Piccolo Trattoria

Why Italian Salads Are Far from Bland and Boring

It is an unfortunate fact that many people regard Italian salads as bland and boring. The reality is that Italian salads are vibrant, hearty, and packed with countless flavorful ingredients that make for a truly amazing culinary experience. Here are three flavorful Italian salads that you can order:

Caesar Salad

This popular salad, which might be listed on some Italian menus as insalata di Caesar, is Italian in style, but was actually first served in Mexico. Back then, the dressing was served with whole lettuce leaves for diners to dip, much like a vegetable crudité. Today, this salad usually consists of chopped Romaine lettuce and croutons, tossed in a creamy Caesar dressing. Dressing recipes vary by the restaurant, but usually consist of some combination of eggs, vinegar, olive oil, spices, Worcestershire sauce, anchovies, garlic, lemon juice, and Parmesan cheese. The bold flavors in the dressing and the hearty crunch of the lettuce and croutons are as satisfying as they are delicious.

Caprese Salad

This beautiful salad can be served as an appetizer or an entrée, and is packed with many of the ingredients that Italy is famous for. It starts with thick slices of fresh mozzarella cheese and tomatoes, layered with fresh basil leaves and drizzled with olive oil. To make this salad heartier, some creative chefs also add ingredients such as greens, red peppers, and balsamic vinaigrette for extra depth of flavor.

Antipasto Salad

This staple of Italian restaurants everywhere is almost a meal in itself. The components are largely up to the chef, but most antipastos contain at least one type of meat, cheese, and cured or fresh vegetables with an Italian dressing or simple vinaigrette of olive oil and vinegar. Some specific examples of antipasto ingredients include salami, ham, provolone, Kalamata olives, and prosciutto.

You’ll find all of these salads and more on the menu at Piccolo Trattoria of Langhorne, Newtown, and Pennington. Each one is packed with the freshest ingredients for a flavor profile like no other. Call us today at (215) 860-4247 if you have any questions about our casual, BYOB restaurant.

Piccolo Trattoria Newtown Review

No casual Italian restaurant in the Newtown area knows Mediterranean food the way Piccolo Trattoria does. Our menu has a number of delicious, healthy dishes for a true taste of Italy that will always have you coming back for more. Call us at (215) 860-4247 for more information, and be sure to ask about our catering services! 

Piccolo Trattoria Newtown Review

At Piccolo Trattoria, we use traditional Italian cooking methods that honor the flavor of the ingredients, rather than mask them. Make a reservation or stop by one of our locations in Newtown, Langhorne, and Pennington.

Ingredients and Cooking Techniques that Set Piccolo Trattoria Apart

Many Italian restaurants have menus that contain exactly the same dishes, but not Piccolo Trattoria! Every unique dish on our menu contains premium ingredients prepared in a variety of time-honored cooking methods that make them truly second to none. Read on to learn more:

Bronzini

Also known as Mediterranean seabass, Bronzini is one of the quintessential Mediterranean seafood dishes. This fish has a uniformly silver body and is similar in appearance to a medium-sized trout. Bronzini is most often served whole, with the head and tail still attached. Its flesh is semi-firm and very slightly sweet, not unlike red snapper. The taste of this fish is exquisite, and is even better when baked with the subtle flavors of fresh herbs, salt, pepper, and olive oil.

Gnocchi

It takes a skilled chef to make these soft, pillow-like dumplings correctly, and the ones at Piccolo Trattoria have been delighting customers for years. The secret is a touch of creamy ricotta cheese in the dough, which helps keep the finished product light and airy, but still with the delightfully chewy texture that all gnocchi should have. We serve our gnocchi in a variety of ways, and whether you want yours with pesto, Gorgonzola cream sauce, vodka sauce, Bolognese, or our classic marinara, our gnocchi are sure to be some of the best you’ve ever tasted.

Simple Cooking Techniques

Italy is a chef’s paradise, with fresh seafood, meats, fruits, and vegetables available year-round. For this reason, Italian food is traditionally prepared with very simple methods that showcase the flavor of the ingredients, rather than mask it. That’s why very few dishes on the menu at Piccolo Trattoria are fried–most of them are grilled, baked, or lightly sautéed to allow the flavor of our top-quality ingredients to shine. This makes for a much more enjoyable tasting experience.

If these descriptions made your mouth water, stop by Piccolo Trattoria tonight and taste our delicious Italian food for yourself. We conveniently located in Newtown, Langhorne, and Pennington. To set up a reservation, call us at (215) 860-4247.

The Rich History of Fettuccine Alfredo

Fettuccine Alfredo is one of the world’s most popular Italian dishes, much loved by diners who can’t get enough of the rich, creamy sauce served over perfectly cooked pasta. Many diners don’t realize that fettuccine Alfredo also has a long and fascinating history behind in.

In this fun video, the history of fettuccine Alfredo is discussed. You can trace its entire history, from its origin as a meal for a chef’s pregnant wife to the current variations that Americans know and love.

We make delicious fettuccine Alfredo here at Piccolo Trattoria. Our creamy sauce is made with fresh butter and Parmesan cheese, and is served over our tender egg noodles with your choice of chicken or shrimp. Visit our website or call us at (215) 860-4247 to set up a reservation.