Diversify your menu with Italian recipes

Italy is known for its impressive architecture, art, culture and fashion, but most of all for its delicious and varied cuisine. Pasta and pizza have been favourites of Flemish consumers for decades now. But Italy has so much more to offer. Want to diversify your menu by adding Italian concepts? Do you dream of owning an Italian restaurant that serves unique, flavourful dishes? In this article, the chefs at La Lorraine Bakery Group delve into the wonderful world of Italian delicacies.

Why Italian concepts are good for your food business

Italian is the most popular cuisine worldwide. Did you know that 8.5% of restaurants in the cities with the highest number of tourists serve Italian food? And the reasons are multi-fold: the use of high-quality ingredients, the simplicity of the dishes and the versatility of the flavours means that both young and old adore Italian cuisine.

Likewise, Italian food offers many benefits to restaurants, bakeries, sandwich shops and other food establishments:

Versatile ingredients: most ingredients used in Italian dishes, such as parma ham, mozzarella, parmesan cheese, tomato and basil, can be used in many different ways. You can incorporate them into various dishes, such as pizza, pasta sauce, soup, salads and sandwiches. In addition, you can use pasta sauces like (vegan) bolognese or white pasta sauce with salmon and spinach in dishes like lasagne or even lasagne soup.
Minimal waste: in part due to this versatility, but also because of the long shelf life of certain products like passata, pesto, parma ham and parmesan cheese, you can prevent waste. In addition, pasta sauces and soups are easy to freeze. This allows you to optimise your food cost percentage.
Optimising portion sizes: want to make your restaurant accessible to both young and old? Italian cuisine has the perfect solution to this as well, as it is easy to adapt the portion sizes. For example, kids spaghetti for the little ones, a light carpaccio for small appetites or a large pizza for big eaters.

Italian concepts for bakers

Want to expand your bakery's range with Italian delicacies? What a great idea! Step one is to add tasty Italian breads. Ciabatta, focaccia and schiacciata are musts for your range. You don't even need to take this on as a specialisation, as La Lorraine Bakery Group can supply you with a wide range of Italian breads. They are made using traditional techniques with great respect for authentic Italian flavours.

In addition to breads, you can also add typically Italian viennoiserie and patisserie, such as cannoli, biscotti, bomboloni and panettone. The advantage of these pastries is that you can easily make them yourself. To make bomboloni, you can use mini beignets filled with hazelnut butter as the base and finish them with chocolate. You can also easily give many other desserts an instant Italian twist. For example by using pie crusts to make a lemon tartlet with mascarpone and Italian meringue or by filling croissants with tiramisu cream. Exquisite!

Italian concepts for sandwich shops

Looking for new sandwiches of the month to expand your range step by step? Look no further than Italy. Our advice for bakeries also applies to you: offer Italian breads. Fill them with Italian specialities such as pancetta, bresaola, salame abruzzese, finocchiona and guanciale. The possibilities are endless.

Want to cater to your customers’ dietary needs? You can offer a vegan minestrone or a veggie tomato soup with mascarpone. Italian salads, such as the well-known caprese, can be finished with parma ham or smoked salmon (for those who prefer a meal with more protein) and always prove popular.

Even in winter, Italian cuisine has many solutions for you. Aside from soups, paninis are a winning choice. Fill a panini with bresaola, ricotta, rocket and pine nuts and grill it on your contact grill for the perfect warm, savoury snack.

Italian concepts for hotels

Want to give your hotel's breakfasts, lunches and dinners an Italian twist? We have good news for you; it's relatively easy to do. Italians prefer a simple breakfast, after all. A creamy cappuccino or a punchy espresso with a buttery croissant is all many of them need to start the day off right. Want to provide a more unique offering? Fill your croissants with a pistachio cream or Italian charcuterie. How about a croissant or Italian bread roll with tomato and mozzarella fresh from the grill? A guaranteed hit and easy to prepare.

For lunch, you can take inspiration from our tips for sandwich shops or serve a delicious Italian charcuterie board. Salmon, salami, olives, artichokes and burrata served with Italian bread on the side. We're happy to be your taste testers!

You can easily expand your dinner menu with Italian dishes such as pasta and pizza. Complete your Italian-inspired menu with fitting drinks, such as regional wines or spritzes, which are totally on trend. Or hold Italy themed evenings during which you highlight your new range. Encourage your guests to dress to the nines to pay homage to Italy's chic fashion history.

Italian concepts for catering companies

Italian cuisine also offers many ideas for caterers. Italian sandwiches for company catering, antipasti, pasta stations, pizza, Italian desserts for garden parties. The possibilities are endless.

Want to commit to the Italian theme? Create the right ambiance with authentic elements. For example, cook your pizzas fresh in a stone oven, grate a gigantic block of parmesan at the table or provide a dessert buffet with small glass dessert pots.

LLBG: your partner for Italian concepts

Want to easily and simply expand your menu with Italian delicacies? La Lorraine Bakery Group helps you get a good start with an extensive range of Italian breads and other savoury and sweet snacks. Discover our product range or get a product catalogue. Need advice? Talk to one of our representatives. We're happy to help.

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