Piccolo Trattoria

Why Italian Fare Doesn't Have to Scare Off Gluten-Free Diners

Gluten is a protein found in grain that many people cannot digest, often forcing them to give up their favorite foods. Luckily, several samples of Italian cuisine still offer plenty of choices for gluten-free diners without sacrificing the slightest bit of flavor. Read on for four examples of gluten-free Italian food:

Gluten-Free Pizza Crust

Not all flours are the same. Flour milled from wheat may be gluten-heavy, but when made from other grains, like milled rice, the gluten content is kept to a minimum. Many Italian restaurants now offer gluten-free pizza crust to ensure that they can serve everyone who loves Italian food, not just those without allergies. Gluten-free crust comes out crispy, but still with a delightfully chewy texture.

Gluten-Free Sauces

Many restaurants use a flour paste called roux to thicken sauces and keep them from looking like soup on a plate. However, there are many alternatives to roux that can give sauces the same creamy texture, such as adding butter or pureed vegetables, or just boiling the sauce until it reduces. Ask your favorite Italian restaurant what they use to thicken their sauces; most will be happy to accommodate your gluten-free diet.

Gluten-Free Pasta

Gluten-free pasta is actually preferred by many over traditional pasta. Depending on the grain that its flour was milled from, gluten-free pasta is chewy, dense, and tender. Many Italian restaurants will allow you to substitute traditional pasta for gluten-free noodles or sometimes even vegetables.

Piccolo Trattoria is dedicated to accommodating as many special dietary needs as possible, to ensure that everyone can enjoy the succulent Italian dishes that our menu has to offer. We offer a variety of gluten-free dishes and substitutions in a casual environment, and are more than happy to help you find a dish that suits your diet. Call us at (215) 860-4247 if you have any questions about our menu options.

New Piccolo Trattoria Review on TripAdvisor

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! 

See How Pasta Gets on Your Plate

Boxed pasta is one of the world’s easiest and quickest dinners, requiring only a quick soak in boiling water to prepare. The process of creating the pasta before it is placed in the box, on the other hand, is much more time consuming.

This video demonstrates how pasta is made in a factory. You can see the entire process of the pasta, from its beginning as a massive load of flour to its final stage as dried noodles.

We feature all types of pasta here at Piccolo Trattoria. Whether you like traditional, whole wheat, or gluten-free, we have a flavor and shape for everyone! Visit our website or call (215) 860-4247 to learn more about what we offer.

Click Through These Links To Get To Know More About Healthy Mediterranean Dining

Rich in whole grains, seafood, fruits, and vegetables, the Mediterranean diet has gained a well-deserved reputation as one of the word’s healthiest and most successful diets. Its food is fresh, healthy, and delicious—which is a claim that few other diets can compete with. You can learn more about healthy Mediterranean dining by following these links:

• Read this article from U.S. News & World Report for a useful overview of the Mediterranean diet.
   
• The Los Angeles Times offers still more insight into the Mediterranean diet and its history.
   
• The American Heart Association has long been a promoter of the heart-healthy benefits of eating seafood. Visit their website to learn more about their recommendations.
   
• A Mediterranean diet is rich in seafood, but remember that some types of fish are more in line with the diet than others. Find out why by reading this article from eHow.com.
   
• For many serious Mediterranean dieters, a meal without fruit for dessert is like eating Chinese food without a fortune cookie. Check out FruitsInfo.com for a look at several Mediterranean fruits that are commonly served for dessert.
   
• Visit SeriousEats.com to discover the secrets behind three types of gourmet pizza crust: Sicilian, New York, and Neapolitan.

If you’re interested in trying some healthy Mediterranean cuisine for yourself, call Piccolo Trattoria casual Italian restaurant today at (215) 860-4247. 

Dishes That Are Friendly for the Mediterranean Dieter

The Mediterranean diet has gained notoriety in recent years as one of the world’s most successful diets. Countless studies have proven again and again that eating Mediterranean foods is associated with a lower risk of heart disease and cancer, an increased life expectancy, and numerous other benefits. Your local Italian restaurant likely offers a number of diet-friendly Mediterranean dishes, such as:

Caprese Salad

This popular salad contains all the colors of the Italian flag, as well as a host of essential nutrients. Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, which wards off skin cancer; basil has anti-inflammatory properties similar to ibuprofen; and the thick, tender slices of fresh mozzarella are a lean source of protein and calcium. Caprese salads are usually finished off with fruity extra-virgin olive oil, which reduces your risk of heart disease.

Fettuccine Primavera

Don’t confuse this dish with its cream- and butter-based cousin, fettuccine Alfredo. Primavera is a pasta dish that is rich in fresh garden vegetables such as peas, carrots, and asparagus. The rainbow of produce delivers a heavy dose of vitamins, and the oil-and-garlic sauce ties everything together without overpowering it. Order it with whole-wheat pasta, if available, for extra fiber.

Linguine Pescatore

Seafood has been a staple of the Mediterranean diet for centuries. It is high in protein, low in fat, and loaded with essential vitamins and minerals such as zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, and magnesium. This pasta dish combines shrimp, clams, and mussels for huge doses of all of the above. If available, pick the red sauce over the white, which is usually made of butter and cream.

Brooklyn-Style Pizza

Did you know that pizza crust has more calories than the toppings? Brooklyn-style pizza avoids this problem by holding its toppings on a crispy, wafer-thin crust. Top it off with lean chicken and lots of vegetables and you’ve got a delicious, healthy treat for dinner.

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!