Is there a language more beautiful than Italian? Or a cuisine that appeals more to the senses? This week, I'm focusing on a few of the Italian foods mentioned in Keeping the Feast: One Couple's Story of Love, Food, and Healing in Italy by Paula Buttrini for Wondrous Words Wednesday, a weekly meme hosted by Kathy from Bermudaonion's Weblog. Because I have an uncorrected proof of this book I'm not supposed to quote from it, so I've written my own sentences to help convey the meanings of the words.
1. spaghetti alle vongole: Italian dish of spaghetti with baby clams in the shell, with olive oil, white wine, garlic, chopped parsley, and a dash of red pepper
Mama Lita's spaghetti alle vongole was a favorite at the Lombardi's house.
2. pizza bianca: "white" pizza; in Rome, the term refers to a flat bread topped with olive oil, salt, and sometimes rosemary sprigs (may also have thin slices of sausage or cold cuts), but without tomato sauce; In the U.S., the toppings also often include mozzarella and other cheeses, drizzled with olive oil, and fresh spices such as basil and garlic.
pizza con patate: pizza dough baked with thin slices of potato and sprinkled with rosemary
pizza rossa: pizza with various toppings, slathered with tomato sauce
At Medina's, we ordered a large garden salad and three kinds of pizza, pizza bianca, pizza rosa, and pizza con patate, to share at the table.
3. frutti di bosco: "Fruit of the Forest (or Woods)"; mixed berries, blueberries, raspberries, wild strawberries, and red and black currants, served in season; also refers to desserts such as gelato, flavored by berries
We sat out on the balcony savoring the balmy evening and the fresh frutti di bosco served for dessert.
Buon compleanno! I've just learned on Margot's blog, Joyfully Retired, that Kathy started Wondrous Words Wednesday a year ago, so this educational weekly meme celebrates its one-year anniversary today.
What wondrous words have you encountered during recent reading?
Posts
You have made me hungry! Boy, does that book sound good!
ReplyDeleteBermudaonion, thank you for hosting this fun meme, and congrats on its one year anniversary.
ReplyDeleteYum....can't say that you didn't warn me. I'm starving now!
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice way to do WWW! I love the food words. I'm definitely a novice with these words.
ReplyDeleteNo other language can compare to Italian. I loved your post with all the foodie terms. Frutti di bosco sounds yummy!
ReplyDeleteyes, Italian good is divine and so is the language :)
ReplyDeletehttp://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/
So awesome to hear that this meme is a year old! I also just finished this book and recognized all of your words! It was a great read and your words have made my mouth water!
ReplyDeleteI'll bet reading this book kept you perpetually hungry. I know just from reading this post I'm ready to head for the kitchen. Thanks for mentioning me and the one-year anniversary.
ReplyDeleteI spend so much time at restaurants trying to figure out what on earth the entrees ARE. Maybe I should bring a dictionary!
ReplyDeleteJulie, Lisa, Kaye, Naida, Zibilee, and Margot, thanks for taking the time to comment. I enjoy books, especially non-cookbooks, which influence my appetite and cooking decisions. I like cookbooks, but there is something extra special about reading about food in regular books; it was a real pleasure to read about the food in Keeping the Feast.
ReplyDeleteAdditional comments welcomed. Why not add your thoughts next?
Your beautiful post has for sure changed my decision as to where to have lunch today!
ReplyDeleteMmmm...I think it's time for a midnight snack! Tasty words you've got there.
ReplyDeleteMy words are here.
A very yummilicious Post Suko! This is a mouth-watering vocab session o_0
ReplyDeleteI've read several great reviews on this book. It sounds like a worthwhile read. Thanks for the great review.
ReplyDeleteItalian, indeed is a beautiful language. And, now after reading your post, I'm hungry :)
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to your review of the book!
Carin, LOL! I think our comments may have "crossed" yesterday.
ReplyDeleteMel, I hope you enjoyed your lunch. :)
Lisa, thanks for stopping by.
Veens, great word: yummilicious!
Diane, thank you!
Iliana, the food mentioned in this book has that effect on you!
More comments welcomed.
GReat post. It made me hungry though. lol. This was a really fantastic book that I really enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE PIZZA BIANCA! The one I get to eat here looks like it's so rich in butter so it may not be so healthy but it just takes great :)
ReplyDeleteInterestingly, Bianca is also a common name among mestizas (white-skinned Filipinos with Spanish/European blood) here in the Philippines, which is quite fitting isn't it? ;)
And oh yeah, I love eating pasta too, so I agree with you that Italian food is very delectable, from the smell to the taste :)
ReplyDeleteFilipino pasta by the way tends to be more sweet rather than sour or spicy, but I prefer the Italian variants.
Dar, I'm glad you also enjoyed Keeping the Feast, which really is a celebration of food and life.
ReplyDeleteMark David, that's interesting about the term "bianca" used for mestizas.
I've never had Filipino pasta!
Italian food speaks to me--on more than one level!
ReplyDelete