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An Italian-English Glossary
Italian cooking, like any other, has all sorts of terms, and while some are straight-forward, others offer unexpected twists. For example, did you know that the word "Cavolo" (cabbage) can also mean Holy Cow?
Cabbage - Cavolo, in Italian
Cabbage is Cavolo in Italian. Cabbage is one of the staple winter vegetables in Italy, and Italians enjoy many kinds of cabbage, including red cabbage, green cabbage, savoy cabbage, black leaf kale, and the flowering relatives as well.
Beans - Fagioli, In Italian
Italians are great fans of fagioli, or beans, and grow many kinds. The most common are cannellini, plain white beans, and borlotti, cranberry beans.
Braciola - Cutlet, Scallop, or Rollup in English
The meaning of the Italian word Braciola depends upon geography. It is, universally, a slice of meat, but with that established the definitions diverge depending upon where one happens to be in Italy.
Eggplant - Melanzana or Petonciano in Italian
Eggplant are among the most popular summer vegetables in Italy, especially in the south, where the summer wouldn't be quite the same without them.
Chianti - The Chianti Region - Chianti Classico Wine - Chianti Wine
Chianti is a well defined region between Florence and Siena. Chianti is also the wine produced in the Chianti region, and, now, much of central Tuscany.
Tomato - Pomodoro, in Italian
The tomato is now one of the most popular Italian vegetables, especuially in the south. Tomatoes have not always been this popular, however, and still aren't in some parts of Italy. You will find many more tomato based dishes in south Italy than in north Italy.