Italians are recognized all over the world for their delectable cuisine. The Italian cuisine, to the uninitiated, would only seem to bring to mind pasta and pizza, but there’s really more to it than just that. Italian food at its best can be described as rich, hearty and diverse; pretty much a true reflection of the wonderful culture of the people.
A Wealth of Options
Apart from pasta, Italian food encompasses a wider range of ingredients like risotto, fresh vegetables, cheeses, and meats, most of which are specific to every region of the country. Italian cuisine also serves many courses from soups and salads to antipasto or
appetizers, entrees and desserts, and there are some dishes that are served especially during special occasions.
For instance, there is panettone – a type of sweet bread usually served for dessert on Christmas and New Year. It originated in Milan, but is now popular all over Italy and even in other countries like France, Switzerland, Germany and even South American countries. This bread is made out of flour, butter, eggs, sugar and yeast, then it is filled with raisins, candied citrus fruits and sometimes chocolate is added to make it even more sumptuous. It
is best served with sweet wine like Asti or Moscato, and hot chocolate for the young.
The Legend of Panettone
Panettone is most famous for its distinctive shape, a tall dome figure brought about by making the dough rise three times. This part of the process of making this bread, which takes about 20 hours, also results in its light texture. The shape of this bread has spawned numerous legends which also attribute its name to one person or another.
For starters, the word panettone is supposedly derived from “panetto” which means a small loaf of bread, and the addition of the suffix “-one” changes its description to large. Another derivation of the word stems from the French term “pain de ton”, meaning “bread of the rich.”
is best served with sweet wine like Asti or Moscato, and hot chocolate for the young.
