a wine pairing that goes well will be sure to make it truly sing. You’ll want to stick with red for an entrée of roast or game, but make sure it’s something full-bodied like a rich cabernet sauvignon.

Aged Cheese and Amarone

If you plan to finish off the meal before the final course with a selection of cheeses, stick with a full-bodied red of the Amarone or Montepulciano varietal. It might seem like these would overpower each other, but the boldness of wine and cheese actually works in the favor of the other.

The Final Course

It’s in keeping with the tradition of dessert to offer coffee, but you may want to consider one last wine pairing to finish off the evening. Instead of something heavy, go back to the beginning with a sparkling wine like Asti Spumante or something sweet like Vin Santo.

There are many easy rules to follow that will make for an impressive dinner party wine pairing, but if there’s a bottle you’ve been waiting to try this can be a good guideline for taking a risk! Whatever the occasion, a wine pairing is an easy way to kick up your party a notch and impress upon your guests your menu-making savvy.

Filed Under: Wine Tips Tagged With: Italian Wine

February 14, 2016 by Kim Abbott

Ready for Dessert? Impress Your Dinner Guests with This Delicious Tiramisu Recipe

10741889_SFrom affogato all the way to gelato, there are many popular Italian treats that tempt the palette, but few desserts are more iconic than the espresso-infused Tiramisu. While most people have enjoyed this decadent treat in a restaurant – or in the country of origin with a little luck – it is not as complicated to make as it might seem. With a little background and a few simple ingredients, here’s how this dessert came to be and how you can make your very own version of this old favorite.

The Tradition of Tiramisu

There are many contradictory accounts of how the popular dessert Tiramisu came to be. While one account claims that it was given to soldiers during World War I to provide them with energy as they went off to war, the most common belief is that it was invented in the restaurant Le Beccherie around 1971. It is said that the popular dessert, whose name means “pick me up”, was created by the restaurant owner, Roberto Linguanotto, and his assistant Francesca Valori, whose maiden name happened to be Tiramisu. The mystery around the creation of Tiramisu persists, but it’s worth noting that no mention of the popular dessert appeared in print before the 1980s.

How to Make Italy’s Most Popular Dessert

With layers of mascarpone and espresso, Tiramisu is a rich but airy dessert that delights the senses with its delicacy. It is the Ladyfinger biscuits that are soaked in espresso that give the dessert its unique texture and hard-to-define taste. When planning a party with an Italian theme, this simple recipe should provide approximately 8-10 servings and will take about 30 minutes to prepare.

The Ingredients
2 Cups Hot water
3 TBSP Espresso powder
1 TBSP Sugar
3 TBSP Tia Maria liqueur
4 Egg yolks
1/3 Cup Marsala wine
1/2 Cup Sugar
2 1/2 Cups Mascarpone cheese
1 Cup Heavy cream
36 Ladyfinger biscuits
Unsweetened cocoa powder

The Recipe

In a shallow, wide bowl stir together the water, espresso powder, 1 TBSP sugar and the Tia Maria liqueur, and then place in the fridge to cool.

Once this is complete, combine the egg yolks, Marsala wine and ½ cup sugar in a double boiler or saucepan over boiling water. Beat the mixture until it has increased in volume (approximately 5-8 minutes). Remove from the heat and beat in the Mascarpone cheese.

Beat the heavy cream in a large bowl until peaks form and fold in the mascarpone mixture until combined.

Dip each Ladyfinger biscuit into the coffee mixture until they are all coated, and then begin creating your layered dessert by placing 1 layer of biscuits into the bottom of a 13 x 9 inch pan. Once you have created your first layer, top with the mascarpone mixture. The ingredients should make approximately 3 layers of biscuits and mascarpone, but continue until all the ingredients are used up.

Dust the top of the layered Tiramisu with cocoa and cool it in the fridge for at least 6 hours and remove from the fridge approximately 30 minutes before serving.

Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: Dessert, Recipe, Tiramisu

January 25, 2016 by Kim Abbott

2,000 Years of Food: How Ancient Rome Has Influenced Today’s Italian Cuisine

24477176_Rome_S With so many influential dishes throughout the country, from the hills of Tuscany to the island of Sicily, it’s no surprise that Italy’s culinary influence dates back 2000 years ago to the early days of the Roman Empire. Due to the simplicity of its preparation and ingredients, many of the most popular foods in any country spring from the culinary traditions of Italy. In a world where cuisine is virtually borderless, the food of the ancient Romans has captured the taste buds and held the attention of those who love food all over the world.

The Diet of the Roman Empire

During the times of the Roman Empire, Italians derived approximately three-quarters of their calories from grains like bread and beans, and the tradition of this diet still has a strong influence on the way people eat today. Beyond these staples, leafy greens, mushrooms, olives and dried fruits were also popular where they could be produced locally. While items like prosciutto and salami are now loved internationally, meats like beef, mutton and lamb were also commonly consumed. With the added seasoning of salt and olive oil, the art of Italian cuisine existed in the simplicity of its dishes that focused on quality ingredients, and it remains the same today.

Food Diversity after the Fall

While the staples of the Italian diet were defined during the years of the Roman Empire, it was only after the fall that different regions of the country began to come up with their own culinary specialties. Citrus fruits and many types of cheese, like buffalo mozzarella and provolone, were developed in Italy’s southern region, while truffles became a valued source of nourishment in Piedmont and polenta a popular dish in Veneto. In recent years, there are few food trends that have become more prominent than the thin crust Neapolitan style pizza, a food that was developed and made famous by the southern city of Naples.

The Evolution and Adoption of Italian Cuisine

It’s certainly the case that the tomato sauces, cheeses and salamis of Italy have greatly influenced cuisine all over the world, but it’s the adaptability of Italian foods easy ethos that has made it a source of inspiration and creativity in so many different countries. From the popularity of charcuterie in France to the prominence of pizza in the United States and Canada, there are few places the specialties of Italy have not touched. As a good testament to the eternal versatility and popularity of Italian food, there are few staple foods as common as a plate of pasta, which was re-introduced from China by Marco Polo as a food that originated during the times of the Roman Empire.

Through a focus on local, quality ingredients that can be prepared in a simple way, the cuisine of Italy has shaped what people choose to eat all over the world. Whether it’s cheese and wine or pizza and pasta, the food of Italy has had so much influence on the culinary world that its reach into the breadth of modern cuisine is unmistakable.

Filed Under: Food History Tagged With: Ancient Rome, Italian Cuisine

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Menus
    • Dinner Menu
    • Cocktail Hour Menu
  • Reservations
  • Galleries
    • Food Gallery
    • Restaurant Gallery
  • Reviews
    • Our Reviews
    • Leave a Review
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Menus
    • Dinner Menu
    • Cocktail Hour Menu
  • Reservations
  • Galleries
    • Food Gallery
    • Restaurant Gallery
  • Reviews
    • Our Reviews
    • Leave a Review
  • Contact

Visit Us

3159 E Lincoln Dr
Phoenix , AZ 85016
Phone: 602.381.3159

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
Credit for most photos: Kay W. Eskridge: Images By Kay

Our Hours

Lunch
TBD.
Dinner
Mon – Sat: 4pm–9pm
Saturday Dinner: 4pm–9pm

Sunday Closed

Happy Hour
Mon – Fri: 4:00pm–6:00pm
No happy hour on Saturdays

Holiday Closures: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, sometimes Christmas Eve (call to check), Christmas Day

Contact Us

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Handcrafted with on the Genesis Framework