SPAIN/SPANISH CUISINE

There are many regional cooking styles throughout Spain, all based around fresh and flavourful locally grown ingredients. These flavours combine to make Spanish Cuisine one of the richest and most varied of all the worlds cuisines.

Spanish Cuisine In the past it has been conquered by invaders from the Arab world, and its culinary traditions show a heavy Arabic influence. Seafood is very popular in Spain. Fresh vegetables, meats, eggs, chicken, and fish are common foods. Most fried foods are cooked in olive oil. Spain also shares many of the Mediterranean cuisine: Nuts (almonds,walnuts, hazelnuts) Fruits (orange, pomegranate) Flavors Principle of Spanish Cuisine - combination of olive oil, garlic,and peanuts. - A second great principle is the combination of olive oil, onions, bell peppers, and tomatoes. Spanish Meals Breakfast: A light meal or coffee or hot chocolate, bread and jam or sometimes churros (a batter made of flour, salt, and water, deep-fried, and sprinkled with sugar) Lunch: Usually meat or fish for the main dish, and fresh fruits or yogurt for dessert. Dinner: Soup and a tortilla espaola (omelette with potatoes and onions). Snacks or Appetizer: The word tapas is derived from the Spanish verb tapar or to cover Own Specialties - Seafood, ham and pork sausages, lamb stew, roasted meat - Gazpacho - Paella - Arros Negre - Cocido Signature Dishes in Spain Tapas - The name tapas derives from the word tapar, to cover, as the earliest versions consisted simply of slices of chorizo sausage or cured ham, which were placed over the sherry glass. Some people go to bars after work to have tapas. Tapas is the name for portion of different snacks. Examples are: Chicken in batter, Meatballs, Garlic bread Planning A Spanish Menu Aperitif. Sherry, a dry fino or sweeter amontillado-makes a natural choice of an aperitif. (Sparkling wine- Cava) First Course. Appetizers are light and fresh.(Escalivada) Main Course. Fish and meat dishes will both be on offer. (Calamares en su tinta, merluza a la vasca, pollo al ajillo) Dessert. Popular are creamy desserts. (crema catalane (Catalan custard), Asturian-style rice pudding, or almond cake. Regional Cuisine in Spain - Southern Spain - Central Spain - North Coast - East Coast

ITALY
HISTORY Attempting to put together a brief history of Italy is a challenge, because, due to its location at the center of the Mediterranean trading routes, Italy has had a lengthy and tumultuous history. Both the Mediterranean and overland trade routes were also used as military and expansionist conduits over the centuries, as well as channels for the dissemination of culture and knowledge. As a result, Italy was subject to the most brutal of invasions, as well as serving as a focal point for creativity and learning. For the sake of simplicity we can divide our brief history of Italy into seven distinct eras. The 20 Regions of Italy Geographical Location Italy is located in Southern Europe and comprises the boot-shaped Italian Peninsula and a number of islands including the two largest, Sicily and Sardinia. It lies between latitudes 35 and 47 N, and longitudes 6 and 19 E. Environment After its quick industrial growth, Italy took a long time to confront its environmental problems. After several improvements, it now ranks 84th in the world for ecological sustainability. National parks cover about five percent of the country.

Italy has become one of the world's leading producers of renewable energy, ranking as the worlds fourth largest holder of installed solar energy capacity and the sixth largest holder of wind power capacity in 2010. Renewable energies now make up about 12% of the total primary and final energy consumption in Italy, with a future target share set at 17% for the year 2020. Religion Catholicism by far the largest religious group in Italy. Catholics make up 87.8% of the population, with 36.8% considering themselves practicing Catholics and 30.8% attending Church every Sunday. St. Peter's Basilica is the world's largest Christian church. It is the second church to stand above the crypt (tomb) believed to hold the body of Saint Peter, the first pope. Economy in Italy: Industry and Agriculture As in most countries of Western Europe, agriculture is in a continuous decline in Italy. Italy is a country poor of resources and with only a few notable natural resources. In terms of agriculture, in the South mainly wheat, tobacco, olives, stone fruit, sugar beets and tomatoes are cultivated, while Northern Italy can look back on a strong tradition of pig and cattle breeding. The cultivation of wine, however, is widely spread throughout Italy and wine is a major export good of the country. The Climate in Italy The climate varies considerably from the north to the south of Italy. In the north of the country - the area between the Alps and the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines - the climate is harsh, with very cold winters and very hot, particularly humid summers. National Costume of Italy The national costume of Italy has its roots in the Roman Empire. Men mainly wear black with dress shoes and loafers. Women basic garment is the stola, which is essentially a long tunic reaching to the ground. It is generally worn over another long tunic, the tunica interior. Did you know? Some other famous person in the world is came from Italy.

William Shakespeare is an example of an Italophile of the 16th century Leonardo da Vinci was one of the greatest painters and most versatile geniuses in history. The Mona Lisa, by Leonardo da Vinci, possibly one of the most famous and iconic examples of Italian art. Andrea Palladio is often described as the most influential architect in the Western world. Marchese Guglielmo Marconi was the inventor of radio.

HISTORY OF FOOD IN ITALY Greece and Rome The earliest inhabitants of the Italian Peninsula migrated from the Eastern Mediterranean and brought their native tastes with them. During the era of Greek colonization and later during the reign of the Romans, trade and conquest brought about a melding of exotic dishes found throughout the known ancient world with the simple local staples already found in the Mediterranean region such as olives, wheat-based products and wine. Medieval Era After the fall of the Roman Empire, cuisine became more localized throughout the Italian Peninsula. Regional variations arose, developing from what was available in each area as well as occasional outside influences as political incursions came from outside powers, particularly in the northern part of the country, which was a crossroads for the rest of Europe. Poverty was more prevalent in the south, and thus simpler dishes began to dominate the meals in places like Naples and Sicily, forming the genesis of the grain dough-based dishes like pasta and pizza. Renaissance Ingredients from the Americas, such as tomatoes, began to filter into Italy, but were slow to be adopted. The new foods were adopted a bit more readily in the south, where other more recognized ingredients were not already available. Migration To The New World The bulk of Italian immigrants to America during the 19th century came from the southern parts of Italy, and eventually the new hybridized recipes followed them. Italian American Food Versus Italian Food The schism remains between the largely homogenized Italian food found in the United States and the wide variations of regional cuisines still found in Italy. Regardless, the cuisine of Italy today is widely known to be among the best in the world. Italian Cuisine Italian cuisine has developed over the centuries. Although the country known as Italy did not unite until the 19th century, the cuisine can claim traceable roots as far back as the 4th century BCE. Through the centuries, neighbouring regions, conquerors, high-profile chefs, political upheaval and the discovery of the New World have influenced its development. Cheese and wine are a major part of the cuisine. Italy produces the largest amount of wine in the world and is both the largest exporter and consumer of wine. Brunello di Montalcino is one of Italy's finest red wines, made around the town of Montalcino from a Sangiovese variant known locally as Brunello. Italy is home of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world and Italian wines are known worldwide for their broad variety. Italy shares with France the title of largest wine producer in the world. its contribution (about 45-50 million hl per year) representing about 1/3 of world production Breakfast The first Italian meal is breakfast, or colazione. The traditional breakfast in Italy is simply Caff e latte (hot coffee with milk) or coffee with bread or rolls, butter, and jam

A typical Italian breakfast, consisting of cappuccino and brioche / croissant / cornetto. Lunch Pranzo or lunch traditionally used to be the heartiest and most important Italian meal, Nort Italy Lunch is taken in between 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm people from Southern Italian regions start lunch slightly later, from 1.15 pm to even 2.30 pm. Mid-afternoon snack Most Italians, notably children, have what is called a mid-afternoon snack or in Italian merenda just after school, from about 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. This can be anything, ranging from fruit, yogurts, ice cream, nuts, brioches, cookies and biscuits, cake, raisins or mousses. A chocolate gelato ice cream dessert. The Saracens are credited with introducing ice cream to the Italians, who have made Italian gelato world famous. Dinner The Italian dinner structure is very similar to that of lunch, but Italians tend to have lighter meals at dinner-time. This usually consists of perhaps a salad, soup, risotto or the left-overs of lunch-time. Dinner is called cena in Italian and is usually consumed later than in Northern Europe but earlier than in Spain and other Mediterranean countries, usually starting from 7.30 pm to 9pm. Italian Cuisine Abroad Philippines Spaghetti arrived during the time of the American occupation of the country in the early 1900s. It has since evolved into a distinctly Philippine version of the dish. Filipino spaghetti is characterized by a sauce based on banana ketchup and the presence of sliced hot dogs Aside from the ketchup-based sauce, garlic, oregano, and bay leaf and some sugar are also used to flavour the sauce.Ground beef or pork as well as ham may also be added Baked macaroni (with a red sauce) is also present in the country's cuisine. Both can be found in authentic style or modified to suit the local palate and budget and can be found on restaurant menus as well as at Filipino parties and gatherings. Lasagna is another Italian dish that made its way into Philippine cuisine. Unlike spaghetti, lasagna remains largely unchanged and Filipinos usually consume it with garlic bread. (Ingredients: Italian cuisine has a great variety of different ingredients which are commonly used, ranging from fruits, vegetables, sauces, meats, etc.) North of Italy In the North of Italy, fish (such as cod, or baccal), potatoes, rice, corn (maize), sausages, pork, and different types of cheeses are the most common ingredients. Olive oil is the most commonly used vegetable fat in Italian cooking, and as the basis for sauces, often replaces animal fats of butter or lard.[ Italian cuisine is also well known (and well regarded) for its use of a diverse variety of pasta. Pasta include noodles in various lengths, widths and shapes. Distinguished on shapes they are named penne, maccheroni, spaghetti, linguine, fusilli, lasagne and many more varieties that are filled with other ingredients like ravioli and tortellini. Pesto, a Ligurian sauce made out of basil, olive oil and pine nuts, and which is eaten with pasta. Pasta with pesto sauce. ITALIAN LANGUAGE HISTORY Italian (italiano or lingua italiana) is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Somalia, Libya, Ethiopia and Eritrea, and by expatriate communities in the Americas and Australia.

Italy's official language is Italian. Ethnologue has estimated that there are about 55 million speakers of the language in Italy and a further 6.7 million outside of the country. However, between 120 and 150 million people use Italian as a second or cultural language, worldwide. History of the Italian Language Origins Linguistically speaking, the Italian language is a member of the Romance group of the Italic subfamily of the Indo-European family of languages. It is spoken principally in the Italian peninsula, southern Switzerland, San Marino, Sicily, Corsica, northern Sardinia, and on the northeastern shore of the Adriatic Sea, as well as in North and South America. Development During the long period of the evolution of Italian, many dialects sprang up. The multiplicity of these dialects and their individual claims upon their native speakers as pure Italian speech presented a peculiar difficulty in the evolution of an accepted form of Italian that would reflect the cultural unity of the entire peninsula. Useful words in italy: The Basics Buongiorno (Bwon journo) - Good Morning Buona Sera ( Bwona She-Rah) - Good Evening Buona Notte ( Bwona Not-teh) - Good Night Scusi (scoo-zee) - Excuse me Per favore ( pear fa-voh-reh) - please Grazie (grah-zyeh) - Thank You Prego (Preh-go) - a multi purpose word ranging from follow up grazie, or please take a seat Permesso? (pear-mess-o) - May I? Useful words in Italy: General Words Dime ( Dee-meh) - Tell me Ascotta me (as-col-ta-meh) - Listen to me Magari (ma-gah-ree)- i wish Complimenti ( comp-li-men-tee) - my compliments, goes with bravo or brava (for female) Allora (al-lohra) Then Buona giornata ( Bwona djor-na-ta) - have a good journey/day Ciao ciao ciao ( chao chao chao) - Bye a doppo (a dop-po) - See you later. Useful Words in Italy: Restaurants, Bars, Trattoria Buongiorno, per due (bwon journo pear doo-eh) - Good Morning Table for two. per mangiar ( pear man-jia-reh) - to eat Per bibire ( pear bee-bee-reh) - to Drink per l'aperitivo ( pear la -peh-rit-vo) to have an appertif Scusi, permesso? Excuse me. may i? E occupato- is it occupied? il conto, per favore (il kon-toh-pear-fa-voh-reh)- The bill(check).please Useful words in italy: Eating Food Prenotazione ( preh-no-tah-zyo-neh) - Breakfast Pranzo (pran-zo) - Lunch Cena (tche-nah) - Dinner pane (pah-neh) - Bread Sale e pepe (sah-leh-eh pepp-eh) - salt and pepper Formaggio (for-mah-djyo) - Cheese

Tourist Attractions in Italy Venice - Referred to as The City of Water, Venice is the crown jewel of water cities. Romantic gondolas, and Italian architecture along the Grand Canal helped earn this status. Colosseum - The Colosseum in Rome is the largest and most famous amphitheater in the Roman world. Its construction was started by emperor Vespasian of the Flavian dynasty in 72 AD and was finished by his son Titus in 80 AD Santa Maria del Fiore - Begun in 1296 in the Gothic style and completed in 1436, The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore is Florences beautiful cathedral and symbol of the city. Piazza del Campo - One of Europes greatest medieval squares, the Piazza del Campo is the principal public space of the historic center of Siena, Tuscany. It is renowned worldwide for its beauty and architectural integrity. Pompeii - On August 24, 79 AD, the volcano Vesuvius erupted, covering the nearby town Pompeii with ash and soil, and subsequently preserving the city in its state from that fateful day. Everything from jars and tables to paintings and people were frozen in time. Its excavation has provided an extraordinarily detailed insight into the life of people living two thousand years ago. Today Pompeii is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Italy, with approximately 2,500,000 visitors every year. Positano (Amalfi Coast) - Positano is a small town located on the Amalfi Coast, a stretch of coastline renowned for its rugged terrain, scenic beauty, picturesque towns and diversity. The city seems to be scattered from top to bottom down a hillside leading to the coast. Lake Como (Italian Lake District) - Lake Como is part of the Italian Lake District an area popular with visitors for well over 100 years for its combination of fresh air, water, mountains and good weather. The lake is shaped much like an inverted Y, with two branches starting at Como in the south-west and Lecco in the south-east, which join together half way up and the lake continues up to Colico in the north. The lake is famous for the attractive villas which have been built here since Roman times. Leaning Tower of Pisa - The world famous Pisa Tower was built over a period of about 177 years San Gimignano - Nicknamed the medieval Manhatten, San Gimignano is a village in Tuscany famous for its 14 stone towers. At the height of San Gimignanos wealth and power, more than 70 towers were built to defend the town against enemy attacks. After the plague devastated the city in 1348, San Gimignanos power faded, which kept enemies away and preserved many of the citys medieval towers.

Italian Cuisine Main Course Chicken Milano - "A delicious pasta and chicken dish with garlic, sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil. Use the dry packaged sun-dried tomatoes instead of the tomatoes packed in olive oil. The sauce can be kept, covered, for one day in the refrigerator; heat again over low heat. Try it with some crusty bread if desired." Mediterranean Chicken Italian Breaded Pork Chops - "My father's side of the family is Sicilian, and has been making these pork chops for at least 3 generations. My husband frequently requests these over my marinated and grilled pork chops when I give him a choice. If you do not have an oven-proof skillet, you may cook the chops on the stove at medium-low." Ultimate Shrimp Scampi - "This delicious shrimp recipe will melt in your mouth. The addition of avocado and Asiago cheese takes it to the next level!"

Penne with Shrimp - "A light but tasty Italian dish!" Italian Sausage and Zucchini - "This goes in the quick and easy category...and yummy too! Serve over cooked rice or pasta." Spaghetti Italian - "Delicious and not so sweet. Good to the last bowl!!" Italian Sausage and Vegetable Roast - "Sweet Italian sausage, red peppers, tomatoes and fresh fennel roast to perfection with oregano and Swanson Chicken Broth, and are served over creamy polenta."