Cuisine of "well-dressed people"

When chefs know how to "tell stories"

Italians always tell me about three things that make up the value of their cuisine: love, passion, and soul. For them, food is not just for eating, but also for seeing, listening, enjoying... and is a part of life. Italian cuisine has greatly influenced the cuisines of other countries such as France, Austria, and countries bordering the Mediterranean... and is considered by many to be a form of art. The main artistic material is food, and the artists are the chefs who know how to tell stories.

While in some places, the culinary profession is seen as confined to the kitchen, in Italy, skilled cooks are also considered part of the arts – they possess the talents of an artist, a storyteller, or a creative director. Why? In some high-end Italian restaurants, head chefs must not only be highly skilled and professional, but also have a distinct aesthetic sense of cuisine. Giovani Parrella and Enrico Dermatino are two of the most talented and aesthetically-minded Italian chefs I've ever met in Saigon. They have the ability to transform any food item into a work of art. A shrimp can look like a bridge, or a pasta dish can resemble a miniature garden with a multitude of colors. They are the ones who instilled in me a love for Italian cuisine and told me countless fascinating stories about the culinary world of this country on the shores of the Mediterranean.

Chef Giovanni shared with me that Italians are very emotional, passionate about fashion, and view cuisine as an art form, so their cooking philosophies are based on those foundations. Even high-end dishes must tell stories that are close to life, convey the language of culture, and look truly artistic.

The pride of "Fine dining"

Although originating in France, fine dining in Italy is recognized not only as a part of culture but also as a true art form, the proudest aspect of Italian cuisine. Fine dining can be called the highest level of culinary art, using the best ingredients to create the most perfect dishes and providing the most outstanding service in the art of gastronomy. And Italy, blessed by nature, possesses many excellent ingredients suitable for fine dining.

When mentioning Italy, three of its most famous products come to mind: wine, cheese, and pasta. Italy is home to many world-renowned vineyards thanks to its unique soil and climate, such as Langhe – one of the regions that produces some of the world's leading wines. Pasta also comes in many shapes and has different names, such as spaghetti (long, round pasta), tagliatelle (long, flat strands), and rigatoni/penni (shaped like macaroni). Cheese is also widely used in cooking, not only in Italy but also in many other countries. The famous Italian mascarpone cheese is a familiar ingredient in many main courses and desserts. In addition, white truffles – one of the world's most expensive ingredients – are found in Italy and can cost hundreds of millions of Vietnamese dong per kilogram. And even if you have a lot of money, these mushrooms are not easy to buy.

In Italy, enjoying a meal at a fine dining restaurant is sure to be an artistic experience, where you can admire works of art on the table made from food. Take a look at some of the fine dining dishes created by Italian chefs Giovani and Enrico to get a sense of the beauty of this culinary style. There's Zuppa – a traditional organic vegetable soup from Tuscany (in central Italy) reimagined by chef Giovanni in a fine dining style with truffle and pecorino cheese, or mascarpone cheese combined with smoked salmon and caviar, all "painted" in a new way... Every dish is so beautiful you almost don't want to eat it!

Summer - the season of Italian cuisine.

The weather in Italy is very unique, with different temperatures and humidity levels in each region. Therefore, each region in Italy has its own specialties; no two regions are alike. Northern Italy is typically rich in pork, sausages, rice, vegetables like potatoes, and some specialty cheeses, accompanied by signature dishes such as stuffed pasta, Italian corn soup (polenta), and risotto. Meanwhile, Southern Italy is known for its fish and seafood, vegetables like capers, peppers, garlic, olives, artichokes, eggplant, and ricotta cheese. Notably, people in the South are very fond of using tomatoes, either raw or in sauces.

For me, summer is a very special time in Italy. The temperatures are high, relatively hot and humid, but most of the freshest ingredients can be found in the summer: tomatoes bask in the most beautiful sunshine, seafood is fresh and abundant, and children enjoy the best gelato. Gelato, peach bellini cocktail, steamed lobster with lemon, chicken Pollo alla Romana... are popular dishes during this season.

Summer is also the harvest season for what is considered the world's best tomato – the San Marzano tomato from Southern Italy, named after the region itself. Giovanni believes that anyone who has been to Italy or is a native Italian will find the taste of home in the flavor of San Marzano tomatoes. A typical dish featured during this season is Pappardelle – a traditional Italian dish of wide, flat, handmade pasta, wonderfully served with tomato sauce, topped with basil and truffle foam. It's a refreshing, delicious, and distinctly Italian dish.

Another dish that evokes summer feasts is called Maialino – a dish whose main ingredient is suckling pig marinated with typical Mediterranean herbs and spices, then roasted in a wood-fired oven with honey.

There are countless other Italian dishes ready to tantalize not only the taste buds but also all the other senses. I love Italian summer food for a philosophy: Italians believe that the meaning of family always exists and is strengthened in meals, and summer is the best time for family gatherings, when adults have many holidays and children don't have to go to school.

I believe that food is a language that can convey a nation's culture or connect souls who share a common philosophy.

Bui Thu Thao - Founder of Art Kitchen Studio