Enjoying Non-Italian Dishes - A Welcome Change!
I’m about to write something some people might consider culinary blasphemy, but here goes: Sometimes the TandemSpirits simply don’t want to eat “Italian” food. We live in the country whose cuisine is arguably the best in the world and make no mistake, we LOVE the food here…..BUT, there comes a time when we need a break from a classic pasta with ragu or pizza or prosciutto, salami and all the rest.
Something you must know: most Italians don’t like eating foreign cuisines. I know, sounds like a stereotype, but unless you live in Milano or Rome, you will look far and wide to find a Chinese, Thai or Mexican restaurant. If you do, be prepared to have dishes that have been modified for the Italian palate which means many of the spices aren’t so pronounced. Also, if you like spicy food, you will have to bring your own hot sauce!
Of course, our yearning for a variety of cuisines comes from growing up in the States. We lived in Seattle for almost 30 years and it has a diverse population and a wide variety of culinary traditions to choose from. Within a 10 minute drive from our house there was at least one Indian, Chinese, Thai, Mexican or Japanese (awesome sushi) restaurant. The Pacific Northwest is in relative proximity to Asia, so you could also find Vietnamese, Korean and Indondesian restaurants. There were also the Middle Eastern places.
One fortunate aspect of being in Italy is the high quality of all the basics: the vegetables, fruits, grains and meats are incredibly good, so I can always count on having the building blocks for a delicious meal. Here’s the challenge:
The Big Challenge - Finding Exotic Ingredients
It’s not impossible to find “exotic” ingredients at some of our local grocery stores; however, even basic ingredients such as Soy Sauce or Asian-style noodles can be very expensive. We are fortunate to live about 30 minutes from Perugia where there are two small Asian grocery stores. They also carry some Mexican and Middle Eastern products. As you can see from the photo, we have a nice variety of products in our pantry to work with. The one ingredient that is almost impossible to find is cilantro.
Cilantro - A Beautiful Thing Indeed!!!
The Tandem Spirits found this cilantro at an Asian grocery store in Perugia named Tanto e Bene. You have no idea how happy we were! We bought two bunches that I used in a whole bunch of dishes. It’s truly is an essential ingredient when making curries and some Mexican dishes.
Now, you might be asking yourself, “why is cilantro so hard to find in Italy?” Well, there’s an interesting explanation: Italians have a predisposition, some say it’s genetic, that makes them HATE the taste of this herb. Some Italians tell me it tastes like soap. Others, say it smells like a sort of stink-bug beetle.
So, What's Been on the Menu?
I love to cook. I was a profesional cook for many years. It was how I paid for college. Over the years, I worked in some very good restaurants and learned how to cook a number of different cuisines. The TandemSpirits hope you enjoy seeing what’s been on the menu at our home!
Black Bean Soup and Southern-Style Cornbread
Egg-stuffed Meat Loaf
Yellow-curry stew with chicken and potatoes
Nachos with spiced hamburger, guacamole and cheddar cheese
Good old-fashioned Tuna Melts
Asian Noodle Stir Fry
Black Bean Cakes
Soba Noodles in a spicy broth with vegetables
A Classic Burrito with Chips and a Black Bean and Corn Salsa
