Try a Taste of Torino

Try a Taste of Torino

Food Network Chef Giada De Laurentiis Offers Tips on How to Turn TV Viewing into an Authentic Italian Festa

NEW YORK, Jan. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- For two weeks in February, the northern Italian city of Torino will be the brightest star on American television. And as winter sports-lovers thrill to the spectacle, the events, and the gorgeous mountain scenery, they're bound to work up an appetite for some great Italian food. Barilla, the No. 1 brand of pasta in Italy and America, asked Giada De Laurentiis, renowned chef, cookbook author, and host of the Food Network's "Everyday Italian," for some expert advice on how to cook up a gold-medal-worthy TV-watching party for family and friends -- with an authentic taste of Torino.

Nestled in the Italian Alps, Torino is a city rich in history, style, culture -- and of course, wonderful food. Torinese cuisine sometimes differs in significant ways from "mainstream" Italian cuisine, showing influences of classic French cooking; butter appears more frequently than olive oil, and sauces are commonly found on meats and vegetables, not only on pasta.

Giada's festa menu captures the warming spirit of Torinese cooking: Baked Cheese Tortellini with Tomato Cream celebrates the fresh-stuffed pastas enjoyed in Torino; Orzotto with Eggplant and Pumpkin honors the rice grown in this region and stars two vegetables that are synonymous with Torinese cuisine; Torino's emphasis on meat dishes shines in Beef Tenderloin with Gorgonzola and Porcini Mushroom Sauce; and the Hot Chocolate Bar will remind guests why Torino is Italy's chocolate capital. (Complete recipes available by request or at http://www.barillaus.com/torino).

Following are Barilla and Giada's suggestions for a casual dinner that will transport your guests to the ski slopes, skating rinks, luge runs -- and dining destinations -- of Torino:

Table Setting: Show Your International Spirit

Create wintry table centerpieces by frosting plain glass hurricane-style candle lamps with "spray snow" (available at craft stores) and add decals of flags of the various countries that will come together in Torino. Or simply place flags from different countries in a glass vase. Use a snowflake theme for tablecloths, napkins and napkin rings. Frosted white glass votive candles also will enhance the wintry mood.

One Course -- or Many

"My Torino menu is based on the traditional way of eating in Italy," notes Giada, referring to the multi-course meal of antipasto (appetizers), primo (soup, pasta or rice), secondo (meat, poultry, or fish), contorno (vegetable side dish), dolce (dessert or sweets); and bevende (drinks). "But of course, you can choose to make as few or as many dishes as you like. Just be sure to have enough food on hand for seconds!"

Serve Authentic Pasta

Giada advises, "To really help your guests 'be Italian,' serve authentic Italian pasta, like Barilla. For my Baked Cheese Tortellini with Tomato Cream, I recommend Barilla Tortellini. It's the closest to homemade tortellini you'll find and it bakes beautifully in this pretty, delicious dish."

For Chocolate Lovers

Chocolate is a serious business in Torino; there are more master chocolatiers there than in all of France and Belgium combined. Top off the night with Giada's suggestions for a hot chocolate bar. For a special treat, serve guests the famous Torinese specialty known as bicerin: thick hot chocolate with a shot of espresso, topped with fresh whipped cream.

You Be the Judge -- and Pick the Winners

Create scorecards for guests out of construction paper, press-on numbers from 1 to 10 (found at any office supply store) and popsicle sticks -- and invite them to hold up their numbers after each sporting event. In the spirit of friendly competition, create a sheet with the athletes' names for each event for guests to fill out. Reward the person with the most correct picks at the end of the night with a bar of good Italian chocolate.

For a complete Taste of Torino entertaining guide and more great recipes and entertaining ideas, call Barilla at 1-800-922-7455 or download the brochure on their website at http://www.barillaus.com/torino.

About Barilla

Since 1877, Barilla has been producing pasta and other grain-based foods for consumers around the world. The company's basic animating principle has been to make these healthy products affordable to all, no matter where they might be. Barilla has remained true to its entrepreneurial roots over the past four generations, by combining ancient Italian traditions with cutting-edge technological advances. The result is a globally successful company, built on a foundation of principles that allow for continuous growth to reach ever-expanding goals. The Barilla Group -- whose brands include Barilla, Mulino Bianco, Pavesi, Voiello, Wasa, Misko (Greece), Filiz (Turkey), Yemina and Vesta (Mexico) and Academia Barilla -- is the first Italian food group, headed by the Barilla family for over 125 years. The Group has 27 factories (15 in Italy and 12 abroad). It realizes 30% of sales in volume in more than 120 countries.

Source: Barilla

CONTACT: Brian Fisher for Barilla, +1-212-704-8218,
Brian.Fisher@edelman.com

Web site: http://www.barillaus.com/torino

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