Italian Pastries

Italian pastries tradition goes from cornetto usually ate for breakfast to custard pies with fresh fruit and Panettone for Christmas.

Italian pastriesWhen you enter in a bar in the morning, especially between 8.00 and 9.30am, you may find yourself surrounded by the wonderful aroma of freshly baked pastries.

There are many different shapes and stuffing, often depending on the local pastry tradition.

It is pretty simple, but needs ample preparation time. The bars often buy them from a typical bakery or, sometimes, frozen ones that are baked in the bar.

The difference between Italian cornetto and French croissant is that the Italian recipe contains eggs and the French only butter.

They are usually displayed in a small open shop cabinet on the counter and you’re free to choose yours without asking to be served.

The most common one is cornetto presented in three main versions: unfilled, with cream or with fruit jam. Another choice is the ciambella, the Italian fried bagel, and some bars offer a brioche with raisins.

Some pastry shops do not offer bar services, but most bars offer pastries.

The pastry shop usually sells daily breakfast pastries and take orders for cakes and pasticcini (small sweet pastries used for small parties). They usually close on Mondays and are opened during Sunday morning.

Italians have many customs and it’s often difficult to find Italian pastries in a bar during the afternoon, even if they would be wonderful for a quick snack.

Italians consider them as breakfast, and so the bars buy or bake the quantity that serves for the morning. So, remember, you’ll find always fresh ones, but if you arrive around 11.30am you may find them finished!

I personally love to have breakfast, all kinds of breakfasts and so I can say that the Italian one, comprising cappuccino and cornetto is really good. The “not so sweet” taste of the cornetto is perfectly matched with the cappuccino and gives you that feeling of satisfaction.

As for salted recipes, pastries also vary according to the region or city in Italy. Even if some popular ones (like amaretto) can be found everywhere, their recipe vary from soft ones to small and hard ones.

The Panettone, the so well known Christmas cake is originated from Milan city. It is a raised dough stuffed with raisins and candied peel.

The other famous Christmas cake is Pandoro, soft dough rich in butter that has its origins in Verona, the Romeo and Juliet city.

During Easter time, the typical pastry is Colomba (pigeon) that has a dough similar to Panettone.

In Tuscany, you can’t miss the cantucci, hard almond biscuits that should be dipped in Vin Santo (sweet wine) before each bite, as I was doing in this photo aside. Just delicious.

In Sicily, the most typical pastry is the cannoli. It is a handmade fried dough stuffed with ricotta cheese and candied peel. There is also the cassata siciliana that is a rich mixture of sponge cake, ricotta cheese, sugar, vanilla, liquor and chocolate chips.

In Naples, the most famous pastry is for sure the baba al rum. Fried dough that is dipped into rum and served with a fork.

All About Italian Food

To eat is one of the basic needs of humans. So, it is supposed to be a satisfaction to fulfill your needs. If we add specialty tastes to it …it becomes a real pleasure.

Each time I say cheers with a glass of wine and good things to eat at the table, I use to say: “Cose buone della vita!”, that means good things from life; as I recognize I am living a real pleasure and I feel I am really enjoying one of the good things life offers us.

Living in Italy certainly made the difference, as it is a country where food is really important. In all meanings, from its production to its importance to Italian people. Italians like to cook and love to eat. To have lunch or dinner is the most common way to meet friends and family.

This blog wants to share my experience regarding food, here in Italy ans wherever I happen to travel to (I love to travel 😉 ). You are very welcome to comment and share your ideas here.

I am far from being a chef, but I enjoy cooking. So consider the recipes I am sharing here with you are all doable by anyone. My aims in kitchen are:

1) cook for pleasure – so it’s difficult I stay for more than 1 hour, 1 1/2 hours. I’d begin to feel tired and the pleasure would decrease 😉 ;

2) cook tasty things with little fat/sugar. Of course I am not dieting everyday, but I decided to ingest the calories that are worth it! So I use only the necessary fat and/or sugar, and use to prefer the healthier recipes;

3) have a good looking result. One of the first quotes I heard here in Italy was “anche l’occhio vuole la sua parte”, that means that the eyes want their part in the sense that something has to be also pleasant for the sight.

Italian Red Wine – Orlando

Italian red wine is delicious. They are wonderful with food or enjoyed by themselves.

Italy is one of the largest producers of red wine in the world, and has been making wine for over 3,000 years. In that time period, each Italian wine region has perfected the art of making their types of wine.

Here you will find out about these Italian wine regions and the wine they make, Italian wine glasses, food pairings, Italian wine gift baskets, Italian wine clubs and even some information on how to take Italian wine tours — a trip you will never forget!

Italian Wine Regions

Discover where all the delicious Italian wines you love come from. The most famous of all 20 Italian wine regions are:

  • Piedmont
  • Veneto
  • Tuscany
  • Piedmont Wine

The most famous Italian red wines from Piedmont are:

  • Barolo wine
  • Barbaresco wine
  • Nebbiolo wine
  • Barbera wine
  • Dolcetto wine
  • Veneto Wine

Veneto is one of the largest wine producing regions in Italy.

Some of the wonderful Veneto wine you should try include:

  • Valpolicella wine
  • Amarone wine
  • Bardolino wine
  • Tuscany Wine

Tuscany wine is probably the most familiar to you, because there is one type of Tuscan wine that we all think of when we think of Italian red wine.

That Tuscan wine is, of course, Chianti wine. Known for the little straw basket that it came in, this wine has matured and grown into a delicious Italian red wine.

Also make sure to try the other kinds of Tuscany wine:

  • Brunello wine
  • Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
  • Montepulciano wine
  • Super Tuscan Wine

What is Super Tuscan wine? Super Tuscan wine is similar to California wine, as it is a type of Italian wine that winemakers experiment with to discover new flavors and nuances in their wine.

Other Types Of Italian Red Wine You Should Explore

Sardinian Wine

Sardinia is known for its beautiful coastline, beaches and blue-green sea. It’s wine is for all types of tastes. It ranges from sweet, to fortified, to dry and big. Try the Sardinian wine that is listed here. You are sure to find one that fits your taste.

Sangiovese Wine

Sangiovese wine is made from Sangiovese grapes, the most planted grape variety in Italy. It has also made a name for itself in California, where a number of winemakers make Sangiovese wine.

Lambrusco Wine

Lambrusco wine is primarily produced in a small area of Emilia-Romagna, which is located in between Tuscany, Veneto and Piedmont. Here it makes delightful, fruity, fizzy Italian wine.

Salice Salentino

Salice Salentino is a wine made in a small area of Puglia, in the bottom of the boot heel. It is a young red wine that is delicious if aged for about five years.

Italian Wine Glasses

Italian wine glasses enhance your enjoyment of Italian wine. Discover flavors and nuances in these Italian wine glasses.