In America, Italian food almost always means Spaghetti, Lasagna or some variation of those dishes. Native Italians, or well-versed travelers often know that that is not the case. Italy has a long and rich cuisine history filled with many things that may be considered odd or flat out disgusting to those unaccustomed to them. Here are a few of the most interesting and uncommon foods that many natives will swear by, curated by best payout casino online:
- Maggot Cheese
Basically, the decomposition these maggots cause to Sardinian sheep milk aged pecorino cheese creates a soft and pungent aged cheese. There was a period where the E.U. Food and Safety Commission banned the production of this infested cheese (and rightly so). Then, there – of course – developed a black market for the stuff, which cost double the price of the non-rotted, non-maggot-filled version of pecorino. Now the ban has been lifted, but the cheese is still held in cultural regard. Would you pay more for maggots in your cheese?
- Cow Guts
In Florence, you will find (cleaned) guts stewing in broth and slung into bread rolls, or on a plate with spicy or herbed sauces (you’re going to need some flavor enhancer!), along with a cheap glass of Chianti on the side of the road or in a piazza. It’s actually quite good, according to users of real money casino for Australians.
- Stuffed Mice with Mince
Yes, they are still eaten. Today, these mice are a protected species, but in ancient Roman times, they were stuffed with mince meat, nuts, herbs and spices. Yum! It is reported that this ancient delicacy is still consumed (in the tens of thousands!) in a small village located in the Southern Italian region of Calabria.
- Tuscan Chicken Liver Crostini
Okay, so this is like a pate, but some recipes use anchovies and chicken hearts in addition to chicken liver. It is not as fancy and smooth, like French pate; there are definitely bits and chunks of liver in this stuff. But the locals love it. As Hannibal Lecter suggests, it goes great with a glass of Chianti.
- Pani ca Meusa
This is the epitome of (weird) Mediterranean street food – not a normal sliced meat panini or burger – this is the cow spleen served with either caciocavallo (stretched curd cheese) or ricotta, with lemon juice wedged between Sicilian bread.
- Polenta e Osei
Polenta e Osei is a dish consisting of small birds such as larks, quails and sparrows that are roasted on a spit, on an open fire, or on a pan (usually oblong). The cooked avians are then served with eggs, sausage and sage. This dish originated in Veneto, Bergamo and Brescia and exists in two versions, one is very sweet, while the other is very sweet. The sweet version often uses Marzipan or Chocolate.
- Spumoni
If Spumoni were a person, it would be the younger, less likable brother of Gelato. Many Italians enjoy Spumoni, but to others, it is regarded as the Italian fruit cake. Essentially, Spumoni is a molded ice cream dish stuffed with whipped cream, candied fruits and nuts. There are many layers to Spumoni, and many different flavors usually mixed together to create the concoction, similar to Neapolitan ice cream.
