Difference in Gourmet French and Italian Cuisine?
Godric asked:
Between French and Italian food, what is the difference in their execution, ingredients and preparation. What seperates their beleifs in what makes the food delicious, or maybe… délicieux or squisito!
Freeman
Between French and Italian food, what is the difference in their execution, ingredients and preparation. What seperates their beleifs in what makes the food delicious, or maybe… délicieux or squisito!
Freeman
May 29th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
French food is “high maintenance”. Italian foods are often served at room temperature.
French foods use a lot of sauces and spices. Italian foods are simple, and depend on fresh local ingredients to taste good.
Some french food is wonderful; so is some Italian food. But cuisines are, like anything else, subject to Ted Sturgeon’s Law: 95% of *anything* is crap.
June 1st, 2008 at 5:43 pm
This is an interesting question…
Many of my Italian coworkers have explained to me that the French actually learned high cuisine from the Italians. In fact, many Italian chefs were chefs of the French Royalty.
My impressions (a very limited view) is that Italian cooking relies on the ingredients to shine with minimal saucing and simple cooking methods. French cuisine emphasizes sauces as well as fresh ingridients, but the fat based sauces are in integral part of French cuisine.
June 4th, 2008 at 12:42 am
I agree that many techniques in French cooking is from Italian origins. In fact many techniques in French cooking is from other areas of Europe. But indeed the French took these ideas and adapted them and made them French. Much the same as Americans have done. One reasons that today American Gourmet cuisines/chefs are among the best in the world.
Both still use of seasonal ingredients that determine the seasonal dishes. Both use a lot of sauce but the edge to cream based sauces goes to the French.
For starch the Italians prefer a pasta to a potato.
Vegetables are also very similar with selections unique to regions for both.
Execution is not much different but in true classical French (Escoffier ) the steps can be long and labored.
June 4th, 2008 at 4:59 am
Italian food is actually fine quality Haute Cuisine that is respected and appreciated all over the world.
French Shit is not fit for Human consumption and is usually manufactured in bulk by Purina or one of the pet food makers.
June 5th, 2008 at 3:13 am
French food is not really all that high maintenance, they make some very simple and beautiful dishes. They do not, of course, have as much pasta.
According to the Italians, they taught everybody everything. Not so, though.