Over the years, Italian food has gained immense popularity worldwide, particularly, in the West. Most restaurants would love to include at least, one Italian item on their menus such as risotto, pizza, or even spaghetti. Italian dishes are created in diverse styles with some common ingredients such as fruits, vegetables, cheese, olive oil, wine, and cereals. Tomatoes are the most preferred and used vegetables and they are an integral part of Italian cuisine and they are regarded as both a fruit and a vegetable in Italy. You could enjoy authentic Italian food in your favourite restaurant in South Melbourne.

Did you ever come across anyone who does not like Italian food?

The answer is a vehement no. Italian food is loved and enjoyed by everyone as it has a universal appeal. People across the world enjoy Italian food.

Is there only one type of Italian Cuisine?

Every household, every town, every region in Italy actually, enjoys its own distinctive and unique style of cuisine. You could come across rustic and simple peasant fare in Tuscany. You could enjoy hard cheeses and stuffed pasta in Emilia-Romagna. Northern Italy is known for polenta, rice, and butter. However, in Southern Italy, you would never encounter butter. Food is prepared exclusively in olive oil. Some parts of the country use lots of tomatoes while others prefer to be seafood-centric. There is a wide diversity in Italian cuisine so there is something to suit every palate. Visit a reputed restaurant in South Melbourne if you wish to enjoy authentic Italian food.

What sorts of ingredients are used in Italian cuisine?

Italians focus on simple and fresh ingredients.  Italian food is known for its incredible diversity but there exists a unifying factor that is, they focus on local farm-fresh ingredients. Everyone loves Italian food not only because of their amazing taste but because of their health-boosting ingredients.

Has Italian food been given a twist ever?

Yes, classic Italian food has been customized to suit the American palate. There are certain Italian dishes that are famous worldwide but you would not find them in Italy. The most loved Spaghetti and meatballs is a fusion delight. Italians love both meatballs and spaghetti marinara but as separate dishes and are enjoyed as entirely separate courses. In the 1900s when Italian restaurateurs observed that Americans love eating meat with practically everything so they came up with the concept of Spaghetti and meatballs by combining two distinct courses. However, there are many Italian-American dishes which are similar to the dishes you would find in Italy. The red-sauce based Italian delicacy is entirely an American innovation.

Which is the most famous Italian dish? Why?

Pizza is the most popular and famous Italian dish. It is regarded as the tastiest of all food. You would never find anybody who does not like to have a Pizza bite. However, people choose different flavours, tastes, and certainly varying degree of toppings and cheese and thin or thick pizza crust as per their palate. Children, particularly, love pizza \for their delightfully cheesy gooeyness and the amazingly crunchy crust. Enjoy mouth-watering pizza at your nearest restaurant in South Melbourne.

What are the chief ingredients of Italian dishes?

All Italian ingredients are today readily available all over the world from Australia to the USA. Tomato sauce, pasta, mozzarella, Parmigiano-Reggiano, parsley, basil, olive oil, shallots, garlic, etc. are some of the chief ingredients that go into the making of delectable Italian delicacies.

Risotto is one of the most popular Italian dishes and you would find it on the menu of every reputed restaurant serving Italian food in South Bank. However, risotto is also a very difficult dish and only top of the line chefs could master the dish. For the Italian food enthusiasts, a visit to the restaurant is incomplete if they do not have risotto. People try to cook a risotto at home but it is never so perfect and amazing like the one you would enjoy in any good restaurant serving Italian food in South Bank.  Here are some of the most common risotto mistakes.

Texture Is Really Important

You need to remember that the success of this dish depends on its perfect texture and consistency. It simply cannot be too thick or too runny. It should be runny enough to spread but it needs to stay firmly together. It should not be too thick so that it does not start looking like the sticky rice. The texture is very much the result of the quantity of chicken stock added and soaked up by the rice. If you make the mistake of adding too much stock and do not give enough time for the rice to absorb the stock completely, you would be creating a runny mess. If you, on the other hand, add too little stock or overcook the dish then you would land up with an undesirable blob of risotto. Once you add the chicken stock, keep on stirring till you get the right texture.

Stirring Is Important

You must not forget to stir the risotto. This dish should be cooked with a tremendous amount of care and tender love. You simply cannot cook it like the way you cook ordinary rice. Every time the chicken stock is added to your Arborio rice, it is essential to stir and keep on stirring till the stock is fully absorbed by the rice. You must go on adding the chicken stock and continue stirring till you get a fantastic creamy texture.

Use the Correct Ingredients

Stick to using the conventional ingredients while making a risotto. You must not deviate from the classic combination comprising onions, olive oil, chicken stock, white wine, Arborio rice, Parmesan cheese and butter for a spectacular dish. You could, however, substitute white wine with red wine, onions with shallots etc. You may add shrimp, scallops, lobster, and crab. Those with an inclination for veggies could opt for spinach, mushrooms, peas, asparagus and tomatoes.

Toasting the Rice Is the Key

Toast the golden rice to perfection but be careful. Do not burn it while toasting. This is an important step. If you burn the rice, your risotto would taste awful. If you do not toast it enough, the dish would lose its vitality. Toast the rice to a nice golden brown before adding the white wine for deglazing the pan. The rice should be toasted for approx. three to four minutes.

Timing Is Vital

You need to be patient if you wish to get the perfect risotto dish. It would be taking around 30 minutes. Your risotto would be a success if you add the right ingredients in the right order. You must cook the dish with patience, love and care just the way it is done in any top restaurant serving Italian food in Southbank.