What is the difference between ice cream and gelato?

When going out for dessert, choosing between ice cream and gelato may seem redundant. Most people don’t even know the difference between both! Even though gelato technically means ice cream in Italian, there are key differences. With gelato there tends to be a softer, smoother texture whereas American style ice cream is a heavier, creamier consistency. The factors that create this difference between the two are a few simple things like sugar, fat, air, and serving temperature.

The difference between ice cream and gelato mainly has to do with the process of how it is made and the ingredients used. Ice cream is made with mainly water and freezing cold temperatures so it makes crystals and to keep these crystals as small as possible through different ingredients while also making a great flavor. The fat and sugar help create a barrier in between the water molecules as it freezes to make a syrup type substance that will never actually freeze. Then the air comes into play when it is being churned, the more air in it, the fluffier and less dense it becomes. Throughout this whole process of making the ice cream, gelato has less fat and has less air in it when it is being churned. Gelato also uses more milk than cream so it isn’t as fattening and it is churned at a much slower rate than American ice cream so not a lot of air gets into it. This gives gelato a very pleasant, dense and milky texture; gelato is also kept at a warmer temperature so it has more flavor than American ice cream, which is kept at very cold temperatures. This is why it is so important to eat gelato at the correct temperature because if it is served cold it will be way too hard and not as enjoyable.

The slight variations in how gelato and ice cream are made can make all the difference. They have two totally different tastes and textures, so if you are tired of the same old American ice cream a try be sure to give gelato a try because you certainly will not be disappointed. Here at La Bottega Farmingdale, we serve Gelato daily in order to satisfy your sweet tooth. Whether you enjoy a cup after a delicious panini, or you stop by just for our gelato, our quality and selection is perfect for you!

The History of Eggplant in Italian Cooking

       

Eggplant is a delicious ingredient that many Italian dishes are centered around or have variations of. Although the eggplant is such an integral part of Italian cooking many people don’t know the history of it or where it has originated from in Italian cuisine.

       The eggplant is grown as an edible fruit and it is related to both the tomato and potato. It is also available year round. When cooking eggplant, it will become tender as well as increase in flavor. In Italian cooking it is typically fried or baked, although the possibilities are endless. The Italian eggplant benefits from its ability to absorb almost all flavors with no problem at all as well as liquids that it is cooked with. This is why it is important that when adding butter or oil you should be careful to not over do it so that you avoid adding extra calories in addition to making the dish extra soggy. There are also many pairings that the eggplant can be used with such as tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, parmesan, mozzarella cheese, onions, garlic, herbs such as basil, arugula and oregano, grilled steak, veal, and lamb. Eggplant also has a very short shelf life and needs to be used within three to four days of harvesting it; eggplants should also not be refrigerated as this can damage it. Many of the famous dishes that revolve around eggplant are eggplant parmesan, caponata and melanzane sott’olio or pickled eggplant under oil.

       The eggplant is the cornerstone to a majority of Italian meals and is an ingredient that continues to be experimented with by chefs all over. The eggplant has inspired many great dishes and has become almost synonymous with Italian cooking throughout the years.

Here at La Bottega Farmingdale located on Long Island, we offer a wide variety of authentic Italian dishes that feature eggplant including three of our paninis. Our Potenza panini features fried eggplant, mozzarella, tomato, basil on krispina bread. Our Foggia features also fried eggplant, smoked mozzarella, black olive paste, sundried tomato on krispina bread. Our Sicilia panini features fried eggplant, mozzarella, roasted peppers on krispina. These dishes are just a few of our many panini options. Order online or come by today!

Our Gluten Free Food Options

Over the past few years, “Gluten Free” foods have become a way of life for many people. Gluten free foods have risen as the negative effects of gluten has become more clear. Although not all people react poorly to gluten rich foods, gluten intolerance and sensitivities are very common. If you live near Farmingdale, Long Island, La Bottega Farmingdale offers a wide variety of gluten free menu options for dining in, take-out , or delivery.

Gluten is a protein in certain grains such as wheat, rye, and barley. This protein causes negative reactions in the small intestine and results in symptoms varying from stomach pain to nutrient malabsorption. Gluten can make people’s stomach very sensitive. The protein gluten contains sticky, elastic properties.  When the gluten reaches the digestive tract, the immune system can mistake the gluten is a foreign object, like bacteria.

Some people can be diagnosed with an allergic reaction to gluten. This is called celiac disease.  Celiac disease is when a person is extremely sensitive to gluten. Celiac disease causes people’s digestive systems to attack the gluten. While the body is attacking the gluten the body also attacks enzymes called tissue transglutaminase, which is essential for the digestive system to contain. Celiac disease restricts people from eating any form of gluten in order to protect the digestive system and enzymes.  It is understood that gluten free foods are very difficult to find.

La Bottega Farmingdale, located on Long Island, New York  has a large variety of gluten free food options including paninis and salads. Our Calabria panini features Sopressata, brie cheese, and fresh tomatoes on foccacia. Our Tacchino e Avocado salad features roasted turkey, mixed greens, tomatoes, shredded mozzarella, avocado, sauteed mushrooms, & roasted hot peppers with balsamic dressing. These are just two of our delicious gluten-free menu options.

La Bottega makes delicious gluten free meals that are indistinguishable from similar dishes containing gluten. The next time you are in the Farmingdale area and  don’t feel like preparing a meal for yourself, try one of our 75 gluten menu options.

Making healthy choices during Summer BBQ Season

Summertime is all about barbeques with your friends and family, but the food available at these barbeques may not always be the healthiest. There are ways though, that you can eat healthy while still enjoying yourself and eating what you like.

One way to ensure you eat healthy is to make your own dish and bring it. This way, even if all of the foods there are not as healthy as you would have liked them to be, you can have at least one healthy meal to indulge in. Portions are another huge part of being able to stay healthy. You can still eat those macaroni and potato salads as long as you don’t over-do it. Make sure to pay attention to the amount of starchy foods you are eating and try to keep portions small.

Start out by eating vegetables. If you fill up on the healthy stuff first, you’ll have less room for the non-healthy foods later on. Getting up and doing some physical activity after your meal is helpful too. Although you don’t need to go and run a marathon, having a catch in the backyard or doing some other kind of backyard game will definitely have a positive impact on your body and the way your meal is digested.

Another way to make sure to stay healthy but still be able to eat the good stuff is by eating salads. If you are having trouble figuring out what you should put into your salad, La Bottega in Farmingdale has a number of different salads for you to choose from. Salads are a great thing because you can add ingredients to them while still being able to keep the meal healthy. Two ingredients that are not only healthy but tasty are fish and grilled chicken. Fish is one of the healthiest foods in the world. It’s loaded with protein and vitamin D and grilling is a low-fat cooking method for chicken. Grilled chicken is a great source of protein and carbohydrates. La Bottega has a large selection of salads that are both healthy and delicious and contain grilled chicken as well as different types of fish. Adding these healthy ingredients not only make your salad more enjoyable, but give you a healthy amount of protein and vitamins too.

How to craft the perfect summer salad

With the summer essentially here, there will be a ton of barbecues to attend as well as dishes to bring with you. One dish that is always put out first, is the salad. For many, the salad course gets lost in the shuffle, but truly paying attention to the details, will get you compliments from everyone at the party!

When creating a salad, the ingredients are always the most important: You want the salad to not only be nutritious but delicious. Deciding your overall theme for your salad whether it’s sweet, tangy, savory, or a combination will help you hone in on the best ingredients for your salad. Having a wide array of fresh fruits and vegetables on hand will leave you with many options. A good salad will be well balanced, with colors, texture and flavor. When making a salad the end product should always be to make it look as aesthetically pleasing as possible and as delicious as possible. Also while creating the perfect salad it is important to incorporate some type of lean meat, like chicken. This will give you that special taste as well as make it more of a filling dish to put it over the edge. To give you salad the best flavor you should marinate the meat you use as well as to make sure the dressing used for the salad compliments well with the consistency of the whole dish and doesn’t overpower it so that it just tastes like dressing the whole time. The last part of creating the perfect salad is the assembly of the salad so that all the ingredients are mixed in just right so that every bite shares the same complexity.

Salads like our Rucala Caprino e Pollo, combine grilled chicken, baby arugula, goat cheese, sundried tomatoes, toasted walnuts, with a balsamic dressing for a sweet and crunchy texture. One of our new salads called Insalata di Mango features baby kale, fresh mango, grilled chicken, quinoa, cherry tomatoes, almonds, shredded mozzarella, with a mango dressing provides a unique sweet and savory experience. Whatever salad  you decide to craft, creating unique flavors and textures using fresh and healthy ingredients is your key to success.

Crafting the perfect salad may seem daunting to some people but with the right ingredients and the right attitude there should be no problem. Salads are meant to be healthy and enjoyable and there is no reason why either of those should be compromised.

Hot soup isn't just for the winter: Scientific reasons why soup actually cools you down

Many people believe that soup should only be had during the winter months or maybe when you’re suffering from the cold or flu, but there are many scientific reasons to suggest otherwise. There is evidence out there that shows how soup can actually cool you down during the hot summer months.

One of the main reasons is that soup can help resupply your body with fluids that are lost throughout a hot summer day. The broth of the soup is the main contributing factor to this. Another thing to consider is that drinking something hot will in turn make you hot, and that will trigger the body’s natural cooling process of sweating which will inevitably make you cooler! 

The ingredients of the soup can also have a cooling effect if they are vegetables that are rich in water content. Although soup is not the most common thing to have when it is hot out or may not be something everyone craves, this scientific evidence proves otherwise. The lasting effects of having soup will definitely be felt later in the day when you have a better feeling of energy because of increased hydration. It should also be noted that eating or drinking something cooler than your actual body temperature like ice cream or beer will not have the same lasting effects of having something hot or spicy, like a soup. Having something cool will initially feel relieving but it will only last a short while and then you’ll feel then need to have more. Something like soup will last much more into the day and by that time you most likely won’t feel the need to cool off any further.

Here at La Bottega of Farmingdale, our soup menu has a wide variety of soup options that can help you cool this summer. Our lobster bisque is a great summer option that will not only cool you down but will taste amazing.Our zuppa di pollo ai vegetali is also another great and delicious option that features vegetables that will also aid in the cooling process.

Having soup on a hot summer day may seem like a preposterous idea but these facts suggest that it may be exactly what you need. Instead of grabbing an ice cream cone, go have a bowl of soup and see for yourself!

The Best Ingredients to add to your salad if you are Healthy Conscious

People hear the word salad and automatically think it’s healthy. But, that is not the case with every single salad. Some are made with too much cheese, fattening creamy dressings, and loaded up with croutons, these are not the ingredients to put into a salad when trying to eat healthy. Sometimes it might be hard to go out to eat at a restaurant and order a salad that is both flavorful and good for the body but La Bottega in Farmingdale has over 30 different salads to choose from, each containing at least one of the ingredients that are perfect for a health conscious person.

Some of the healthiest salad ingredients are dark leafy greens, carrots, tomatoes, beans, fish, avocados, vinaigrette, citrus fruits, mushrooms, and peppers. Each of these ingredients is unique in how they provide for the body.

Dark leafy greens, carrots, tomatoes, vinaigrette and citrus fruits are great for preventing a number of different cancers. The beans are a source of protein and can help to suppress tumor growth. Fish, salmon specifically, is rich in B6 and reduces the recurrence of colorectal adenomas, a type of cancer. Avocados are extremely healthy and provide the body with a number of different nutrients. Avocados contain lutein, alpha-carotene and beta-carotene which prevents eye disease and cancer, decrease asthma symptoms, and are good for the bones, skin and immune system. Mushrooms are also great for the immune system and peppers contain a lot of Vitamin A, which plays a role in bone growth, reproduction and immune system health and is important for healthy vision; and Vitamin C which protects against immune system deficiencies, cardiovascular disease, prenatal health problems, and eye disease.

Of all the salads available at La Bottega, more than half of them contain at least one of these healthy ingredients. If you’re in the mood for a salad with seafood, La Bottega has four different salads made with the customer’s choice of shrimp or salmon. The Salmone e Pere salad is made with salmon, spinach, endive, red pears, toasted pecans, roasted beets, cherry tomatoes, and a raspberry vinaigrette, not only does this salad have the healthy fish in it, but it has vinaigrette, spinach, and tomatoes also. Another salad we have that is made with fish, is the Gamberoni e Guacamole salad. It has grilled shrimp, lettuce, guacamole, toasted almonds, cherry tomatoes, roasted hot peppers, and lime dressing. That one salad alone has five of the healthiest salad ingredients available.

If seafood is not something you are interested in, there are also salads made with grilled chicken and salads that do not contain any kind of seafood or meat. The Insalata con Funghi for example, is made with mixed greens, portobello mushrooms, roasted peppers, toasted sunflower seeds, and mozzarella with balsamic dressing.

Eating healthy can easily be done when dining at La Bottega. Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options are also available.