Italian Restaurants Bellevue; Two Of The Best Establishments In Town

By Luigi DeMarco

Bellevue is a diverse city with a diverse culture of restaurants. Italian Restaurants Bellevue include the more expensive to small family owned restaurants. All of them are very good and serve a number of great Italian American and Italian Traditional dishes.

You can find a great restaurant called Ristorante Paradiso's on 110th Avenue downtown near the public library and the square. Lunch and dinner is served and they also have a large room to accommodate around seventy guests. In another area they have a dining room for 10 or 15 guests that is private. Andiamo's prides itself on having an exquisite atmosphere with good wine and food at a price most people can afford. The atmosphere is contemporary and the kitchen is open to the dining area. There is parking right outside the door.

Andiamo's menu is spectacular and the appetizers include Antipasto for two piled high with prosciutto and salami, bruschetta, olives and roasted vegetables that costs about 14 dollars. There is a host of other appetizers like bruschetta, squid in marinara sauce, smoked salmon, a salad comprised of basil, mozzarella and tomatoes and many more items. Soups are fresh on a daily basis and it depends on the day as to what kind of soup is made costing 7 dollars for a bowl and 6 for a cup. Salads include the Andiamo salad made up of lettuce and other greens, cheeses, grilled eggplant, roasted red pepper and a vinaigrette sauce that costs 7 dollars.

Fish is available and depends on what is fresh at the market. The menu has a chicken section offering chicken parmigiana, chicken Marsala, and chicken Piccata all for around 19 dollars each. These dishes are all made with veal as well. There is a lamb dish and fillet Mignon that costs market cost of the day. The pasta section of the menu is magnificent. A signature dish of the restaurant is a Pear and Gorgonzola ravioli that is served with a Gorgonzola walnut sauce and costs around 20 dollars. There are many other pastas on the menu. There are vegetarian dishes that pair pasta with ricotta and mushrooms with different types of sauces from red to white. There is a multitude of pastas made with seafood and many different types of risotto. The prices might be a little more expensive than some restaurants but the cuisine is impeccable and it is worth the little bit of extra money you may spend.

Firenzi Ristorante may give Andiamo's a little quality competition. Firenzi opened its doors in 1992 and have made friends with many Bellevue residents for many years. The walls are stucco that reflect the candles on the tables and the terracotta floor looks like you just stepped into an Italian villa. The owner and staff are extremely friendly and will make sure you are treated right.

The menu starts with a variety of appetizers including prosciutto with cheese and olives, or a traditional and tasty bruschetta. You can get calamari here but it is different as it is served with peas in a sauce made of tomatoes. Salads are many as well including a regular romaine salad that is topped off with tomatoes and mushrooms. You will pay anywhere between 7 to 16 dollars for an appetizer.

The pasta offerings are abundant and include all types of pastas that are smothered in many different sauces such as Alfredo, claim, Pesto, tomato, wine sauce, or mushroom sauce and cost around 14 to 25 dollars. This restaurant also has chicken that is stuffed with cheese and ham in a cream or a wine sauce. They have the regular Marsla, Pizzaiola, and Piccata on the menu too. There is lamb, sausage dishes, quail and a multitude of seafood dishes. The entrees run from 14 to 25 dollars. If you have a sweet tooth you can find desserts at this restaurant that will tickle your tongue. Find Firenzi Ristorante near Bellevue square and visit them at lunch or at dinner time.

Bellevue has a few pizza restaurants and other smaller and chain type Italian Restaurants besides the two above. Firenzi and Andiamo�???, ?s are the restaurants that people go to for great Italian food and have very good reviews from customers. There you will feel like you are visiting Italy right in the middle of Bellevue. - 30211

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Learning About Tasty Italian Cheeses

By Luigi DeMarco

Italian cheeses are some of the best in the world. And while we're all familiar with the top few selections, from our pizza and sandwich consumption, it may surprise you to know there are around 400 different Italian cheeses to choose from. And when it comes to quality and good tasting cheese, the Italians have a great passion for delivering on it, and they do.

From Sicily to Tuscany the Italians make some of the best parmigiano and provolone in the world. Their Mozzarella is a household name. And again, these don't even scratch the surface of the number of cheeses they actually make. They use goat's milk, sheep's milk, buffalo milk, and cow in their processes. All their cheeses have great texture and fragrance, and are good for both shredding and cooking.

The quality of their cheese is taken very seriously by the Italians. One thing to watch for when you shop for cheese, is their quality assurance stamp on the label. This is known either as the PDO - 'protected designation of origin', or the IGT - 'protected geographic indication. If you see this you know it' a product of good quality. If you shop for wine, you'll find that wines use these same designations.

When learning about tasty Italian cheeses, you're sure to come across the famous 'Bel Paese' cheese. In Italian, this means 'Beautiful Country'. This cheese has become one of the favorites of all time and one of the best known by people all around the world. It was first made near Milan in a place named 'Melzo'. But it's mostly made in Lombardy, with pasteurized cow's milk. It's meant to be used as a table cheese, but works very well in cooking.

Yes, the Italians and their passion for cheese making is known worldwide. They would hike up into the Alpine mountains, where they'd refine their cheese production methods. Then when they came down, the world welcomed them with open arms. Up there in the old days, back on the mountains, they'd use caves for keeping their cheese cool. The concept of refrigeration was still fairly new.

They use the same types of tools today as they did back then. After all, if it works, then don't fix it. They use wooden shelves, salt, oil, water, cutting boards and small hammers. The three main ingredients that anyone needs in order to make a cheese, is salt, rennet, and milk. From here you can make all kinds of cheeses, and using different kinds of milk and processes, will produce different cheeses.

Milk is the beginning of all cheese making. Simply broken down, cheese is milk coagulated. Ricotta is a cheese that's made with milk whey and cream. The Italians have four basic types of milk that they use, and they are buffalo, cow, sheep, and goat. But other cheeses may be made up of the milk of yaks, reindeer, or camels.

Italian cheeses are known worldwide, yet many Americans go about their lives enjoying the fruits of Italian labor, without ever learning about the processes or history behind them. It's a very interesting subject for study. If you'd like to learn more about it, you're only a few mouse-clicks away. The internet is loaded with information about the Italians and their wonderful cheese. - 30211

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Enjoying Your Vacation In Italy

By Vincent Brooks

Vacation is a nice "getaway of stress" from work or studies. It's a time wherein a family, friends, and lovers will have some fun together. Many go overseas to have their vacation. The nicest place to go is in the continent of Europe. The most popular place is the country of Italy. Italy has tons of tourist spots. A lot of amazing architecture, fashion, arts, etc. can be seen. Touring Italy requires you more than a week to stay. It would be easy for you to explore Italy when you have a guide. With the help of a tourist guide, you can visit many historical places and tourist spots.

It would be essential if you have light baggage. Why? Since, there are many good qualities of fashion trends or styles in Italy. You might be tempted to buy one or more bags while you are there. Italy is also best in their winery. You have to taste their wines and foods, they are awesome. You have to visit places with excellent architectures like the Piazza Del Campo in Siena, Leaning Tower of Pisa, St. Marks's Basilica in Venice, Colosseum in Rome, and many more. You might want to ride the famous gondola of Venice. The striking beauty of monuments, landmarks and ancient buildings are grateful to experience.

Italy's cities and metropolitan areas are Rome, Milan, Naples, Turin, Palermo, Genoa, Bologna, Florence, Catania, Venice, Bari, Verona, Messina, Padua, Trieste, Taranto, Brescia, Prato, Modena, and Reggio Calabria. Therefore, with these much places to visit it is much advisable to have a tourist guide. These beautiful and historical cities are great because these cities have a huge contribution to our modern civilization.

Italy is also the home of famous musicians and painters. These are namely Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Donatello, Botticelli, Fra Angelico, Tintoretto, Caravaggio, Bernini, Titian, Raphael, Palestrina, Monteverdi, Alessandro Scarlatti, Corelli, Vivaldi, Paganini, Rossini, Verdi, Puccini, and many more. Italians like playing sports like football, basketball, fencing, and ice hockey. Spaghetti and pizza are some of the great traditional Italian foods and you can enjoy these foods with different sauces.

If you want a valuable vacation with terrific time, spectacular views, and quest, you should visit Italy. Italy has all this astonishing places. People will be enthralled by the views that Italy could present to the tourist. Booking beforehand is necessary to avoid impediments. Getting in touch with an agency will be much uncomplicated and less difficulties. If you are fortunate, you might be able to gain some promos or price cuts. In peak seasons of Italy are also the moment where there are holidays or celebrations held in Italy. It would be immeasurable to experience such happening and find out more concerning Italian people.

At this instant, drain out your timetable and dash to Italy. Vacationing in Italy is an incredible experience of a lifetime. Have fun surveying the cities, enjoying the spectacular views. Allow each moment you're in Italy be a terrific memory that you will cherish. The attractiveness of Italy is great to experience and you can have a nice journey with your family and best friends. On this trip, don't forget your digital camcorders so that you can catch all the exciting things you will experience. - 30211

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Learning About Tasty Italian Cheeses

By Luigi DeMarco

Italian cheeses are some of the best in the world. And while we're all familiar with the top few selections, from our pizza and sandwich consumption, it may surprise you to know there are around 400 different Italian cheeses to choose from. And when it comes to quality and good tasting cheese, the Italians have a great passion for delivering on it, and they do.

From Sicily to Tuscany the Italians make some of the best parmigiano and provolone in the world. Their Mozzarella is a household name. And again, these don't even scratch the surface of the number of cheeses they actually make. They use goat's milk, sheep's milk, buffalo milk, and cow in their processes. All their cheeses have great texture and fragrance, and are good for both shredding and cooking.

The Italians take a lot of pride in their cheese quality. And if you go shopping for a quality Italian cheese, just look for the classifications on the label. These are the 'PDO', which means Protected Designation of Origin. And the other is IGT, which means the Protected Geographic Indication. This is known as their stamp of approval as far as quality assurance. Wine uses the same indicators.

When learning about tasty Italian cheeses, you're sure to come across the famous 'Bel Paese' cheese. In Italian, this means 'Beautiful Country'. This cheese has become one of the favorites of all time and one of the best known by people all around the world. It was first made near Milan in a place named 'Melzo'. But it's mostly made in Lombardy, with pasteurized cow's milk. It's meant to be used as a table cheese, but works very well in cooking.

The Italians are definitely passionate about their cheese. They have made it up in the Alpine mountains, where they perfected their methods. It was an isolated affair, but what they brought off the mountain was literally gold made from milk. Caves were used to keep things cold since the idea of refrigeration back then was just a new concept.

Some of their other techniques are still used today. The tools have remained the same as it has always been. Salt, water, oil, tiny hammers, cutting boards, and wooden shelves are still used in their production methods. Their three basic ingredients for beginning and making a cheese, are salt, rennet, and some kind of milk. They would exchange the types of milk to produce a different cheese.

Anytime you think about making cheese, it all begins with the milk. Cheese is simply the coagulation of milk. Ricotta is derived from cream and milk whey. But the four main sources of milk in Italy are the buffalo, the cow, the goat, and the sheep. But were you to want something even different from that, cheeses can be made from the milk of camels, reindeer, and even yaks.

Learning about tasty Italian cheeses can be a really fun study. Many people go through life enjoying the benefits of this great Italian craft, without ever knowing about the how's, where's, or why's. You can go online and learn much about the processes, like how long to heat at what temperature, etc. It really can be an eye opener if you've never read about it before. The Italians have their recipes down pat. And one thing you can't argue with, is that the quality is definitely up to par. - 30211

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