L'amore Italian Restaurant

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What Is Vodka Sauce And What Does it Go With?

There are many people who are looking for a delicious sauce to go with their pasta, and many people turn to Italian pasta and sauces for the best. When considering sauce options, there is one that commonly grabs people’s eyes. Vodka sauce can be a bit striking because of the hard liquor at the front of the name. Therefore, what is vodka sauce, and what does it go with? Learn more about vodka sauce below.

What Is Vodka Sauce?

Vodka sauce is the name given to a creamy tomato sauce that is frequently served over pasta. The most important thing to know is there is no alcohol in the sauce when it is served, and it does not have a vodka flavor to it. The alcohol in the vodka sauce evaporates during the cooking process, so this is nothing to worry about.

The origins of vodka sauce are a bit unclear. While some people believe that the sauce originated in Sicily, the sauce became popular in the United States during the peak of prohibition.

What Goes Into Pasta Sauce?

There are numerous ingredients that might be added to vodka sauce, and many parts of Italy have added their own unique twists on the delicious tomato and cream sauce. Some of the common ingredients include garlic, salt, pepper, fresh parsley, and basil leaves. Then, the type of vodka that is used to make the sauce can have a significant impact on the final flavor profile. Finally, this is combined with a tomato and cream base to give the sauce its distinctive pink color profile.

What Does Vodka Sauce Go With?

Of course, the easy answer is that vodka sauce is served over pasta; however, it can be served with a number of other entrées as well. For example, lots of people love to combine vodka sauce with a delicious pasta and scallop dish. This sauce also matches well with fresh mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes. Some people even serve vodka sauce with a strong sausage entrée. The uses of vodka sauce are endless.

Give Vodka Sauce A Try

Remember that even though vodka sauce does have liquor in its name, alcohol is not present in the final sauce. At the same time, vodka also gives this sauce a unique bite to its flavor. Considering adding vodka sauce to an Italian pasta dish, and see what makes it so popular!

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An Inside Look At How The Cannoli Was Created

Cannolis are revered far and wide as one of the tastiest Italian desserts.  Often topped with chocolate chips and chocolate drizzle, cannolis are hands-down one of the most delicious culinary concoctions in the world.  Here’s a quick look at the story behind the cannoli.

The cannoli started out as a dessert enjoyed by the Sicilians.  Culinary historians believe the cannoli was first made in Italy’s Messina and Palmero regions.  The Sicilians chose the word “cannoli” as it means “little tube” in the Sicilian language.  Cannolis are still quite popular in Sicily to this day with full-size cannolis available to locals and visitors.  In fact, plenty of Italians judge bakeries by the quality of their cannolis.

Historians who have studied Italy’s culinary development insist cannolis originated in the Palermo, Sicily commune of Piana Degli Albanesi.  However, some are adamant that this unique dessert has roots stemming all the way back to the point in time when the Arabs ruled the island.  Those who are inclined to believe myths, tales, and legends will find it interesting to learn Italian story-tellers say the cannoli’s origins date all the way back to an Arab prince’s concubine that made tasty desserts including a pastry shaped like a tube, filled with ricotta cheese, honey and almonds.  The other tale relating to the origin of the cannoli is centered on a convent positioned by a castle where nuns made a unique new pastry consisting of a shell known as “scoria” along with ricotta cheese, chocolate, sugar, and almonds in celebration of Carnevale.  Carnevale is the countrywide Italian celebration that takes place each year prior to the start of Lent.

Which of these legends is true?  No one is quite certain.  However, Italian historians insist each legend has elements of truth.  Historians typically agree the cannoli was created in or near the Italian city of Caltanissetta at some point between 827 and 1091.  There is also universal agreement that this amazing dessert was originally made by women.  Furthermore, even the most prideful of Italy’s culinary experts are willing to admit cannolis have Arabic roots.

Though cannoli recipes have evolved as time has progressed, there is no arguing the elements of the traditional cannoli recipe.  The traditional cannoli consists of a fried pastry dough shell shaped like a tube that is filled with creamy ricotta cheese, chocolate filling, and candied fruit.  The ricotta cheese is essential to traditional cannolis as it imparts a creamy, sweet, and tangy flavor infusion into the cannoli.  This flavor is perfectly balanced with that of chocolate and sugar, ultimately creating a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. 

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The History of the Kalamata Olive

Kalamata olives have emerged as the most popular of all olives.  From olive hummus to olive tapenades, olive bruschettas, and beyond, the kalamata olive is featured in all sorts of tasty concoctions, most of which have Italian or Greek roots.  These flavorful olives have also made their way into pasta sauces, salads, and other appetizers and entrees. 

The olive tree dates back thousands of years.  Culinary historians insist olive trees first grew in the Eastern Mediterranean region.  In fact, the olive tree was even provided as a prize for Olympic winners.  However, most people don’t know much about the nuanced history of the kalamata olive.  Revered far and wide for their delicious taste and nutritional properties, kalamata olives are harvested in Messinia Peloponnese and Laconia.  These delicate olives are hand-picked to prevent bruising.  Kalamata olives are quite bitter when first plucked from trees so it takes some time for them to develop their amazing flavor.  Most olive experts place kalamata olives in a brine solution for an extended period of time so they can ferment that much more quickly and thoroughly.  It takes upwards of several months for the fermentation process to complete. 

Also known as Greek olives, kalamata olives are named after the town of Kalamata where they grow between the glorious Taygetos’ hillsides and the Messinian Gulf.  Taygetos is Peloponnese’s highest mountain in all of southern Greece.  This is the perfect place to grown kalamata olives as the area has warm temperatures, plenty of sunshine, and water springs.  This region is also highlighted by additional amazing natural features such as vast gorges, tall mountains, and beautiful sandy beaches.  The land in and near the town of Kalamata has been extensively developed throughout the years, serving as a bountiful region for kalamata olives as well as other fruits and vegetables.  In fact, some culinary specialists and historians have grown fond of referring to the town of Kalamata as Peloponnese’s Marseille. 

Now that you know the background of kalamata olives, it is time to taste these flavorful olives in the form of an appetizer or entrée.  Some even choose to eat kalamata olives one by one with their hands, enjoying a flavor infusion that pleases the palate and lifts the spirit.  Whether you prefer kalamata olives in salads, pasta entrees, as a pizza topping, in bruschetta, tapenades, or on their own, we compliment you on your good taste.  

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The Story Of The Tomato And Why It Is Essential For Delicious Italian Food

Chances are the dish you order tonight will feature the tomato.  From tomato sauce used in pasta entrées to tomato sauce specific to pizza, diced tomatoes, chopped tomatoes, and beyond, tomatoes serve a wide variety of purposes in Italian food.  However, most people don’t know much about the tomato’s origin.

The Tomato’s Roots

Most people are surprised to learn tomatoes have been available to Italians for only a couple hundred years.  In fact, no one in Italy knew about the tomato prior to the Columbian Exchange.  The tomato was first cultivated in South America and Central America.  It is here where the Aztec culture used tomatoes for all sorts of delicious dishes.  In fact, the Aztecs enjoyed tomatoes for several centuries.  The etymology of the word “tomato” stems all the way back to the Nahuatl word “tomatl” which means fruit. 

Once the Spanish conquered Central and South America, they brought the tomato back home to Europe.  The Spanish also brought all sorts of other veggies, fruits, and even some animals back to their European homeland.  There is some debate as to when the tomato made its way to Italy.  Historians believe tomatoes reached Italy in the early to mid-16th century as this is the time when tomatoes were first featured in the writing of Italian authors such as Pietro Matthioli. 

It is particularly interesting to note Matthioli and other Italians believed the tomato was poisonous.  As a result, Italians originally used tomatoes as decorative plants.  Tomatoes were gradually implemented in Italian cooking in the years to follow.  The Spanish taught Italians how to cook tomatoes in pans, typically mixing them in with onions, eggplant, and squash.  Tomatoes quickly took off in popularity as they infused delicious flavor into all sorts of Italian dishes.

Fast forward to the 18th century and tomatoes were popular with Italian chefs and everyday people.  In fact, some Italians during this time period boiled tomatoes and sealed them in airtight containers to preserve their flavor throughout the entirety of the year.

By the time the 19th century started, Italians were using tomatoes in everything from pasta dishes to Margherita pizza and beyond.  Italians soon traveled to Argentina, Brazil, and United States in large numbers, spreading their culinary methods across the globe, ultimately putting the focus squarely on the many different creative uses of tomatoes. 

Now that you know the story of tomatoes, it is time to dig into your entrée and taste the magic of this flavorful fruit.

 

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3159 E Lincoln Dr
Phoenix , AZ 85016
Phone: 602.381.3159

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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

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