Besides having your own Tuscan villa with a personal chef named Enzo, along with accordions playing in the background, what is it that makes an Italian kitchen well... Italian?
Whether you call it fung shui, an aura, or some other term, it all boils down to one thing - atmosphere. There are elements which added together create an atmosphere which then translates into a feeling. And that is where we start.
The Italian culture is very much based on emotions. From romantic emotions of love and passion to the red faced Italian father upset because his pasta was cooked too long - there is no denying the power of emotion. However, one aspect of Italian culture which will always envoke an emotion, even for non-Italians, is food. Italians love food and nearly everyone and their brother loves eating Italian food. No wonder it is the most popular International food choice of the day.
Italian Food
So to start making a kitchen ooze Italian, start with food. Learn how to cook Italian recipes. Amazingly Italian food is extremely simple to prepare. Much of Italian cooking requires few ingredients and relies solely on fresh herbs, spices and other basic ingredients such as olive oil.
You will always find the following foods in an Italian kitchen. Such staples are dried pasta, garlic, Italian cheese, fresh olive oil (average life of a bottle is 6 months once opened, 12 months unopened), pasta sauce, and fresh fruit. Italians often eat fruit as their dessert, not tiramisu as many Americans might falsely assume. So naturally, fruit is always on hand.
Italian Bread
Fresh bread is next on the list. Like the French and much of Europe, they love bread. Whether made at home or bought at the local market, bread can be sliced at anytime and dipped in an olive oil, garlic and pepper mixture, which leaves everyone around the table wanting more.
Homegrown Herbs
The list does not stop here. Many Italians who immigrated during the earlier part of the 20th century came from farmlands where their families grew much of the foods which they ate. Much of those same foods which were cultivated on Italian soil, are now also being cultivated on American soil. Although generations have come and gone, the tradition and value of using fresh ingredients in recipes has been passed on, especially growing fresh herbs, such as parsley, basil, sage, rosemary and oregano to name just a few.
Start growing your own herbs. Create an herb garden outside, or try growing them indoors or in containers if space is an issue. You can easily plant rosemary anywhere in the yard, as it is technically an evergreen and can easily be used for ornamental purposes in your landscaping design.
Recipe using Rosemary:
Take some potatoes, cut them in 1 inch cubes and boil half way. Next add them to a baking dish along with olive oil, a few crushed garlic and a pinch of salt and pepper. Throw on a few sprigs of rosemary and bake in an oven at 400 for 20 to 25 minutes and you've transformed your kitchen with an aroma that will linger in the minds of your guests for weeks to come.
Espresso
Let us not forget the coffee. Or rather, we should say espresso. Espresso is indeed a coffee since there is no official espresso tree which bears espresso beans. Espresso is typically a blend of various coffee beans which are roasted for an extended amount of time causing the bean to become a "dark roast". The longer a bean roasts the more bitter it will taste when brewed. This is why shots of espresso are so bitter tasting. For most Italians they enjoy the flavor, however for most Americans it is far to bitter and loads of sugar must be added to offset the taste. Alternatively the bitterness can be mellowed by adding a nice dose of warm milk and some froth.
Because they do not drink coffee as we do here, in a brew system, and prefer their espresso shots, they instead use either an aluminum or stainless steel stovetop espresso maker. These are as common as our coffee pots and instead of asking guests if they'd like a cup of coffee, the more accurate question is would they like an espresso.
These small espresso makers have gained popularity in America over the years. So to add a flare of "Italian" to your kitchen, invest in one of these and start offering some espresso or lattes for your guests. Be careful, they may start stopping by at all hours of the day and night!
The Key Ingredient - The People
However, in the end, what truly makes the kitchen authentic is the people. It is the pride of their culture which they hold dear to their hearts - and much of their heritage is about food. From the origins of the first pizza in a pizzeria in Naples to the lyrics of Dean Martin, "When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie - that's amore...", Italian culture spells food.
The passion of good food is so strong it is only natural to share it with anyone and everyone who walks by. To decline an Italian's invitation to have a dish of their pasta, or to refuse a plate of lemon cookies is, by far, a great insult beyond imagination. Recipes like fresh pasta tossed with olive oil, fresh tomatoes and basil with fresh Romano cheese grated on top, served to each member at the table in their own individual pasta bowl - are eagerly cherished by family and friends alike.
There is no doubt - this is the Italian kitchen.
Author Credit: This article was contributed by Elizabeth Trementozzi of Simple Italian Cooking.
