Italian Executive Chef- Cristian Marino , Maldives
Many people ask me what Italian cuisine means to me. So I decided to express my opinion about Italian cuisine and food in general in this article.
Italian Cuisine is a lifestyle for me, and here are 7 points I want to share with you.
Simple: People who know me know that I am a fan of simplicity, and Italian food is based on simplicity, as the main ingredients are the basis of all Italian recipes.
Authentic: To eat tasty food and ensure that nutrition can provide good energy value, it is essential that the ingredients are of first quality and, therefore, genuine and authentic.
Traditional: Each region is intrinsic to its tradition, which can only be reflected in the typical Italian family’s food every day. Three daily meals are part of the Italian tradition: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast is usually sweet with coffee, milk, croissants, biscuits, or homemade cakes. Carbohydrates cannot be missing at lunch, and therefore pasta and fruit at the end of the meal. The evening is usually dedicated to protein, so meat, fish, eggs, or cheese is “mandatory” according to tradition. On the other hand, at the weekend, Saturday evening is dedicated to pizza, and Sunday lunch to the festive menu with antipasti ( starter ), primo ( first course), secondo ( main course), and dolce (dessert).
Km 0: Italy is a lucky country full of great ingredients, so in every region, we tend to eat the products offered by their land, even if in big cities the situation changes a bit as the frenetic pace and needs of the citizen are different and therefore you have less time to cook and sometimes are satisfied with pre-cooked and imported foods.
Fresh: Compared with other countries in the world, Italy has a vast choice of fresh products; therefore, most families try to use Italian, local and consequently fresh products.
Colorful: Think of the red of tomatoes, the white of mozzarella, the green of broccoli or basil, and dozens of other typical Italian products to understand that Italian dining tables are full of color. Eating naturally colored products is also synonymous with a varied and healthy diet.
Healthy: The last point on the list, but not least, is healthy eating. Healthy eating is one of the main objectives for Italian families, so we try to distribute the right amount of nutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and mineral salts) without forgetting spring water, which is essential for proper hydration.
In conclusion, Italian cuisine and, therefore, Italian food is a lifestyle that gives me taste and well-being. Is this the reason for the many Italian restaurants around the world?
Italian food is, for me, a lifestyle that gives me taste and well-being.
