Tag Archives: Italian cuisine

Fett’ unta on Via Maffei, Cortona

26 May

In Italian, the word “merenda” means afternoon snack. Fett’ unta is a new small eatery in Cortona, just opened a week, serving light lunch and dinner as well as afternoon snacks. We watched them doing construction at this location last summer so we stopped in today to sample the local cuisine. As for the name, if I understand it correctly, unta means “greased” as in greasing something with oil. Since literal translations rarely work, I’ll go with drizzling olive oil on your bread or panini, etc. At any rate, the food we ordered was delicious.

We shared two different bruschette:

Pear, cheese and walnuts; Mozzarella and roasted tomatoes

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Then we each ordered a hearty local soup as summer has yet to arrive in Cortona:

Orzo, artichoke and pecorino

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And pearl barley and beans

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Meet the owners, Ulisse and Antonio

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and check out their website at www.fettunta.net

Better yet, stop by when you are in town and they can make you a fresh prosciutto panini!

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Ciao,

Judy

Buona Festa di San Giuseppe!

16 Mar
Painting by Guido Reni, c.1635

Painting by Guido Reni, c.1635

Growing up in a neighborhood filled with many Irish and Italian families, I was always happy that the Italians also had their day in March to celebrate. Of course, never as loud, rowdy or perhaps quite as “fun” as St. Patrick’s Day, and with much quieter fanfare, we nonetheless celebrated the Feast of St. Joseph on March 19. And while the Irish had their green beer and accessories, the Italians, often sporting something red, had their zeppole, a cream filled fried pastry that originated in Napoli.

Zeppole

©Blogginginitaly.com

According to my fellow blogger, MariaGiovanna, (Sharing My Italy) the “Zeppole di SanGiuseppe” originated in Naples, Italy, “where the first recipe was put on paper, in 1837, by the famous Neapolitan gastronome Ippolito Cavalcanti, Duke of Buonvicino.”

Fortunately, you don’t have to be in Italy to enjoy a zeppole. This morning, I headed to the Ferrara Bakery on Taylor Street in Chicago to check out the famous pastry. Light, airy and filled with cream, it was fun to see the smiles they generated on those wiping the cream from their lips.

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©Blogginginitaly.com

Not surprising, Ferrara’s was busy filling and selling what appeared to be hundreds of dozens of the cream filled gems.

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©Blogginginitaly.com

And since St. Joseph’s Day isn’t until March 19, you still have a few days to stock up!

Zeppole

©Blogginginitaly.com

So, to those looking to get beyond the grey days of winter, here’s an idea – participate in a St. Joseph’s Day custom by sharing some food with the needy and some friends, and, of course, be sure to share some zeppole!

Ciao,

Judy