The Italian Mediterranean kitchen is famous for being light and well-balanced, there is a good mixture of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins in fish, fruit, vegetables, pulses and pasta. The Italian kitchen is especially healthy because of cooking with extra-vergin olive oil instead of butter.
There are some typical products which have their origin in different regions some are famous all over the world, others are local specialities, but not less delicious.
Here are some of the most famous:
- Parmigiano Reggiano: originates in the region of Emilia Romagna
Parmigiano Reggiano is a grated Parmesan cheese“ which has been famous and named in novels already in the times of Giovanni Bocaccio. - Olive oil: originates in the region of Tuscany
The olive oil is the distinctive mark of the Italian kitchen. Not only the oil itself but also the landscape with all the olive trees characterizes the region of Tuscany. - Fresa cheese: originates in the region of Sardegna
This delicate cheese is made with milk from cows, which can be found in the mountainous zone of he Marghine near Macomer.
Other traditional plates are all kind of pasta shapes, rice for exquisite risottos, an infinite number of cheeses, salami and other cured meats, bread, focaccia and a whole variety of delicious desserts.
Pasta with all kinds of sauces and pizza are the “great classics” of Italian cooking, they can be eaten all over the peninsula. They are offered in traditional restaurants and eateries but also in farm restaurants, pizzerias, mountain refuges, street cafes, wine bars, trendy locales and structures dedicated to developing the Italian food and wine heritage.