Everyone knows that the food of Italy is a vital aspect of Italian culture. Tourists are certainly aware of this since the food of Italy is one of the biggest drivers of tourism in the country. While the food of Italy is held in high esteem in general, each individual region of Italy is known for a different type of food. While some are similar, they generally have key differences in preparation.
When people mention Sorrento’s cuisine, two main things come to mind: fresh seafood and giant lemons. Coincidentally, I am somewhat of an authority on both seafood and lemons. Being from Florida, citrus is all around me, and growing up on the coast, I eat a whole lot of seafood. My expertise doesn’t come from just enjoying it though. My whole family loves seafood, and we usually only eat freshly caught sea food. So, with my love of seafood and my experience with it, I have tried just about every type and know when its fresh. But first, lets talk about lemons.
There is no escape from the Sorrento Lemons. Every stand, shop, or restaurant you come across will have bowls of these lemons out for display. Chances are, if you know anything about Sorrento you have heard about how much they love their lemons. It is such a well know part of Sorrento’s culture that if you take a twenty-minute walk through the streets, you will find at least twenty shops selling lemon drinks, lemon sorbet, full lemons, lemon pastries, and every other lemon preparation imaginable.
It isn’t just Sorrento either, Capri and various other towns nearby share in the lemon love. Shop owners have hats with lemons on them. So where exactly does this infatuation with lemons come from? It all stems from the Sorrento Lemon, a unique lemon which grows in the region. Sorrento Lemons are a large robust lemon which are roughly the size of a grapefruit. They are less sour and a tad more bitter than the conventional lemon. The lemon love isn’t restricted to a single season for these lemons though. In fact, Sorrento Lemons can flower nearly 4 times a year, allowing them to be fresh year-round. Despite being a very robust fruit, the Sorrento Lemons of America are only grown in California. Being a lover of citrus, especially lemons, I must state that if you are a lemon loving person, do not pass up the opportunity to eat or cook with these lemons. If you like a little lemon on your seafood then you are in luck, because the seafood is also worth a taste. While traveling Sorrento and Capri, you will find dozens of these stands selling all sorts of lemon drinks and candies. Proof of how much the people love their Sorrento Lemons.
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Throughout my entire stay in Sorrento, I was not served any seafood which wasn’t fresh. Granted, there were some dishes I thought could have been prepared differently, but that is unrelated to the quality of ingredients used. The culture of Italy almost demands the use of fresh ingredients. That combined with the pride the people of Sorrento take in their seafood almost guarantees you will only receive fresh seafood from any restaurant you choose.
The seafood of the region is different than what we commonly eat in America. Squid and Octopus are very common in the Mediterranean’s coastal waters, and as a result they a local favorite to eat. Now I do not mean calamari. When I say squid, I mean a large fillet of squid, comparable to a slice of fish. Speaking of fish, the Italians are quite fond of Tuna, Seabass, and Swordfish. These 3 expensive fishes are local favorites; you should expect to see them on nearly every menu. However, it is recommended to avoid consuming swordfish whenever possible. Mussels, clams, and other bivalves are also popular and tasty Italian seafood, most often sautéed with a white wine sauce. Italians are also known for loving shrimp and prawns, but watch out, because Italian shrimp and prawns are served whole. If you are a shrimp lover, prepare for a mess. The biggest difference in seafood is you will not find a single piece of it fried in Sorrento. The most you will find is a light breading. However, if you are a seafood lover like me, or just an adventurous eater, you will love every bite of your food. (Eating Seafood in Italy)
According to Tripadvisor.com the top 3 restaurants for seafood in Sorrento are Bagni Delfino, Post Marina Seafood, and Bistro Sorrento, in that order. I dinned in the ladder two establishments, but unfortunately not the alleged best seafood restaurant in Sorrento. However. both Post Marina Seafood and Bistro Sorrento have excellent service and treat their customers with care and respect. The food is extremely fresh and prepared exquisitely and authentically. While the food ties for quality and freshness, Post Marina’s view of the water gives it the winning number. While both eateries are relatively pricey, they are both must visit for tourists in the area.
