For most people, Italian food comprises pizzas, and pasta in a white or red sauce with or without some form of animal protein. This is true to an extent if you consider the fare offered by Italian fast food chains. But if you were to walk into an establishment that prides itself in serving authentic Italian cuisine, you would be faced with a mind-bogling variety on the menu. The poetic name of the dishes listed only serve in whetting the appetite further. Alas, such an establishment is a distant dream in the region obsessed with chicken and Chinese.
But to get back to a few of those poetic names: they sound delicious, all right, but what do they mean? Here's an attempt at demystifying some of that mouth-watering nomenclature.
Gnocchi
Pesto
Gorgonzola
Ravioli
Risotto
Minestrone
Polenta
