Italian Seafood Restaurants

Italy is a boot-shaped country on the Apennine Peninsula of Southern Europe, and has one of the longest coastlines in all of Europe. The Mediterranean Sea surrounds the peninsula. Historically, the Mediterranean Sea played a vital role in trade relations conducted between the East and the West. The Apennine Peninsula's strategic location between the old world kingdoms and the growing Islamic states contributed to the growth of its city states (including Venice, Genoa, and Pisa) as flourishing ports and "Maritime Republics." It is only natural that the sea that has yielded these Mediterranean cities so much power has also shaped their cultures; this is apparent not only in their customs and way of life, but also in their cuisine, as reflected in beach Italian restaurants.

Marche is one of central Italy's regions. Having the Adriatic Sea on its eastern border has made securing fresh seafood extremely easy for this region. The fish soup "Brodetto" is one of the local dishes that Marche is famous for. The "brodetto di San Benedetto del Tronto" is one of the fish soup's variants named after the place where it originated, San Benedetto del Tronto. The "brodetto marchigiano" is another popular seafood dish made by cooking fish in oil and seasoning it with saffron, onion, and parsley. The saffron lends a subtle yellow coloring and a slightly bitter flavor to the dish, while the parsley complements the mild, pungent flavor of the garlic and olive oil and gives the dish a distinctive fresh flavor.

Another region that owes much to the sea is the region of Sardinia. Sardinia is an Island in the Mediterranean and is second only to Sicily in the area. Its pure white beaches and turquoise waters has made Sardinia a definite tourist spot, but ironically, Sardinians do not rely much on the bounty of the sea, and prefer to cook with ingredients of the earth. However, the island is still noted for some of its seafood dishes. One of the local specialties is Merca, which is a small fish cooked by boiling in brine and then later wrapping it in herbs tied with a string. The length of time the fish keeps is proportional to the brine's saltiness. This is how they preserved their food. Another simple seafood dish is boiled lobster, seasoned with salt and lemon and topped in olive oil. This exquisitely flavored dish is made perfect by the delicately flavored lobster meat lightly seasoned with a hint of citrus and fresh olive oil. Another seafood dish this region is known for is "spaghetti alla bottarga," which is pasta served with dried lobster eggs. This exotic treat is definitely one of the dishes you should try when you visit a beach Italian restaurant.

Our last stop is Venice, known as the "City of Lights." It was once frequented by a lot of foreign merchants, and was known as a rich port. This once republic took its power from the seas and even its beauty emanates from the waters that fill it. The rebechin - a salty dish made with tuna, sardines, lots of beans, and onions - is one of the dishes significant to Venice. But the risotto is definitely Venice's most famous dish. High starch rice, which tends to absorb most of the stew used to cook it, is the primary ingredient in risotto. Peas and fish is then added to the complete the dish. Risotto, in addition to being a local favorite, is known internationally and is a seafood dish that can be found at beach Italian restaurants around the world.