Your Guide to Ordering Italian Food

If you love Italian food, you know that little is more pleasing than a bowl of pasta or a fantastic pizza fresh out of the oven. One thing that may seem confusing about Italian food is the fact that so much vocabulary appears on the menu next to these dishes. If you've ever wondered about what those words mean, this guide will help you decide what to eat for your next Italian meal or pizza.

Certain Italian words describe the methods by which chefs cook the food. These words indicate whether something was cooked on a grill or in an oven, for instance.

If a chef cooks something al dente, it means that it is not completely soft. It has a bit of a bounce to it. Many pasta dishes are cooked al dente.

Something that is cooked al forno is cooked in the oven. Comparable dishes are those that are roasted.

One of the first words you might see on an Italian menu is 'antipasto.' Antipasto is an appetizer, typically consisting of antipasti dishes like meats, marinated olives and other vegetables, and salads. Prosciutto, which is sliced smoked ham, and salami are among the most popular antipasti dishes.

Bruschetta is another popular Italian appetizer. Bruschetta consists of crispy toasted bread served with a topping. The topping is typically a diced tomato concoction.

Gnocchi is a dish consisting of dumplings, typically made of potatoes. The dumplings are smothered in a sauce.

Calzone is similar to pizza and often contains the same ingredients. The main difference is that a calzone is shaped like a turnover, with the dough wrapped around the ingredients. It typically makes a semi-circle shape.

If you are looking for something else similar to pizza, you might enjoy a flatbread. Focaccia is a type of flatbread, which can be plain or topped with cheeses, meats, veggies, and herbs.

Risotto is a savory rice dish that is fried and then cooked in a meat or vegetable stock or wine. Risotto is often mixed with other ingredients, like mushrooms.

Pomodoro sauce is a classic Italian staple that consists mainly of tomatoes. Pasta al pomodoro is typically served with fresh tomatoes, olive oil, and basil. The tomatoes have been cooked for a long time, so the tomatoes are more saucy rather than chunky.

If you see something on a menu served in Milanese style, the style is consistent with Milan's. This means the dish will be coated in egg, breadcrumb, and Parmesan cheese. These dishes are often fried but could be baked.

Bolognese is a sauce consistent with the style of Bologna, Italy. Bolognese is a pasta sauce that includes more meat than tomato. You might also see this sauce referred to as “ragu.” It consists of a liquid, like meat stock, water, wine, or cream, and vegetables. The meat is ground and cooked with the liquid and veggies.

If you love a dryer pasta, you might enjoy carbonara. Carbonara sauce consists of eggs, cream, cheese, and ham. It tops pasta, often spaghetti.

Caprese style, which comes from Capri, is a style in which the meal is served with tomato, olive oil, basil, and mozzarella.

Pesto is a green sauce used for pasta and pizza. Pesto is made out of olive oil, pine nuts, basil, and cheese ground finely.

Finally, you might see a bianco sauce or style on the menu. Bianco is a white sauce without tomatoes.

Camden House of Pizza serves a delicious assortment of Greek and Italian dishes, including pastas and pizzas. Come in today to try one of these delicious dishes, and don't be afraid to ask questions about our menu offerings.