There’s no doubt that any Italian dish is truly a sensory experience, and we Italians really love to show off with a grand antipasto to start off a meal.
Antipasti are the traditional beginning course in Italian dining, the term is derived from the Latin “ante” (before) “pastus” (meal) but it is a lot more than just a pre-meal snack.
Antipasti are an art. The choice of ingredients and colours are meant to get your appetite going and excite your taste buds for more!
Where it all started
My name is Isabella and my family has lived in Rome for generations. We’re true Italians and very proud of our heritage. However these days Rome is changing. It’s now a busy cosmopolitan city with loads of energy, hustle and bustle, and cool style. It’s not the old traditional Capital of Italy anymore – it is crazy, dynamic, and exciting!
The family business has always been restaurants and I grew up sitting in the dining room while mamma and papa prepared the food. As as soon as I was old enough I would wait tables and talk to the guests. I love hospitality and the restaurant business. It is a part of me and I’ve been in it my whole life.
I’ve grown up in this business and have watched things really change. People crave amazing delicious food but now they seem to want it faster and served in a more casual and relaxed setting.
People my age really aren’t that interested in sitting around for ages and paying a small fortune to eat good food. Especially younger Romans! They can be demanding of the taste and quality of the food because they eat out a lot and they know what good food tastes like.
I knew that with my passions and experience I could really bring a little bit of Italy with me, anywhere! So I decided to do just that, by sharing the beauty of our culture in food.
My restaurant and its cuisine is a story of tradition, change, and family.
A little bit of everything …
An Antipasto is a selection of simple ingredients which when combined together not only taste really amazing but form a whole experience in itself.
Antipasti are typically served in smaller portions across a platter where you will find a variety of breads and dips, olives, anchovies, artichoke hearts, cheeses, and deli meats.
Before we get into the antipasti you can find at the best Italian restaurant, Italian Street Kitchen, here is a little insight on the different types of Antipasti which you can find around some of Italy’s most iconic regions.
Northern Italy
Northern Italy extends from the Alps down to the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas. Northern Italian cuisine is characterised by foods from its dairy-rich areas, as well as oils and fresh herbs from the more southern areas of this region.
Antipasti may include: polenta fritters and mortadella, fresh figs, olives, fresh mozzarella, basil pesto, prosciutto di parma balsamic onions, fresh fennel, tuna and cannellini bean salad
Central Italy
The most famous regions in this area for its food are Rome and Tuscany, which are world-renowned for their delicious foods from both land and sea.
Antipasti may include: Prosciutto, tomato, basil, mozzarella, gorgonzola, smoked salmon and fennel, eggplant, salami,and seafood
Southern Italy
Southern Italian antipasti are full in taste due to the use of fresh seafood from the Mediterranean Sea and a variety of beautiful herbs and tomatoes.
Antipasti may include: artichokes, roasted pepper bruschetta, black olives, anchovies, dry salami, olives, ricotta salad, and cheeses
I know what you’re thinking, “What Italian restaurants near me offer great antipasti like these?” Well, you’re in luck – because we most definitely do!!
Come check out our Italian restaurant in Sydney, Italian Street Kitchen and let the food do the talking!
On our Antipasti Menu you will find :
Wood-fired Italian cheese bread
Italian flatbread with garlic and fior di latte cheese
Patate Croquettes (Naples)
Crispy fried croquettes filled with potato & truffle cheese served with aioli, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and gremolata
Arancini norma (Sicily)
Crispy risotto balls filled with eggplant, tomato & mozzarella, served with arrabbiata sauce, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and garlic crisps
Calamari Fritti (Venice)
Flour dusted fried golden baby calamari served with squid ink aioli
Panzerotto (Apulia)
Fried pizza dough folded and filled with mortadella, buffalo mozzarella, and Sardinian pecorino cheese
Meatballs in Sugo (Naples)
Slow-cooked beef meatballs in classic Sugo, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese & garlic Italian flatbread
Salumi & Cheese Board
Selection of cured meats, mixed olives, buffalo mozzarella, Sardinian pecorino cheese, carta di musica bread, sweet chilli jam and peppers
and last but not least …… Isabella’s signature antipasti
With : Calamari, croquettes, prosciutto di parma, mortadella, mixed olives, buffalo mozzarella, Sardinian pecorino cheese, carta di musica bread, sweet chilli jam and peppers.
We work with providers in Roma, Napoli, Sicilia, Venezia, and regional Italy to source premium stone-ground flour, tomatoes, cheeses, and produce that you won’t find anywhere else on earth.
Antipasti are like a film’s opening credits, they signal the start of something special. Antipasti are usually enough to shift the entire atmosphere of a gathering; enticing each visitor to the table for a meal among friends or family, spreading love and laughter.
We would be honoured to have you here at Italian Street Kitchen for your next dining experience, and don’t forget to treat yourself to our signature Antipasti!
