At Palate Sensations, we have been so privileged to have had Daniela Offredi teach many of our Italian cooking classes in Singapore over the years. A stay at home Italian mama, she cooks authentic Italian food from the heart for her family on a daily basis. Now living between Milan, Vienna and Dubai, she continues to cook mouth watering Italian comfort food daily. In an interview with her, I asked her a series of questions to try to understand why home cooked Italian food tastes so good and why its different from food we often find in Italian restaurants in Singapore.

What would you say makes a traditional Italian home-cooked meal different from one served in a restaurant? Is it just the ingredients, or does the atmosphere play a role too?

Choosing ingredients in small quantities for just a family allows you to have nicer and fresher products. A mama knows the taste of the family so cooking Italian food at home according to the family’s taste (less or more salt, no garlic or no onions, using more oil then butter or cream, etc.) is often different to what is served in a restaurant. Family gatherings around the table and eating together makes it special and forms a focal point of catching up on daily news.

What do Italians eating in an Italian restaurant not located in Italy look for? For example, Italians often complain that too much garlic and strong flavours are used. Would you agree?

I totally agree. But I have to say that it depends from which kind of Italian restaurant you go. Thankfully, these days, there are many good Italian restaurants abroad where they prepare authentic Italian cuisine. Cooking methods and meat cuts are different depending on the country you are in and that plays a part too in why dishes are not an exact replication.

What are some of the staples that no Italian kitchen can be without when preparing a typical home meal? Do you have specific “must-have” pantry essentials?

Extra virgin olive oil, tins of Italian peeled tomatoes, Italian dry pasta, garlic, onion, dried oregano, a pot of fresh basil are my pantry staples.

Can you share what a typical everyday meal in an Italian household might look like? How does it differ for special occasions or family gatherings?

In today’s day and age, we limit our meal to just a main course with vegetables or salad on a side; it could be a pasta dressed with fresh tomato sauce and basil and a garnished salad with some olives, abit of cheese or one egg. Every day food is simple and includes more vegetables, less meat and very simple cooking styles eg: a pasta and a salad and always bread on the side. On weekends and special occasions, there may be additional items such as meat and fish dishes followed by a delicious dessert. Cheese and cold cuts are sparingly used eg: maybe every second day and only a small amount.

How does the cooking style or presentation of a home-cooked meal vary compared to what you might see in a fine dining Italian restaurant?

No matter whether it is a home cooked meal or a fine dining setting, authentic Italian cooking techniques are always used on both occasions. For casual dining at home, it is served family style in large platters where everyone helps themselves. For Daniela, the dining table is always covered with a tablecloth and flatware is always set before dinner is served. For special occasions, every Italian mama has their beautiful table cloth and a spread of vintage cutlery and tableware as it is important to feast with the eyes by looking at the beauty of the food before indulging.

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