Comfort Food

Everyone has their comfort foods, whether it be chicken and potatoes, a dish of pasta, or a classic burger with a side of cheese fries. We all have that one type of food that we go to when we're, upset, angry, lazy, or just in the mood to just chew.

But what if you’re not in the mood to cook? How about an Italian restaurant with a menu that changes daily? At La Bottega of Farmingdale, we are dedicated to keeping a varied menu using only the freshest ingredients.

When it comes to guilty pleasures, what brings us more pleasure than a cheesy slice of pizza? And let's be honest, for most of us, pizza is the ultimate comfort food! All of our food is preservative-free and made fresh daily. Our menu offers a variety of hot dishes, salads, soups, classic paninis, and of course, pizza. It is our commitment at La Bottega of Farmingdale to serve you truly authentic Italian food.

Another great comfort food for when you’re feeling under the weather is a bowl of hot soup to help free us from the chills of our season colds. What brings more joy than soup and crackers when sick? Here are some of the soups that we found to be unforgettable ones: traditional Italian soups such as the Minestrone Lenticchia (which is made with lentils), Zuppa di Pollo, an Italian chicken soup with pasta and cheese, or tortellini in brodo, a stuffed pasta in broth. We also offer countless classics, such as crème of broccoli or vegetable chicken noodle soup, for those more choosy or less exotic.

Even if you are not sick, a cup of soup and a panini can only make you feel better! Paninis have always been a huge part of Italian cuisine and is a great comfort food due the many recipes incorporating different flavors and textures. La Bottega of Farmingdale has a variety of panini’s to choose from, and is just one of the many reasons to come on down and give our authentic Italian cuisine a shot!

What Makes for a Great Catering Experience?

It’s no secret that food can make or break an event, but the menu, presentation, time, and service also have to be in perfect accordance with each other. People often wonder what qualities make a great catering service. All great caterers possess a wealth of qualities related to their craft, but what’s the most important quality making the experience unforgettable is the recognition of a client’s needs and the compliance to fulfill them.

Whether the event is a business meeting, a family get together, or a celebration with friends, a person planning an event and seeking out a catering service desires workers that are educated in the field, possess good work ethics, and have a firm understanding of time management. If you have a plan for an event, it is best to seek out a catering service that will serve as your vision.

The first step is to communicate with your caterer and make sure he or she fully understands your vision and make sure he can parlay that vision into action. A bad catering experience can not only poorly represent the restaurant, but it can also poorly represent the person who is planning the event or celebration. A caterer may also be in charge of some décor, table arrangements, and food presentation. Setting up, running orders, and clearing the dining room all fall under the task of a caterer.

The catering menu at La Bottega of Farmingdale will be able to match your vision and provide your party or event with world-class food and service. We offer a variety of delicious foods, ranging from vegetarian and gluten free dishes and are able to provide substantial portions of food for a reasonable price.

Gaze through our catering menu as we offer over sixty different gourmet foods. Choose from over twenty-five salads, a variety of homemade soups, and our chef’s specialties featuring many different main courses and pastas.

The Secret Behind a Perfect Panini!

A panini is a grilled pressed sandwich that originated in Italy. These sandwiches are assembled cold and then pressed for the optimal amount of time.

Sometimes there are sandwiches we just eat because we're hungry and then there are sandwiches we get excited about eating. The latter of these two are almost always grilled -- like a panini. Generally, food is more appetizing when it's toasted golden brown and filled with delicious melted cheese. We all know the panini will always win over the lifeless un-grilled sandwich, but how do you get it crisped so perfectly?

There are three main components of a panini: bread, cheese, and all the extras (meats, condiments, spreads, vegetables, etc.). But the panini is more than just a fancy name for a grilled cheese. When crafted with quality ingredients, the finished grilled sandwich is bursting with flavor. One of the best attributes of a panini is that they’re infinitely versatile and customizable to whatever you like.

For that night when you just don’t feel like slaving in a kitchen, make it a panini night!

How could you tell the Panini is done when cooking it at home? By the sizzle of a whole lot of cheese that escapes and bubbles all over the grates! However, due to the fact that you cannot regulate the height of the grill, the sandwich becomes too squished and causes the cheese to ooze more than would be desired.

While sandwiches are great, warm sandwiches are even better. La Bottega of Farmingdale has all the right fixings; fresh meats, juicy tomatoes, melted cheese, flavorful pesto, and crispy breads. For example, the Chicken Trieste Panini from La Bottega of Farmingdale is perfect for any occasion. Your favorite grilled chicken gets a boost from black olive peste, grilled zucchini, and melted mozzarella on a fresh ciabatta roll.

At the end of the day: who is better to do it than La Bottega of Farmingdale?

Benefits of Eating Soup

Soup can be enjoyed with a meal or even as one! A bowl of soup is packed full of nutrients and highly regarded for it’s health benefits.

Some of the many health benefits to eating soup are as follows:

Vegetables

Vegetables are the main ingredient in a large number of soup recipes. Eating vegetables is part of a healthy diet and veggie soups are highly recommended. The American Heart Association recommends adults consume eight or more servings of fruits and vegetables every day and soups can contribute to that total. Almost any vegetable lends itself to use in soup, from creamy squash or tomato bisques, to beef or chicken vegetable soup.

Nutrients         

A bowl of soup as a meal can make you feel much more energized, full, and take a few inches off that waistline! Soups made with beans and lean meats, such as fish, provide fiber and lean protein. Tomato soup is a very popular choice and is a good source of lycopene, an antioxidant helping reduce the risk of cancer, particularly prostate cancer. Vegetables in soup contain Vitamin A and C and cream soups supply both calcium and Vitamin D.

Filling

A bowl of hearty soup is a comfort food that will fill you right up! Soup is mainly made of water and fills you up without the calories. The Volumetrics Weight Control Plan, a book published by Barbara J. Rolls in 2000, explains how eating soup and other high-volume, low-calorie foods can help you lose weight.

At La Bottega of Farmingdale, we have a variety of delicious soups to keep you warm on these brisk autumn nights. We offer traditional Italian soups such as the Minestrone Lenticchia (made with Lentils), Zuppa di Pollo (an Italian chicken soup with pasta and cheese), or tortellini in brodo (a stuffed pasta in broth). For the pickier eaters, La Bottega of Farmingdale offers timeless classics such as crème of broccoli or vegetable chicken noodle soup. Our most popular soup, the Zucca Butternut Squash Soup, provides the delicious flavors of autumn in a light and healthy way!