The food of Italy has become such a staple of the Australian diet, it's hard to imagine what eating was like before its introduction. Afterall, is there anyone who hasn't eaten a meal of pasta?
But then there is genuine Italian food which is a step up from ‘spaghetti bolognese' made in our suburban kitchens. There's the rich, fresh, regional produce of Italy. Italy's southern regions specialise in seafood dishes and tomato dishes while the north has richer, creamier foods featuring more meat. Each region has specialties and ingredients they are renowned for.
Eat well and eat out at one of Brisbane's many Italian ristorantes, trattorias or cafes..
Italian food has added beautiful words (and flavours) to our language. There's balsamic vinegar, prosciutto, risotto, ravioli, gelati which roll off the tongue for all Australians now. And of course, our menus include ingredients such as olive oil, olives and herbs such as garlic, basil, rosemary, parsley, thyme. Eat as the Italians do and always buy fresh, seasonal products which can be simply cooked.
Meal order
- Antipasto - platter of small dishes such as olives, sliced meats etc
- Primo - ‘first course' generally hot dishes such as risotto, pasta or soup
- Secondo - ‘second course' a main dish featuring seafood or meat (including wild game)
- Contorno - side dish of vegetables or salad
- Formaggio e frutta - the first dessert of cheese and fruits
- Dolce - dessert of cakes
- Finish with caffe (coffee) and digestive (liqueurs)
Cheese
Cheese is an important element of Italian food. There are over 400 types of Italian cheese with some restricted to being produced in the traditional regions. For example, gorgonzola is a blue cheese from the Piedmont and Lombardy region. Bocconcini, traditionally made from buffalo milk, is a mild cheese from Naples. Mozzarella melts onto pizzas, ricotta suits both sweet or savoury foods as does mascarpone. The real deal of parmesan cheese is parmigiano reggiano from northern Italy. Find many wonderful Italian cheese products at the family run company at Pennisi Distributors in Wooloongabba.
Pizza
Done properly by the Italians, nothing can compare to the crispy yeasty base and simple toppings of real pizza. ‘Super supreme' combinations aren't the way Italians cook pizza, instead select a couple of truly good ingredients and make them the centrepiece. Try authentic woodfired pizza for smoky flavour and a crisp base.
Pasta
Whether it's fresh or dried, the variations of flavour, shapes and even colours of pasta are amazing. For locally made fresh pasta, including sauces and pre-made meals, go to CJ's Pasta on James Street in the Valley. Or buy your pasta from Brisbane's own pasta makers, Angelos (made in Fortitude Valley) and Giovanni's Home Style Pasta (made in Stafford) at good supermarkets and delicatessens.
Gelato
Another wonderful part of Italian cuisine is gelato. There are a few real Italian gelaterias in Brisbane:
- Re del gelato - on Brunswick Street, New Farm
- Gelataria Cremona in Paddington
- Delizia Gelato and Sorbet is made to an old Italian recipe in Brisbane's Virginia. Find a gelato bargain at their factory outlet store or buy 1 litre tubs from select delicatessens.
Drinks
Well, thanks to Italian immigrants from the 1950s, Australians are all crazy for coffee. Espressos, cappucinos and lattes are ‘must-haves' in our café culture. Other Italian alcoholic drinks, apart from wonderful wines of course, include aperitifs of campari, cinzano and vermouth. After dinner, enjoy a ‘digestivo' of liqueurs such as grappa or limoncello.
Italian Clubs
To hear the language and eat with those born or descended from Italy, go to one of Brisbane's Italian clubs:
- Brisbane Abruzzo Association in Carina has Italian events and restaurant 5 nights a week.
- Italo-Australian Centre, Newmarket
Buon appetito!
