Traditional Italian Cuisine is known for its simplicity and relies on a few superior quality ingredients to tantalize the tastebuds rather than overwhelm the senses (and stomach) with too many textures and flavours. The top Italian restaurants in South Africa have got a knack for combining locally loved dishes with Italian home-styled cooking. If your dish is not bursting with wonderfully balanced flavour, then it’s not a genuine Italian meal. Here are our top three tasty and traditional Italian foods.
Pizza
There is nothing more Italian (or delicious) than the humble pizza. This flat bread has been around for centuries and has evolved over time. Today, there are essentially two types of pizza to choose from in Italy: Neopolitan-style pizza, or Roman-style pizza. Lupa specialises in Roman-style pizza, which traditionally has a thin crust and is slightly crispy. This style of pizza is larger in diameter than the Neopolitan-style pizza, but is typically much lighter. Lupa pizzas are wood fired at 450 degrees Celsius, using Italian tomatoes and the finest mozzarella. View their pizza menu here.
Lasagne
Garfield goes crazy for it, and so do we! This traditional cheesy Italian casserole is stacked with layers of thin, flat sheets of pasta and alternates between fillings of beef ragù, vegetables, cheese, and other Italian seasonings and spices, such as garlic, oregano, and basil. Lasagne originated in Italy during the Middle Ages and is thought to come from the city of Naples. The first recorded recipe was found in the “Liber de Coquina” (The Book of Cookery) and dates back to the 14th century.
Have you tried Lupa’s authentic Lasagne Al Forno from their main menu? If you’re the guest at a dinner party who suffers from “order anxiety” due to the sheer magnificence of the menu, you can’t go wrong with this simple and classic lasagna, served with a side salad.
Photo: Lupa
Gelato
Pure Italian decadence – the perfect dessert to top off any Italian meal. Though gelato means ‘ice cream’ in English, it’s not quite the same. Not all ice creams are created equal – gelato has less butterfat than ice cream, about 4 to 8 percent compared to 14 percent for ice cream. The low-fat content means that gelato is served a bit warmer and melts in your mouth faster, which intensifies the flavor and gives a velvety texture. Lupa’s authentic Italian gelato is available in chocolate, pistachio, strawberry, and caramel. Order a scoop of your favourite flavour, and if you can’t choose – just try them all!
Bringing you the best of authentic Roman dining, Lupa Osteria promises you an exceptional combination of food and wine, old school professional service, and elegant, modern-styled dining rooms, and is one of the top Italian restaurants in South Africa. What’s your favourite traditional Italian cuisine? Let us know in the comments section below. Book a table at Lupa, your local, authentic Italian restaurant, here.
Looking for an exquisite Italian recipe to try at home? We recommend cooking up Chris Black’s Risotto Stuffed Squid with a Brandy and Tomato Cream Sauce.
