While we like being Sarasota's best kept secret for ten years now, but we'd rather let the cat out of the bag and tell everyone! Like our page, Post a link to our page on your wall (or click "share" below") so your freinds can like the Cafe Italia facebook page too and you'll be in the running to win a free $100 gift certificate when we hit 250 fans! Good luck! the more likes we get the more of a chance you get to win help get the word out everyone!!!!!!
Café Italia Pizza & Italian Restaurant
Jan 10, 2012
Free $100 gift certificate
Win a $100 gift certificate when we hit 250 facebook fans!
While we like being Sarasota's best kept secret for ten years now, but we'd rather let the cat out of the bag and tell everyone! Like our page, Post a link to our page on your wall (or click "share" below") so your freinds can like the Cafe Italia facebook page too and you'll be in the running to win a free $100 gift certificate when we hit 250 fans! Good luck! the more likes we get the more of a chance you get to win help get the word out everyone!!!!!!
While we like being Sarasota's best kept secret for ten years now, but we'd rather let the cat out of the bag and tell everyone! Like our page, Post a link to our page on your wall (or click "share" below") so your freinds can like the Cafe Italia facebook page too and you'll be in the running to win a free $100 gift certificate when we hit 250 fans! Good luck! the more likes we get the more of a chance you get to win help get the word out everyone!!!!!!
Oct 12, 2011
Italian Dinner and Wine
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| Print Italian Dining Deal |
In reality, there are only a few important tips to remember when pairing wine with food.
Red Wine With Red, White Wine With Everything Else
This is one of the most basic "rules" of food pairings. Red wine goes with red meat, and white wine goes with everything else. Of course it's not completely that simple, but this is one of the most basic guidelines you can keep in mind.
The reason for this is because red meat is considered to be a very heavy meal, and white wines are typically lighter and rather crisp, and may be somewhat overwhelmed by the main course. Pairing a light wine with such a robust dish is going to make you lose the flavor of the wine and do nothing to enhance the taste of the dish.
Additionally, if you were to have a hearty red wine with a light dish of pasta or fish, you would no doubt notice how your food is overpowered and you lose much of its flavor. And if your pasta dish has a heavy red sauce, this would no doubt just clash with a heavy red wine. By pairing this with a taste that's lighter and crisper, you can better enjoy the flavor and texture of both.
Desserts and Your Options
Many enjoy a good wine with a dessert and can be at a loss as to what to do now. There really are no hard and fast rules, except that you need to keep in mind the texture and sweetness of the dessert just as you would the flavor and body of your main course. Some desserts have much less sugar than others, and when you have a very sugary dessert with a very dry wine, the contrast in flavors may detract from both. Many recommend a sweeter wine such as a Reisling for dessert, and suggest you avoid a dryer Chardonnay.
Rules Are Meant to Be Broken
Remember that these so-called rules are really just guidelines and of course you need to make your own decisions according to your own tastes. Some people don't care for dry white wines no matter what the food, while others find reds to be too heavy and spicy. If you truly want to find a good food pairing, don't hesitate to experiment with a few different combinations, and make your choices based on what you enjoy the most and what seems to make your food the most enjoyable.
Oct 11, 2011
Italian Restaurant Sarasota
Ciao bella!!
Oct 7, 2011
Pizza Restaurant Sarasota
New York style is distinguished as Neapolitan pizza although the relationship is distant.
The most notable difference between New York style and other American pizzas is its thin hand-tossed crust, made from a high-gluten bread flour and better . The flavor of the crust has sometimes been attributed to the minerals present water used to make the dough.
New York-style pizza is usually sold as whole large pies — typically around 18 inches (45 cm) in diameter — and most commonly cut into 8 slices.Much Bigger than the corporate Pizza chains and better Pizza may seem simple to make but many who partake in the process will attest to the fact that there is an art to the process. You can make this hot, aromatic dish with any number of ingredients to get a variety of flavors. It all depends on where you start and where you end up.
New York-style pizza begins and ends with the dough. When you are preparing for cooking it you start with laying out your dough and when you are finishing a slice you end up with the crust. So as far as dough is concerned there are several options, and it probably causes the most strife amongst family members. Some prefer thin, some prefer thick Chicago style, or New York style foundation of crust. Dough is only one piece to the puzzle, but each piece is so important to each and every bite.
Next is the sauce for your pizza. Some connoisseurs may argue that the only sauce is tomato sauce. Meanwhile, a lot of people have moved past only tomato and enjoy varieties such as garlic oil, or pesto, for example. Just as the dough is only a piece of the puzzle, the sauce adds to the mixture of flavors in your mouth. Tomato will always have its significance but other flavor combinations are awaiting this food presentation.
Oct 6, 2011
Italian Coffee
Italian coffee – something for everyone
Espresso, caffè latte, cappuccino; there would seem to be as many types of Italian coffee as there are pastas. And just like pasta, Italian coffees are an art form accompanied by hundreds of customs and traditions. Whether it's a corretto coffee thrown back like a shot of alcohol, a cappuccino coffee and croissant for breakfast, or an iced coffee to cool off from the hot midday sun, in Italy there is a coffee drink specific for every time and mood.
But how do you make the perfect cup of espresso? There are fully automatic espresso makers, pump driven espresso machines, lever piston espresso machines, and, of course, the classic aluminium espresso coffee maker – the choices are endless. All will make a great cup of coffee but it is entirely dependant on the features that you desire. The perfect cup of coffee depends not only on the bean type and the milk you use but also the machine - blade vs. burr coffee grinders, tamp pressure, water temperature, and humidity. Caffeine lovers not only have their favorite local coffee house or cafè, but even prefer certain baristi because of their ability to deliver a perfect espresso coffee.
So what kind of coffee should you order? The possibilities can be as daunting. Below is a list of the our most popular coffee beverages.
Most coffee drinks start with espresso and espresso is just coffee that is brewed a certain way. It is finely ground to almost a powder then very hot water is forced through the grounds under intense pressure.
The brewing process is timed so that the flavorful and aromatic oils are extracted from the coffee and not the bitter components. This produces a strong flavored, but not bitter, concentrated shot of coffee.
Straight Shot
The straight shot refers to espresso coffee and the secret to good espresso is the extraction time, volume, and golden crema which is a thick light brown layer of frothed coffee oils that float on top of a properly extracted espresso.
The short shot or ristretto is extracted to a volume of three-quarters of an ounce. The shorter restricted pour magnifies the essence of the coffee and the chance of any bitter elements being extracted is minimized. If you have ever ordered an espresso shot in Europe they usually serve the ristretto.
The long shot or lungo is extracted to a volume of one and one-half ounces.
The double shot is a 2 ounce shot using twice as much coffee in the portafilter.
The correct way to serve a straight shot is to extract it directly into a warmed demitasse cup. The warm demitasse cup will keep the straight shot warm and prolong the crema. A straight shot is best enjoyed immediately after brewing.
It is rare to see people drinking straight shots of espresso in the US. Most people here drink variations using steamed milk mixed with the shots to make the different coffee drinks listed here.
Espresso Macchiato
The Espresso Macchiato starts with a shot of espresso and then a small amount of foamed milk is spooned over the shot. Macchiato in Italian means "marked," as the espresso is marked with foam.
Espresso Con Panna
This is an Espresso Macchiato using whipped cream in place of the foamed milk. The drink gets its name Con Panna which means "with cream."
Caffé Americano
The Caffé Americano is a drink similar to American brewed coffee. It is made with a single or double shot of espresso combined with 6 to 8 ounces of hot water out of an espresso machine. The result is a very smooth cup of coffee that is much hotter than brewed coffee.
Cappuccino
Cappuccino is made with a fluffy, wet foam, mixed with espresso coffee upon the pour to create a blend of the two flavors. Cold milk is essential, as is expertise in the foaming process. Cappuccino has a large volume of foam making it a light weight drink and less filling.
Caffé Latté
Caffé Latté is similar to the cappuccino but with much less foam and more steamed milk. A latté is made by holding back the foam with a spoon while pouring the frothed milk from the steaming pitcher. The caffé latté is completed by being topped with a small amount of the held back foam.
Caffé latté gets its name from the addition of coffee to milk. For an iced latté, cold milk is combined with the espresso and then the ice is added.
Caffé Mocha
A caffé mocha is made by adding powdered or chocolate syrup to a hot shot of espresso and blended. Steamed milk is then be added to the espresso-chocolate mixture and usually it is topped with whipped cream.So now that you know what's in the basic coffee drinks, try one you haven't tasted yet. Who knows, you might find a new favorite.
Espresso, caffè latte, cappuccino; there would seem to be as many types of Italian coffee as there are pastas. And just like pasta, Italian coffees are an art form accompanied by hundreds of customs and traditions. Whether it's a corretto coffee thrown back like a shot of alcohol, a cappuccino coffee and croissant for breakfast, or an iced coffee to cool off from the hot midday sun, in Italy there is a coffee drink specific for every time and mood.
But how do you make the perfect cup of espresso? There are fully automatic espresso makers, pump driven espresso machines, lever piston espresso machines, and, of course, the classic aluminium espresso coffee maker – the choices are endless. All will make a great cup of coffee but it is entirely dependant on the features that you desire. The perfect cup of coffee depends not only on the bean type and the milk you use but also the machine - blade vs. burr coffee grinders, tamp pressure, water temperature, and humidity. Caffeine lovers not only have their favorite local coffee house or cafè, but even prefer certain baristi because of their ability to deliver a perfect espresso coffee.
So what kind of coffee should you order? The possibilities can be as daunting. Below is a list of the our most popular coffee beverages.
Most coffee drinks start with espresso and espresso is just coffee that is brewed a certain way. It is finely ground to almost a powder then very hot water is forced through the grounds under intense pressure.
The brewing process is timed so that the flavorful and aromatic oils are extracted from the coffee and not the bitter components. This produces a strong flavored, but not bitter, concentrated shot of coffee.
Straight Shot
The straight shot refers to espresso coffee and the secret to good espresso is the extraction time, volume, and golden crema which is a thick light brown layer of frothed coffee oils that float on top of a properly extracted espresso.
The short shot or ristretto is extracted to a volume of three-quarters of an ounce. The shorter restricted pour magnifies the essence of the coffee and the chance of any bitter elements being extracted is minimized. If you have ever ordered an espresso shot in Europe they usually serve the ristretto.
The long shot or lungo is extracted to a volume of one and one-half ounces.
The double shot is a 2 ounce shot using twice as much coffee in the portafilter.
The correct way to serve a straight shot is to extract it directly into a warmed demitasse cup. The warm demitasse cup will keep the straight shot warm and prolong the crema. A straight shot is best enjoyed immediately after brewing.
It is rare to see people drinking straight shots of espresso in the US. Most people here drink variations using steamed milk mixed with the shots to make the different coffee drinks listed here.
Espresso Macchiato
The Espresso Macchiato starts with a shot of espresso and then a small amount of foamed milk is spooned over the shot. Macchiato in Italian means "marked," as the espresso is marked with foam.
Espresso Con Panna
This is an Espresso Macchiato using whipped cream in place of the foamed milk. The drink gets its name Con Panna which means "with cream."
Caffé Americano
The Caffé Americano is a drink similar to American brewed coffee. It is made with a single or double shot of espresso combined with 6 to 8 ounces of hot water out of an espresso machine. The result is a very smooth cup of coffee that is much hotter than brewed coffee.
Cappuccino
Cappuccino is made with a fluffy, wet foam, mixed with espresso coffee upon the pour to create a blend of the two flavors. Cold milk is essential, as is expertise in the foaming process. Cappuccino has a large volume of foam making it a light weight drink and less filling.
Caffé Latté
Caffé Latté is similar to the cappuccino but with much less foam and more steamed milk. A latté is made by holding back the foam with a spoon while pouring the frothed milk from the steaming pitcher. The caffé latté is completed by being topped with a small amount of the held back foam.
Caffé latté gets its name from the addition of coffee to milk. For an iced latté, cold milk is combined with the espresso and then the ice is added.
Caffé Mocha
A caffé mocha is made by adding powdered or chocolate syrup to a hot shot of espresso and blended. Steamed milk is then be added to the espresso-chocolate mixture and usually it is topped with whipped cream.So now that you know what's in the basic coffee drinks, try one you haven't tasted yet. Who knows, you might find a new favorite.
Oct 5, 2011
Cafe Italia History of Pizza
Cafe Italia History of Pizza
By far pizza has become America's favorite food over the past 50 years. Million of pizza pies are eaten daily, but how often do the people eating the food stop to consider the history. The true origins of this fine cuisine are as colorful as any good pizza pie heaping with toppings.
The common belief is that Italians invented the pizza, the origins go back to the ancient times.
The bread was much like a pita, which is still common in Greece today. Further it is known that ancient Mediterranean people such as the Greeks, Romans and Egyptians were eating the bread, topped seasoned with olive oil and native spices.
Naples, Italy is believed to have created pizza in a more familiar fashion. In the late 1800s a Italian baker named Raffaele Esposito, was believed to have created a dish for visiting royalty. According to the story, the Italian monarch King Umberto and his consort, Queen Margherita were touring the area. In order to impress them and to show his patriotic fervor Raffaele chose to top flat bread with food that would best represent the colors of Italy: red tomato, white mozzarella cheese and green basil. The king and queen were so impressed that word quickly reached the masses. The end results were that the dish was well received to the extent that others began to copy it.
By the beginning of the 1900's pizza made it's way to the inner cities United States, thanks to Italian immigrants, most notably New York and Chicago, due to those cities having large Italian populations. Small Cafes began offering the Italian favorite. American soldiers further prompted the dish to become very popular at the end of World War II, having been exposed to it while serving on the Italian front.
Today pizza has become just as American as baseball and apple pie.
Everyone can appreciate the fine dining experience pizza has given them.
By far pizza has become America's favorite food over the past 50 years. Million of pizza pies are eaten daily, but how often do the people eating the food stop to consider the history. The true origins of this fine cuisine are as colorful as any good pizza pie heaping with toppings.
The common belief is that Italians invented the pizza, the origins go back to the ancient times.
The bread was much like a pita, which is still common in Greece today. Further it is known that ancient Mediterranean people such as the Greeks, Romans and Egyptians were eating the bread, topped seasoned with olive oil and native spices.
Naples, Italy is believed to have created pizza in a more familiar fashion. In the late 1800s a Italian baker named Raffaele Esposito, was believed to have created a dish for visiting royalty. According to the story, the Italian monarch King Umberto and his consort, Queen Margherita were touring the area. In order to impress them and to show his patriotic fervor Raffaele chose to top flat bread with food that would best represent the colors of Italy: red tomato, white mozzarella cheese and green basil. The king and queen were so impressed that word quickly reached the masses. The end results were that the dish was well received to the extent that others began to copy it.
By the beginning of the 1900's pizza made it's way to the inner cities United States, thanks to Italian immigrants, most notably New York and Chicago, due to those cities having large Italian populations. Small Cafes began offering the Italian favorite. American soldiers further prompted the dish to become very popular at the end of World War II, having been exposed to it while serving on the Italian front.
Today pizza has become just as American as baseball and apple pie.
Everyone can appreciate the fine dining experience pizza has given them.
Aug 23, 2011
Cafe Italia Franchise
Cafe Italia Anyway you slice it – Fast Casual or Fresh Fast – Cafe Italia incorporates the hottest new trends in the fast casual market, offering hungry consumers an upscale blend of Old World charm with New World convenience that we call the Neighborhood Pizza Café.
Claim your Franchisee in the casual pizza franchise.
What makes Cafe Italia Pizza such a hot franchise? Fire-Roasted Gourmet Pizzas™, Fresh Chopped Salads, Fire-Roasted Gourmet Sandwiches, and Gourmet Italian Entree are some of the finest tasting recipes.
Cafe Italia Pizza & Restaurant
Is one of the most affordable, turnkey franchise packages with very small franchise fee.
"Thats right we said it"
Be a part of this revolutionary pizza franchise—experience the growth and excitement!
Call Today for More info!!!
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