Lift Your Glass to the Negroni

We are enjoying that magical time of year when our homes overflow with holiday cheer and our calendars with seasonal festivities. From Christmas to New Year’s, we find reasons to reconnect with friends and loved ones and meet new acquaintances. It’s the time for parties, celebrations and fun.

Over the past several weeks we have shared the magic of Italian food with you. We looked at the culinary masterpiece that is the traditional Italian meal and we visited an Italian-American family’s home on Thanksgiving to see a glimpse of what was on the dinner table. Our mouths have watered while thoughts of tiramisu and lasagne di zucca danced in our head. Authentic Italian food is truly a feast for the eyes, mouth and soul.

Traditionally, at the end of the meal you are invited to sit back and relax while sipping on a digestivo, the final touch to your authentic Italian dining experience. The digestivo is an alcoholic drink, which Italians think helps with digestion. One digestivo offering might be the negroni.

The classic negroni was first created in 1919 and continues to remain an Italian favorite, it’s a wonderfully simple combination of gin, vermouth and campari served on the rocks with an orange slice for garnish. The rich red color of this drink comes from campari, a liqueur made from the infusion of herbs and fruit. It’s the perfect drink for the holiday season.

As you prepare for the next holiday meal or party, consider adding some traditional Italian dishes and cocktails to your menu. The Italian culture is rich in food and drink and we are treated to an adventure for the senses with every bite and every sip. When done correctly, one will never leave a table hungry or unsatisfied. Buon Appetito!

Here’s a simple recipe for the classic negroni

• 1 ounce gin
• 1 ounce sweet red vermouth
• 1 ounce campari
• Stir into glass over ice, garnish with orange slice and enjoy.

Join us for one of our Italian food tours and taste firsthand authentic Italian cuisine. Our Pizza tour takes you on a gourmet pizza sampling adventure, as we visit 5 popular Little Italy locales offering pizza varieties from Milan, Naples, Sicily and Liguria.  Our Old School tour gives you a true taste of what it means to eat like an Italian as you are treated to old style selections just like nonna would make.