As the Romans Do: Authentic and reinvented recipes from the Eternal City by Eleonora Galasso

Author:Eleonora Galasso [Galasso, Eleonora]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Octopus Books
Published: 2016-06-01T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

ROMANTIC DINNERS

Anyone keen to seek out authentic Roman types should make a note of the term ‘coatto’. A coatto is the guy you see passing the time in the local bar or square. Restless by nature, irritated by what he perceives to be the inescapable monotony of life, he harbours strong reactions to even the most inconsequential events. He has a passion for sports in general (and for motorbikes and souped-up cars in particular), wears flashy clothes and talks with his hands, his exaggerated gestures accompanied by laughter louder than his car stereo. He performs hilarious acts of bravado, showing off like an urban peacock for the benefit of his girlfriend and the amusement of his pals. Don’t mistake his behaviour for rudeness or malice; in most cases it’s just the result of a misplaced lust for life and hides a good heart and a fierce sense of loyalty.

Like the majority of their countrymen, Romans don’t move out of their parents’ homes until they are well into their thirties. I guess mamma’s gnocchi are just too good to leave behind. In Italy, leaving home usually involves not only a car filled with boxes but also a precious notebook of old recipes from nonna, to bring out on those special occasions, like a romantic dinner. Don’t panic, tradition is your saviour here – after all, the best way to someone’s heart is through their stomach. Every mouthful has to be delicious. Whatever you decide to cook, don’t make it like their mother would. You could never compete. Instead, whip out those tricks you learnt from your grandma and pull it off the Roman way, by giving tradition a glossy, modern finish. Surprise them with the crispiness of Orata in Crosta di Patate, assail their senses with crunchy lamb costolette, cauliflower and chestnuts, or embrace them with the warmth of pasta and chickpeas.

Working your magic through food is a proven path to success, for both you and your guest – think of the lavish banquets of Ancient Rome, where people used to lie on their sides, lazily picking at food in a position that had the advantage of letting them doze off between courses, while the harmonious singing of the muses created a dinner scenario somewhere between reality and imagination. That’s where we are headed in this chapter: romantic food to let the magic happen. Tempting and easy. Impossibly delicious.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.