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

June 17, 2016 by Kim Abbott

How to Eat Italian Food With the Proper Etiquette

When it comes to chowing down on Italian food, plenty of people proceed with what is best described as reckless abandon. The truth is that there are a number of unwritten rules when it comes to consuming Italian food.

Real Italians Drink Cappuccino With Breakfast

Cappuccino and espresso are enormously popular amongst Italians. Yet cappuccino is not meant to be consumed beyond the breakfast hour. Native Italians will testify that cappuccino is strictly reserved for the morning. A true Italian will shudder at the thought of drinking cappuccino after lunch or dinner.

Italians Aren’t big on Breakfast

If you head on out to a legitimate Italian restaurant or cafe for breakfast, you will likely observe little eating and plenty of drinking. Devouring a breakfast plate full of eggs, bacon, toast and home fries is not something that real Italians do. Italians typically enjoy coffee, espresso or cappuccino in the morning. Some will pair one of these beverages with a cornetto (the Italian version of a croissant).

Dunking Bread Into Olive Oil is not a Common Practice Amongst Native Italians

Step foot in any one of Italy’s restaurants and you probably won’t see too many people dipping their bread into olive oil. Slathering olive oil onto bread products is a phenomenon that developed in the United States and other countries. Italians certainly love olive oil yet it is not meant to be a dunking sauce for bread.

Bread is Consumed With Your Meal

Few Italians eat bread before a meal. We all love bread yet it is meant to be enjoyed with the actual meal itself, not in advance of the main dish. Many Italians will intentionally save their bread to clean up leftover sauces that remain on the plate.

Coffee Should be Consumed After Your Meal

Italians typically view coffee as a digestive aid. Ordering coffee before a meal or alongside a meal rarely occurs.

Parmesan Cheese on Pizza is a No-No

Real Italians don’t put parmesan cheese on their pizza. Parmigiano, as the Italians call it, is meant for pasta dishes. Mozzarella cheese is meant for pizza. Some Italians will even frown upon adding parmesan cheese to dishes where it is not called for. The bottom line is that if parmesan cheese is not offered, it should not be added to the dish.

Eating on the Run is not Something Italians Do

Italians frown upon the activity of rushed eating. Food is meant to be savored in a patient manner. One who eats snacks or meals while multitasking or traveling is unable to truly enjoy flavors. Furthermore, such rushed eating is considered to be sloppy and a bit pathetic. Italians value food to the point that many meals last two to three hours in length. The only exception is gelato. Plenty of Italians will enjoy gelato during an evening stroll around the neighborhood.

Filed Under: Food History Tagged With: Cuisine, Etiquette, italian

May 24, 2016 by Kim Abbott

5 Reasons You’ll Love Eating at L’Amore Italian Restaurant

L'Amore Italian Restaurant 3159 E Lincoln Dr Phoenix , AZ 85016Eating Italian food has never been better.  Here are 5 of the best things L’Amore Italian Restaurant has to offer you!

Atmosphere

Step into a Romanesque aura of authentic cuisine, home-made dessert and cultural sharing.  L’Amore gives every guest a warm and welcomed feeling that exudes comfort combined with service.

The formal decor corresponds beautifully with the setting which includes bar or table dining.  (Click Here To See Our Photo Gallery)

Customers are greeting with live entertainment Thursdays through Saturdays and have the option of being served at a lovely tree lined patio under the stars.

As a family owned business, L’Amore staff feel that every guest deserves quality service with a personal touch.

Menu

It’s rumored that the prize delight at L’Amore Restaurant is their Cioppino – it keeps people coming back for more!  The wide variety of excellent dishes is only surpassed by the special attention to the quality of the food.

Entrees include tortellini, Chilean sea bass (a special), stuffed sausage ravioli, chicken, parmesan and eggplant parmigiana. Some of their appetizers are Calamari with special sauce, red sauce and spinach and also bruschetta.

At the bar you have a choice of alcoholic or nonalcoholic beverages such as Reisling, orange juice, chocolate martini, Asti Spumante and Vin Santo and Merlot.

No meal is complete without dessert, these include gelato, affogato and Tiramisu.

Location

The interesting aspect of L’Amore is that it is Old Country European meets Old West; the restaurant is set in the heart of Arizona.  Outside diners have a glorious view of the Phoenix Mountain Preserves.

Rather than picking up a fast pizza, or eating at a commercialized establishment, those who have a ‘feel’ for real Italian food in a relaxed setting will not be disappointed.

L’Amore’s Blog

This infotainment and social tool clearly marks L’Amore as an establishment a cut above the rest.

Not only do you get step by step instructions on how to make some of the best Italian desserts, you will also be inspired by the history of Italian food, information about the healthful benefits of the basic element of most Italian dishes – the tomato and which wines are best served for the various courses of the meal.

Each blog entry will give you knowledge and interesting facts based on Italian food from cultural and social aspects.

Service

The proprietors at L’Amore aren’t satisfied unless they are positive every feature of their restaurant is quality service perfect!

Customers who are planning private events or birthday parties will find L’amore ready and willing to assist, providing the necessary seating and even the birthday cake!

Those who want to enjoy L’Amore’s food in the comfort of their homes can order take-out. If you are having a family gathering of festive occasion, L’Amore will cater your event.

 

Filed Under: Food History Tagged With: italian, lamore, restaurant

April 27, 2016 by Kim Abbott

Who Knew? The Unusual Origins of Four Popular Italian Dishes

A lot can be learned from a culture from the gastronomic history and traditions found in the region, and the world has hardly a better example of a culture whose culinary history has inspired more people to eat, cook, and travel than Italy. So we’ve compiled a brief survey of some of Italy’s most famous and popular dishes and their histories.

Pizza
It may seem obvious, but there’s much more to pizza than cheap delivery on a Friday night. There’s some disagreement as to where it was first developed as the evidence points equally to Greece and Egypt. But the Romans took to it readily once invading armies brought it to their doorstep. Rome’s great poet, Virgil wrote, 

[…] Their scanty meal to mend, cakes of flour.
Ascanius observ’d this, and they smiling said:
“We devour the plates from which we fed.”

Since then, pizza has become possibly the best-traveled entrée on Earth and serves appetites from the most basic to the most refined.

Chicken Parmigiana
Another dish of specious origins, chicken parmigiana is more the product of Italian immigrants to America and Europe than of Italy. Nevertheless, we credit Italy for this classic representation of Italian cuisine, and if it isn’t a direct offspring of the boot-shaped country, it’s definitely the product of the creativity of its people. That’s good enough for us. The fresh and aromatic tomatoes and gently breaded fillet of chicken in a delicately warmed cheese sauce that we know so well is enjoyed by people the world over. Regardless of where it comes from, this exquisite balance of Italian-inspired ingredients has since been thoroughly mastered by our friends from western Europe. 

Veal Marsala
Veal, of course, is a cut of meat taken from a young cow, and marsala is a type of wine from a region in Sicily of the same name. Chicken is a common meat substitute for those who dislike the caging and killing of immature cows. Those who sympathize with the cows, and feel chicken is too boring often take a sirloin as a substitute. Either way, this is a simple but very distinctive dish served with bread or pasta to absorb the marsala.

Shrimp Fra Diavolo
An Italian phrase meaning ‘brother devil,’ fra Diavolo is the name of a variety of spicy sauces usually made from tomatoes. Frequently attributed to Mediterranean origins due to its heavy use of seafood sources of protein- this is in truth another product of Italian immigrant tradition in the United States. The reliance on shrimp and other shellfish gives this dish its distinctive kick. It is sometimes referred to as the Italian’s answer to Jambalaya. 

It may come as a surprise to learn that some of our favorite Italian dishes have broader origins than we might have thought. But there is some consolation to see that we have actually been enjoying the products of an even broader culture than that of a single European country- and it leaves us with the new possibility of discovering Italian cuisine all over again for the first time.

Filed Under: Food History Tagged With: chicken parmiagana, veal parmiagana

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
  • …
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 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