Paolo
An Italian who has been living in Canada for 10 years, and who blogs about Italian food and its many North American aberrations.
MY BLOGS
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Quatro Fromaggio and Other Disgraces on the Menu
http://www.disgracesonthemenu.com/
This blog describes the differences between real Italian food and its many aberrations. All the common misconceptions are dissected - from spelling mistakes, to pronunciation errors, to the many recipe distortions. The origin of the differences, which are as much in the ingredients as they are in the culture, is analyzed and explained in a fun way.
LATEST ARTICLES ( 200 )
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[Thoughts on the Table - 009] Meet Gino De Blasio
Thoughts on the Table is back with a new topic: Italian Food Around the World. With me is Gino De Blasio, an amazing writer and blogger based in the UK. Read more
Posted on 08 October 2013 FOOD & DRINK -
[Thoughts on the Table - 008] Ask the Neuroscientist
Do we eat just for the energy content or also because we need specific nutrients? Can food influence our mood? What happens when something spicy comes... Read more
Posted on 24 September 2013 FOOD & DRINK -
[Thoughts on the Table - 007] On Location in Milan!
Don't miss this special edition of Thoughts on the Table recorded "on location" in Italy! Check out Jason's first impressions on his first time in the country,... Read more
Posted on 18 September 2013 FOOD & DRINK -
[Thoughts on the Table] Sweet
Jason and Paolo are back for another episode on flavor. This time, it's all about sweetness: cultural attitudes towards it, the purpose of sugars in the diet,... Read more
Posted on 13 August 2013 FOOD & DRINK -
Three Years of Blogging
How is your "3"? After another year, it's time for my usual retrospective. This year's production hasn't been as high as in the first two years. Read more
Posted on 31 July 2013 FOOD & DRINK -
A World of Eggs
Chicken eggs are one of the world's most popular foods, and have a significant presence in the diet of both Italians and North Americans. The eggs themselves an... Read more
Posted on 27 June 2013 CULTURE, FOOD & DRINK -
Gorgonzola - The Italian Blue
If you like blue cheese, but you haven't tried gorgonzola (), you're going to love it. If you don't like blue cheese, and you try gorgonzola, you might very wel... Read more
Posted on 17 February 2013 FOOD & DRINK -
The Italian Bar
This article hopes to shed some light on another North American misconception. Despite being licensed, bars in Italy are nothing like pubs. Read more
Posted on 02 January 2013 FOOD & DRINK -
Tagliatelle Timbale with Wine Gravy
A few weeks ago, I was thrilled to be invited by Roz from La Bella Vita to write a guest post for her blog. She asked if I could present a traditional Italian... Read more
Posted on 22 December 2012 FOOD & DRINK -
Saffron Penne
Roasted zucchini and/or shrimp are common additions to saffron-based pasta sauces. This recipe, however, is about the simplest saffron sauce, which is just... Read more
Posted on 28 November 2012 FOOD & DRINK, RECIPES -
Table Service, an Ocean Apart
The customer experience in restaurants can be radically different between Italy and Canada. Most of my considerations can probably apply to all of North America... Read more
Posted on 17 November 2012 DINING OUT, FOOD & DRINK, TRAVEL -
Pasticcini, Italian Fine Pastries
Pasticcini are exquisite Italian fine pastries which have been perfected over the centuries to bring the best flavors, textures and fragrances. Read more
Posted on 15 October 2012 DESTINATIONS, DINING OUT, FOOD & DRINK -
Asparagus Risotto
Among the many risotto variations, asparagus risotto ('risotto agli asparagi') is one of the most successful, and one of my favorites. There are a few... Read more
Posted on 10 October 2012 FOOD & DRINK, RECIPES -
Rice and Parsley (Ris e Erburin)
Having some more Italian (flat-leaf) parsley in my fridge, not an easy find in Vancouver, and looking for something quick to make for dinner, I naturally went... Read more
Posted on 29 September 2012 FOOD & DRINK -
Vodka Pasta (Made Vegetarian)
I've been away for so long that I feel almost ashamed of myself! Luckily, this is not sufficient to stop me from posting again :) As you can see from the... Read more
Posted on 27 September 2012 FOOD & DRINK -
Two Years of Blogging
Another year has gone by, marking Quatro Fromaggio's second birthday, and the time for me to look back at 12 more months of blogging! Read more
Posted on 30 July 2012 FOOD & DRINK -
The Evolution of Coffee
Is there more caffeine in a 8 oz drip medium roast, in a single shot espresso, or in an 8 oz dark roast? Where does the espresso's crema come from? Which is... Read more
Posted on 29 June 2012 DRINK, FOOD & DRINK -
Egg and Smoked Scamorza Pasta
This vegetarian dish is inspired by the renowned Carbonara. I would not call it "Vegetarian Carbonara" though, as there is no such thing in Italy. If... Read more
Posted on 29 May 2012 FOOD & DRINK, VEGETARIAN & VEGAN -
Summer Minestra
For a summer meal, soup is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. But it's in the summer that we have the best local vegetables and that the body need... Read more
Posted on 15 May 2012 FOOD & DRINK -
Two Kinds of Crostini: Cannellini and Radicchio
Crostini (plural of: 'crostino', from bread crust) are rustic appetizers where toasted bread slices are used as a support for various toppings. Read more
Posted on 09 May 2012 FOOD & DRINK