So we all love Italian food – its nice, cheesy and feels nice on our palate. But most of us cringe when the glib waiter reels off names like Farfalle, Pappardelle or Tagliarni, trying desperately not to look or sound ignorant. So, we thought we’d give you some culinguistic (that’s culinary + linguistic) tips.
Let’s start off with the basic. Pasta is food made out of dough and comes in various shapes and sizes with different names.
• Capelli di angelo or Angel’s Hair pasta – long thin pasta usually served with a light sauce.
• Cannelloni – Large hollow pasta which can be stuffed and deep fried.
• Conchiglie or shell pasta – is used for stuffing and ideal with fish.
• Farfalle – Butterfly and bow shaped pasta.
• Fetuccine – Flat ribbon shaped pasta which is good with heavy, creamy sauces.
• Fusili – Spiral pasta served with meat sauces.
• Lasagne – Flat sheets used for layering and usually topped with cheese and then baked.
• Linguine – looks very much like spaghetti but with square cut ends.
• Macaroni – Short and elbow like this pasta is used in baked dishes mostly.
• Orecchiette – Means ears and this is what it looks like. Is chewy and firmer than other pastas.
• Pappardelle – Wide ribbon pasta used with rich and heavy sauces.
• Penne – Tubular pasta very much like macaroni and ends cut at an angle.
• Spaghetti – Most popular pasta derived from the word “spago” which means string.
• Tagliatelle – Flat ribbon pasta which is used in the same way as fetuccine.
We will be back with more Italian culinary expressions next week. However, before we sign off, here are a few of the Italian speciality restaurants in Mumbai. Have a look.
Monza – Housed in the throbbing Phoenix Mills compound this is a great place to explore Italian culinary delights. Garden Court, Block # 16, Unit # 4,5,6. High Street Phoenix, 462 S B Marg, Lower Parel (W) Mumbai - 400 013 Phone - 24954852/6
White, The Modern Italian Café - Situated in Goregaon West this place has great ambience and very good food.. Ozone Club, S.S Marg, Goregaon West, Mumbai (Near Vibgyor School/Billabong)in Shastri Nagar. Phone – 28735646
Trattoria – Venerable Italian fine dining at the Hotel Taj President at Cuffe Parade. Good food, wide choice of wines but quite expensive. Hotel Taj President, 90, Cuffe Parade, Colaba, Mumbai Phone 66650808
