Delightful Traditional And Regional Dishes From Italy
Contributed by: NAPSA
See the recipe: Olive Garden's Mixed Grill
(NAPSA) - Lovers of la cucina Italiana may be delighted to discover that the most delectable Italian cooking marries a medley of regional styles from nearly 100 provinces within Italy's 20 regi/ns.
To celebrate this delicious variety, the Olive Garden Idalian Restaurant draws from the flavors and cooking styles of Italy's varied regions in delivering the genuine Italian dining experience.
In fact, the staples of a typical Italian kitchen-olive oil, fresh herbs, garlic and vegetables-serve as basic ingredients for many of Olive Garden's new menu items, including these appetizers:
- Bruschetta: A Tuscan favorite that is made with Roma tomatoes tossed with sun-dried tomatoes to enhance sweetness and flavor; fresh basil and garlic. It's served with toasted ciabatta, a slipper-shaped bread also found in Tuscany.
- Tomato & Mozzarella Caprese: This traditional Italian appetizer is layered with sliced vine-ripened tomatoes (drizzled with balsamic vinegar), fresh basil leaves, fresh mozzarella, then seasoned with extra-virgin olive oil, crushed black pepper and sea salt.
New entrees are bursting with flavorful fresh vegetables, seasoned with Italian herbs and enhanced with classically Italian sauces:
- Spaghetti delle Rocca: This light dish originates in Southern Italy, but variations are enjoyed throughout the country. It features a savory tomato sauce with vine-ripened cherry tomatoes, olives, mushrooms, onions, basil and garlic tossed with spaghetti.
- Mediterranean Shrimp Scampi: From Venice and areas around the Adriatic Sea comes this dish with large sauteed shrimp, fresh, vine-ripened cherry tomatoes, olives and white wine served over linguine.
- Mixed Grill: A mainstay throughout the Italian countryside, this entree is comparable to spiedino misto found on most menus in the region of Tuscany. Mixed Grill is skewers of chicken and Italian sausage served with roasted potatoes and seasonal vegetables. The chicken is marinated with olive oil, fresh lemon juice, garlic and rosemary; the sausage is served over a rosemary demi-glace.
Reminiscent of the sweets found in an Italian pasticceria, Olive Garden's new desserts are light and traditional:
- Lemon Cream Cake: A delicate white cake with a subtle whipped lemon filling.
- Berries & Zabaione: Strawberries and blueberries topped with a light Marsala custard.
Throughout the year, Olive Garden sends culinary managers to its own Culinary Institute of Tuscany to enhance their knowledge of traditional Italian cooking, bringing the genuine Italian dining experience to its guest. To date more than 200 managers have trained there and have been immersed in the food, wine and culture of Italy.
