To say that I am biased toward Italian cuisine is an understatement. But I also have to give credit where credit is due! As I reflect on, or perhaps better stated miss terribly, my recent trip to Italy I can’t help but think how easy it was to eat well, eat healthy and eat joyously. Having been my second trip, it was confirmed that the food there is undeniable.
Italian cuisine is a blissful mixture of simple ingredients where the beauty lies in quality not quantity. For someone who deals with lactose intolerance and (at the time) gallbladder issues (although no more, yeah), I found eating over there quite simply….simple. The freshness of the food and it’s seasonal ingredients make eating a labor of love. And what good is a meal without rice! While we don’t have as many choices over here as Italy does, we do have some savory options you can get at your local grocer or market.
From originario to carnaroli, from arborio to vialone nano; you can make the most wonderful dishes. Simple ingredients like black truffle, porcini mushrooms, olive oil, onion and garlic, can transform any rice dish into a passionate love affair. Rice can be long grain, short grain, oval grain, strong texture and some rice you can even buy in wheat grain. You can command your own symphony of meals because each rice produces distinctly different varieties of flavors and textures. Cap off your fabulous dish with a glass of Bolla Valpolicella red wine; the grapes are dried no less than three months before being crushed into a beautiful bouquet of aromatic flavors that you can enjoy for roughly $10-15.00 a bottle!
But if finding the right rice for your dish proves difficult then head over to Amaretto Italian Bistro located at 7170 Transit Rd. Williamsville NY. Owner Rosa grew up in Italy and has brought her delicious and simple recipes to our door step. The risotto is impeccable and the muscles taste so fresh, as if plucked right from the Tyrrhenian Sea. Everything is made from scratch, so come prepared to be patient; because to make italian food right you have to make it with love. Between the atmosphere, the music, the food and the wine; Amaretto is one of my favorites!
So whether making it yourself or heading out for dinner, make it rice and make it fabulous! Chin Chin and Buon Appetito!
