Italian Menu Items and Questions for Restaurants

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Appetizers
Prosciutto e Melone (Cured Ham and Melon)
Prosciutto e Melone is a common dish found in many Italian restaurants. It is fresh cantaloupe or honey dew wrapped with prosciutto di parma, an Italian cured ham. Sometimes the dish contains aged hard cheese such as parmigiano reggiano.

Gluten-Free Decision Factors:

• None

Food Allergen Preparation Considerations:

• May contain dairy from cheese

Salads
Insalata Caprese (Mozzarella Tomato Salad)
Buffalo mozzarella and tomato salad is an Italian classic. Large slices of buffalo mozzarella are stacked with freshly sliced tomatoes. It is usually seasoned with salt and pepper and potentially other dried herbs on occasion. Large leafs of basil garnish this dish, which is lightly dressed in olive oil and sometimes balsamic vinegar.

Gluten-Free Decision Factors:

• None

Food Allergen Preparation Considerations:

• Contains dairy from cheese
• May contain corn from vegetable oil
• May contain peanuts from vegetable oil
• May contain soy from vegetable oil

Meat Entrees
Costoletta D’Agnello (Lamb Chops)
Costatella (rack) or costoletta (chop) are widely considered the most flavorful cut of lamb. They are taken from the rib and have a good amount of marbling, which provides the rich flavor. Italians traditionally roast lamb with olive oil, rosemary, salt, pepper and plenty of garlic. If the menu description states that the dish is herb encrusted, bread crumbs are usually used. The dish is typically served with a side vegetable or pasta.

Gluten-Free Decision Factors:

• Ensure lamb is not dusted with wheat flour
• Ensure no wheat flour pasta—order gluten-free pasta or polenta if available
• Ensure no bread crumbs

Food Allergen Preparation Considerations:

• Food allergens may vary in side vegetables
• May contain corn from bread crumbs and vegetable oil
• May contain dairy from bread crumbs
• May contain eggs from bread crumbs and pasta
• May contain peanuts from bread crumbs and vegetable oil
• May contain soy from bread crumbs and vegetable oil
• May contain tree nuts from bread crumbs

Side Dishes
Broccoli Rabe (Broccoli Florets)
Broccoli Rabe is a slightly bitter tasting relative of broccoli. It is also called brocoletti di rape, rape and rapini. It resembles the leafy flower of regular broccoli and is very popular in Southern Italy. Outside of Italy, many restaurants may substitute broccoli rabe with regular broccoli. The Italian preference is to boil broccoli rabe for a few minutes to take out the bitterness, then sauté it in olive oil with garlic, salt and chili peppers. In Northern Italian restaurants, butter may be added along with various Italian herbs. The dish is usually garnished with chopped parsley and sometimes
lemon wedges.

Gluten-Free Decision Factors:

• None

Food Allergen Preparation Considerations:

• May contain corn from vegetable oil
• May contain dairy from butter
• May contain peanuts from vegetable oil
• May contain soy from vegetable oil