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La Dolce Vita: Experiencing Italian Desserts
With its decadent flavors and rich traditions, Italian
food ranks
as one of the finest in the world. On a global scale,
only a handful of dishes could par with the standards
set by Italians. What could rival the ubiquitous pizza,
the savory pasta, and its famous
espresso and
cappuccino? Fact is, it is almost impossible not to have
an Italian restaurant or an Italian specialty store
within your place of work or in proximity from where you
live. But when desserts and pastries come into play,
Italians stood out and excelled; thus providing the rest
of us with a chance to savor the sweet life.
So with your sweet tooth intact and your diet thrown out
of the window, let us take a bite and experience la
dolce vita.
Gelato
Can one imagine Italy without gelato? Gelato is a frozen
dessert akin to an ice cream. And like most other
Italian culinary works of art, the secret to perfect
gelato comes from the quality of its ingredients. Though
richer than the typical American ice cream, this fact
really does not stop individuals from taking a taste of
the sinfully decadent frozen treat. When in Italy, you
will find a plethora of flavors ranging from your
typical chocolate and vanilla to the not so typical rose
and basil flavored gelato. It may be awkward to the
auditory nerves but not to the taste buds.
Tiramisu
If you have a sweet tooth, have a taste for coffee, and
is not into dieting, then tiramisu is the ideal dessert
for you. Tiramisu is a layered dessert alternating a
coffee-soaked sponge cake and cream topped with
chocolate shavings or (more) cream. Traditionally,
Italians use lady-fingers (biscuits shaped like, well,
fingers). These biscuits are soaked in coffee and
layered with a mixture of mascarpone cheese, custard,
and whipped cream. (Talk about rich dessert!)
Biscotti
This is probably the most famous Italian cookie, not
just in its hometown but as well as into numerous
kitchens around the world. This crunchy cookie is good
for a midday snack or midnight nibble. There are a
variety of elements that goes into one of these tasty
treats, and this too evolved and changed; adding in new
ingredients and making it soft and chewy---adjusting
everything to suit one's palate. Though the basic dough
may include almonds, chocolate chips, candied fruits or
flavored with lemon, cocoa, or even coffee.
Panettone
This is sweet bread traditionally eaten during the
advent season. This particular bread originated in Milan
most likely in the fifteenth century and has been a
traditional treat ever since. The dough may contain
raisins and other candied fruits, and finished by
dusting confectioner sugar over the top. With its
recognizable dome shape and delightful taste, munching
on one would easily satisfy your sweet tooth during the
Christmas season.
Torrone
Another advent staple is the torrone. Though you need
not wait for Christmas to get a taste of its almond nougat goodness
(it is available all year round). This candy may be made
using variety nuts (usually almond) and candied fruits.
Also, it can be flavored with chocolate, vanilla or
pistachio. This is sweet, and that is still an
understatement. You may want to schedule a trip to the
dentist after filling yourself with this yummy treat.
These are a few of the sweet treats that Italy has
presented to the world. Choosing just one will prove to
be a tough decision. But with your sweet tooth, you
simply need to let your senses guide you. If you follow
your senses, it will surely lead you to la dolce vita.
This article was written by Benedict Yossarian. If you
are interested in property
in Italy Benedict
recommends Homes
and Villas Abroad
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