I Love Italian Regional Cooking - Pairing Lombardy Cuisine With White Wine
Great Lombardy food, fine Lombardy or other white wine...Sitting south of Switzerland, mountainous Lombardy is one of the few regions of Italy that lacks a seacoast. To make up for this terrible shortcoming, the region is home to several beautiful lakes. Lombardy is a major agricultural producer and houses Milan, the financial, fashion, and media center of Italy. Lombardy has it all, including some fine wine and food.
Lombardy vacation on Lake Como.
Risotto alla Milanese (Risotto with Saffron) is one of the region’s signature dishes. It includes dry white wine, onion, Parmesan cheese, a few other ingredients, and the optionally but recommended beef marrow. While often served with red wine, white wine choices include a Pinot Grigio such as the local Oltrepò Pavese or a Soave (make sure to get a good one) from Veneto.
You should really enjoy Orata al Cartoccio (Sea Bass Roasted in Paper) with unsalted butter, olive oil, and your choice of seafood such as shrimp, clams, and mussels. If, like me, you’re not wild about Sea Bass or you’re worried about its possible extinction substitute another fish. Italian Pinot Grigio is recommended for this delicious dish.
Tinche ripiene (Stuffed Tench), a carp-like fish, is prepared with breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan Cheese, olive oil, and spices. One recommendation is the local Franciacorta DOCG Satèn, a bubbly wine made from Chardonnay. I beg to differ; I don’t think you should spend the money for this wine, even if you can find it, to accompany such a meal. I would go with a still Italian Chardonnay and save the bubbly money for a more upscale dish.
If you’re in the Lake districts of Lombardy make sure to taste the local fish, grilled, boiled, or pan fried with local white wines such as Lugana DOC, sparkling or not.
Nougat candy, delicious whether you buy or make it.
Lombardy has lots of desserts that go with white wine. Torrone (Nougat) is often sold in North America. It’s made from honey, sugar, almonds, candied fruits, and other goodies. Enjoy in moderation with Greco di Bianco DOC from Calabria, Moscato di Trani DOC from Apulia, or the Tuscan Vin Santo di Montepuciano DOC. These dessert wines are sold in small bottles, and may be hard to find, especially the first two.
About the Author
Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten books on computers and the Internet, but to be honest, he would rather just drink fine Italian, French, or other wine, accompanied by the right foods and spend time with his wife and family. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. Check out his global wine website at www.theworldwidewine.com with his weekly column reviewing $10 wines and his new sections writing about (theory) and tasting (practice) organic and kosher wines. Check out his Italian wine website at www.theitalianwineconnection.com.
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