Italian Cheeses

Whether it is the gooey, stretchy mozzarella or the flaky, delicious parmigiano reggiano sprinkled on top, most people can agree that the cheese is the star of the show when you take a bite into a piping hot slice of pizza. Italian cheeses are best served incorporated into delicious lunch or dinner dishes, so here is all you need to know about mozzarella, parmigiano reggiano, provolone, and other Italian favorites.

Everyone is most likely familiar with mozzarella as we know it today, but did you know it was originally made from water buffalo milk? Also known as mozzarella di bufala, this cheese comes in two forms. Fresh mozzarella is made from whole milk and is often formed into balls and kept in a brine to keep its freshness. It is not an aged cheese and is best eaten soon after is made. Mozzarella goes perfectly with some basil, olive oil, and tomatoes, and creating an insalata caprese is the best way to devour this cheese quickly. Mozzarella is often hand-spun, giving it its famous pull apart and meltable texture and moistness. Its other form, which is more commonly used, is a softer, stretchier cheese usually bought shredded or in a block.

Nicknamed the “King of Cheeses”, parmigiano reggiano is a cow’s milk cheese originating from the Italian provinces of Parma and Bologna and is aged over two years. The cheese can only be made from April through November as these months allow the cows to eat only the greenest grass rather than dry hay. It has huge flavor that can be paired with many dishes such as pasta, salads, vegetables, meat dishes, breads, and soups. Authentic parmigiano reggiano will have a stamped rind.

Gorgonzola is the cremier Italian version of blue cheese. This soft, sweet cheese gets its name from the city of Gorgonzola, which is outside of Milan. As an alternative to bleu cheese, it is great with grapes and is a good choice for your wine and cheese parties. Born in the Italian alps, Asiago is another aged cheese which is great to serve when entertaining. Sliced up with bread or shredded into pasta, this hard cooked cheese is great for snacking or for preparing delectable meals.

Provolone is another well known Italian favorite. It’s an aged, somewhat smokey cow’s milk cheese from Basilicata, Southern Italy, and is best served as a sandwich cheese. Provolone is firm but with some elasticity, making it great for melting and pairing with meatballs or roast pork or even cooked into a tasty omelet.

These are just a few examples of delectable Italian cheeses which are sure to be crowd pleasers. There are many more Italian varieties, and any you choose, you can be sure that it will it will entertain your taste buds and take your dishes to the next level. Buon appetito!

Eating Right This New Year

What better way to start off the New Year by eating all the hearty and healthy foods in order to boost your energy and to get that healthy figure you’ve been craving? Most people start off the New Year eating a healthy diet because they want to get in shape. In most cases, they fall off the wagon and get back into the diet they’ve been following for years. However, eating right benefits your overall well-being, and by making gradual changes, you can help improve the way you eat in the distant future.

There are many paths to a healthy diet. Switch from full-on fatty foods to low-fat dairy products and choose lean meats and whole-wheat grains instead of fatty cuts and refined grains. These changes can lower your intake of unhealthy fats and increase your dietary fiber intake. Fresh fruits and vegetables contain less sodium than canned foods and consuming produce such as carrots, apples, and cucumber slices are a healthier option than chips and junk food.

While the quality of the food is an important factor, quantity (or lack thereof) also matters when trying new healthy eating habits. Taking in the same number of calories as you burn guarantees your weight to remain stable throughout time. Consuming more than you burn, on the other hand, develops as weight gain and your body converts these excess calories into fat tissue. When you assemble fat tissue, you increase your risk of developing one or more health problems, including heart disease, hypertension, respiratory issues, diabetes, and cancer. A healthy meal plan without an overabundance of calories can help you both feel better and prolong your life.

If you’re trying to live a healthier life, get in shape, or you’re just trying to lose some pounds, eating healthy provides a variety of benefits. Just remember, eating a healthy, balanced diet to make sure your brain has the energy it needs means more effectiveness and increased productivity at work. Also, taste is abstract and healthy food can taste tasty if it’s prepared well. Come into La Bottega of Farmingdale and try some of our health kick foods!

Catering for New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve is a fun night of celebration but it can also be a dangerous night to go out. As we approach a new year and a new era, everyone seems to focus on their finances, especially after Christmas has surpassed, but this doesn’t mean catering your New Year's Eve party should be out of the question.

It is probably better to stay in and host a party in your home instead of going out and worrying about drunk drivers and overcrowded bars. With that being said, if you want to enjoy the event instead of being trapped in your kitchen, you will need the help of a good caterer. For this New Year’s Eve, give yourself some quality bonding time with your friends and family (as well as having as much champagne as you want) and allow La Bottega of Farmingdale to cater and handle all the food.

A party full of friends and family calls for a whole assortment of friendly dishes for both children and adults. Pizza and chicken are called the “old reliables” for a reason, but don’t forget to get some healthy snacks too! The health fanatics out there will thank you later for those organic hors d’oeuvres.

La Bottega of Farmingdale has the perfect menu for those delicious bites if you are in need of any help with food this season. A few recommendations from our world-class menu is penne pasta tossed in a fresh mild marinara with garlic and oil, Mozzarella Basilico on bruschetta, spiedini on skewered, shrimp, and many others.

We are happy to deliver a complete catering event for your News Year’s Eve Party. Don’t hesitate to call La Bottega of Farmingdale today and give your friends and family something to talk about the entire year!

Christmas Dinner Must Haves

The perfect Christmas dinners are joyful, fun, and even a bit formal. As experts (such your Grandma) will tell you, cooking a flawless meal is only half the struggle. It can be difficult to figure out the number of heritages still eating fish on Christmas Eve as most of us are biased and what's traditional in our own house becomes the only tradition. It is nice to give yourself a break on Christmas Eve before indulging in all the different meats Christmas day.

One of the most popular Christmas Eve dishes is fish. In most cases, this is a Catholic tradition related to the Feast of the Seven Fishes. Some Catholics still include seven different fishes in the meal. Salmon, shrimp, tilapia, mussels and clams are common foods for Christmas Eve dishes. A fresh battered salmon with white wine, lemon and parsley dish is perfect for a Christmas Eve plate.

This season of celebrating is a busy one. Your work usually starts with decorating and ends with dessert. Certain possessions mark this time of year in almost every holiday celebrated in these festive months: family, tradition and of course, enjoyable food. Between the madness of Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it may not be easy to sit down and appreciate the great moments during this time of year. One way to make less of all the stress is to cater for the Christmas holiday. By catering your Christmas party, it allows yourself to participate in the celebrations with your loved ones rather than spending time over preparing gourmet dishes of food.

New Yorkers do everything extensive—particularly holiday food. Throughout the holiday months, restaurants will cater for your festivities. La Bottega, located in Farmingdale, will cater fresh foods for you and your family to ease the stress.

It's All About the Bread!

Which part of a sandwich is most important? Without the perfect bread, however, the sandwich will always fall short. There are a wide range of breads that can be used for sandwiches, including whole wheat, ciabatta, krispina, round rustic, and rustic hero, just to name a few. These breads are the staples of a perfect panini.

A panini is a grilled sandwich using breads different from plain ‘ol sliced breads, such as the ones listed above. Sliced bread should not be used for a panini as it is harder for it to withstand the weight of a press or skillet and therefore creating a flatter sandwich (and not in a good way!)

The perfect panini is created using a bread that is able to stand on its own because light and airy bread can become flat and dry. The more dense the bread, the higher chance it has of being a better panini. Although it is an important part of the process, there is no need to use a panini press as you can grill your sandwich in a large skillet and place a smaller, heavier skillet on top of the sandwich. Wetter ingredients, such as tomatoes and grilled vegetables, should be sandwiched between meats to ensure the bread stays crisp and ingredients such as iceberg lettuce should be put on the sandwich afterward to ensure freshness.

The bread we use at La Bottega of Farmingdale for our paninis include the deliciously dense bread mentioned above and we expertly prepare them every time for our guests. The secret to a perfect panini is in the bread so stop by La Bottega of Farmingdale today to taste the difference!   

Holiday Party Catering

This season of celebrating is a busy one. Amid all the festivities, your work begins with decorating and ends with dessert. Certain things mark this time of year in almost every holiday celebrated in these chilly months: family, tradition and of course, delectable dishes. Between the chaos and madness of Black Friday and Cyber Monday and the in-laws to entertain, it may not be easy to slow down and relish the special moments during this magical time of year. One way to reduce this stress is to consider catering your holiday events. Allow yourself to indulge in the celebrations with your loved ones rather than spending time stressing over preparing perfect plates of food.

At La Bottega of Farmingdale, we value family and friends, and there is no better way to celebrate than with sharing a delicious meal with loved ones. Start a new family tradition by trusting La Bottega to prepare expertly crafted Italian fare for your holiday event. Our catering can be delivered, or picked up and is always prepared fresh and served hot. You can rely on us to provide great dishes that taste amazing and are presented beautifully and we can even recommend off-premise professional wait staff to serve at your party. Our gourmet catering menu can accommodate all tastes and includes everything you need such as salads, hors d’oeuvres, pastas, entrees and of course, our famous paninis.

Let La Bottega of Farmingdale take on the hard work so you can enjoy your time decorating and opening gifts with your family and loved ones. Your guests will be impressed by the appetizing Italian cuisine and you will have more time to focus on the more important things this holiday season. Get the most out of the holidays by making La Bottega of Farmingdale your new favorite tradition.

Buon Natale and Happy Holidays!

What Makes for Great Takeout?

Takeout food is a great option for those nights when you want to relax at home but want to experience the pleasures of dining out. As we head into the cold winter months, enjoying a meal in the comforts of your own home can be a great feeling.

A large menu can be important when selecting a restaurant to take out dinner from as a restaurant with a wide variety of food is critical for pleasing everyone in the family. A good restaurant will have a lot to offer, including sandwiches such as paninis, soups and salads for an appetizer or meal, pasta dishes, and of course, dessert.

La Bottega of Farmingdale offers that and much more! In addition to those options, we also offer pizzettes, traditional italian dishes, traditional entrees, kids meals, and many vegetarian and gluten-free options. You can truly please everyone!

Another aspect to consider is the menu offerings. Everyone finds different foods comforting, but most find hearty and creamy foods to be the best when at home. Soups such as crème de broccoli or minestrone are great options to consider.

Soup is a great winter meal and it can be eaten as a main dish or as a great appetizer. La Bottega of Farmingdale has perfected the warm-pressed panini, and we now offer nearly 60 different menu options ranging from traditional to gluten-free. There is a panini for every palate!

Our dessert menu includes nutella panino or our flourless chocolate cake, and you will feel completely satisfied for the rest of the night. Just like dining in, take out is an experience! Truly enjoying a meal at the comfort of your own pace is a great thing.