An Italian Will Kill You, Seriously: Italian Cooking F++k Ups

Sharing The Flavor

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An Italian Will Kill You, Seriously: Italian Cooking F++k Ups

Sharing the Flavor: episode 10

May 04, 2024

Transcript

link to the podcast

Italian Food Misconceptions

In this episode we explore some common misconceptions related to Italian food and also discuss current trends in the Italian food scene.

Here are some hilarious videos on pasta trees and pizza farms.

We first discuss an American favorite, Spaghetti and Meatballs which is not a traditional Italian dish but rather has its origins in New York. The recipe is based on an Italian dish called Polpette, which is Italian for meatballs. While Polpette can be cooked similar to Italian/American Meatballs, they are really more similar to croquettes and can be made using poultry, fish and even veggies.

Along with Spaghetti and Meatballs we also discuss Chicken Parmesan, which is not Italian, but I like making it. Parmigiana di Melanzane (EggPlant Parmesean) is Italian.

Fettuccine Alfredo is definitely not traditional Italian as well.

Pepperoni Pizza is not Italian, ordering that might get you a pizza with pepperoncini peppers on top. Here are a list of Pizzas and the closest to the American Pepperoni is Diavolo (with spicy salami). Giovanni mentions that Pizza with Sausage and Broccoli is great. Here is a recipe

We also discuss some tradtional Italian norms/rules for cooking and dining. this article interviewing Ialian expats offers reactions to American customs assumed to be Italian. Some general rules:

Pasta (first courses)

Match apropriate pasta shapes to sauces
Pasta is nearly always to be cooked ‘al dente’, leaving some bite in the noodle
Often, you should finish cooking pasta in the condiment

Coffee

Cappucino is drunk in the morning, usually, often with a cornetto or other fulfilling pastr for breakfast
Cappucino is not drunk in the afternoon and never after a meal
Drinking a Latte is not a thing. It means milk in Italian, though at the bar in the morning it implies steamed milk. So a ‘latte macchiato’ is espresso-stained steamed milk.

We also discuss cured meats and the fact that for 40 years, curied Italian meats were not allowed in the US, basically. There are some that are allowed now though the procedures are expensive and labrythine. We talked about an incredible place in Greve in Chiant. Antica Macelleria Falorni

Lastly we discuss that lifestyles are changing in Italy and that the cost of good ingredients is rising and as a result, less cooking takes place in homes. There is also a rise in all you can eat sushi type places as well as hamburger joints. Food delivery services like Just Eat and Deliveroo are also becoming popular.

Correction - I mention in the show the quote from the Movie "Big Night" as sometimes the meatballs want to be left alone. It's actually "Sometimes the spaghetti likes to be alone."