Olive Garden Italian Restaurant - The Facts

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Olive Garden Offers Fresh Ideas for Balsamic Vinegar

Summertime dishes simply prepared and bursting with the fresh flavors of the season are the perfect canvas for a drizzle of fine-quality balsamic vinegar, according to Paolo Lafata, senior executive chef at Olive Garden.

Historically, vintners from the Modena region of Italy thought of balsamic vinegar as a gift of kindness. How can you use it to sweeten some traditional favorites for your family and friends this summer? Try Lafata’s Italian-style recommendations:

•	Tomato and Mozzarella caprese makes a tasty primo piatto or first course. Simply layer slices of fresh vine-ripened tomatoes, mozzarella and basil leaves, and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, sea salt and balsamic vinegar.

•	Add a drop or two of balsamic vinegar on something cool and simple, like prosciutto and melon, for what Italians call agro dolce, or sweet and sour, in every bite.

•	For an antipasto platter, sprinkle balsamic vinegar on grilled vegetables such as eggplant and green peppers.

•	Flavor a grilled steak with balsamic vinegar for added sizzle.

•	Dessert can be as simple as a dish of premium vanilla ice cream or fresh ripened strawberries or raspberries topped with balsamic vinegar to bring out the sweetness

•	Or, as in Europe, finish off a meal with a drop of balsamic vinegar on a chunk of aged Parmigiano-Reggiano or Pecorino Romano cheese.

“Balsamic vinegar comes in a range of grades and prices,” Lafata says. “Those found in grocery stores cost just a few dollars and are typically made with ordinary vinegar and caramel, aged as little as a day and often used in marinades and dressings. The moderate to expensive balsamic vinegars are aged for a minimum of 12 years and cost anywhere from $20 to $100. These are found in specialty stores and are reserved for drizzling on finished dishes to enhance flavor.”

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