I recently returned from a trip to Italy. It was a spectacular trip with stops in Venice, Florence, and Rome. I enjoyed lots of amazing food and came home with a whole new appreciation for real Italian food. After being back in Florida, I started to miss some of those incredible tastes of Italy. Then it hit me, why not go back to Italy with a dinner at Tutto Italia at Epcot. This Italian restaurant in the World Showcase at Epcot is the perfect way to reminisce and get a taste of Italy. Tutto Italia is a perfect restaurant for a couple celebrating an anniversary, friends enjoying lots of wine, or families looking for a delicious menu.
For appetizers, there are a wide range of choices including the Grand Antipasto Misto, Prosciutto di Parma, Caesar Salad, Fior Di Latte Mozzarella, Insalata Mista, Insalate Di Mare Trapanese, Tortino Di Zucchine, Calamari Fritti, Minestrone Con Tubetti, and Fiori Di Latte Calda. If all of these sound perfect, you may want to try the Grand Antipasto Misto. This is the chefs selection of appetizers and specialities all served on a platter, perfect for a party of two. The Prosciutto di Parma is ham with thin slices of seasonal melon. The Tortino Di Zucchine is a baked zucchini with pomodoro, mozzarella and parmesan and the Calamari Fritti is a popular dish with a marinara picante sauce. The Fior Di Latte Mozzarella include roasted red peppers, basil, sea salt and extra virgin olive oil. The Fiori Di Latte Calda is a home made milk mozzarella with warm roasted pomodorini, extra virgin olive oil and focaccia. This was one of my favorite dishes from Italy. It tastes just as good at Tutto Italia.
If you prefer salads, the Caesar Salad includes romaine wedge, olive crostini, and shaved parmesan while the Isalata Mista features arugula, radicchio, and endive with a citrus vinaigrette. You can also choose from the Insalata Di Mare Trapanese with shrimp, squid, octopus, celery, red onion, potato, capers, lemon and extra virgin olive oil. You can top off your salad with a Minestrone Con Tubetti with spring vegetables, pancetta and pasta. Appetizers range in price from $8.50 for the Minestrone to $30.00 for the Grand Antipasto Misto.
With the amazing appetizers, you get a taste of Italy. Wait until the entrees arrive at Tutto Italia for a spectacular Italian feast. For entrees, you can select Lasagna Alla Bolognese, Spaghetti, Gnocchetti, Fettucine Vecchia Roma, Tonnarelli, Risotto Al Fruitti Di Mare, Salmone, Pollo Al Forno, Filetto Di Sogliola, Bistecca Del Macellaio, or Polenta Valsugana. The Lasagna Alla Bolognese is a traditional lasagna with beef sauce, bechamel, and parmesan. The Spaghetti is a popular choice with beer and veal meatballs and pomodoro sauce. The Gnocchetti is a pasta with sweet sausage ragu, tomato, and pecorino. If you prefer Fettuccine, the Fettuccine Vecchia Roma is delicious with pancetta and parmesan cream sauce. The Tonnarelli is a home made egg pasta with zucchini, mint and Buratta.
For a more hearty meal or fish or meat, try one of the several dishes at Tutto Italia. The Salmone is a baked salmon filet, with artichokes, potato, and olives. The Pollo Al Forno is a roasted chicken with rosemary, lemon, farro risotto, and pancetta. The Filetto Di Sogliola is a filet of sole with white asparagus, lemons and capers. Bistecca Del Macellaio is a grilled Butcher’s steak with rosemary potatoes, cipollines onions ago dolce. The Polenta Valsugana is a traditional Northern Italian creamy polenta, melted Fontina served with braised short ribs and meatballs. You can accompany any of these entrees with a chef prepared side dish. The entrees range in price from $23-30.
Be sure to save room for dessert and a cappuccino. Tutto Italia has some divine desserts including Mocha Tiramisu, Cannoli, and Gelati. The Mocha Tiramisu is a mascarpone cheese, espresso coffee, savoiardi biscuits and chocolate. The perfect dessert for any child at heart is the Gelati. The desserts range in price from $8-12. All of these desserts are perfect with a coffee of choice including Double Espresso, Caffe Americano, Cappuccino, Cappuccino “alla panna” or Caffe Freddo.
Tutto Italia is one of the best Italian restaurants at Disney World and brings me back to Italy every time. Be sure you book an Advanced Dining Reservation with your travel agent, because this restaurant does book up early. You can also call 407-WDW-DINE to make a reservation or use the new My Disney Experience mobile app. If you are using the Disney Dining Plan, I have great news. This restaurant is only one sit down meal on the Disney Dining Plan. For the entree prices at this restaurant, this is an amazing value!
For my favorite recipe at Tutto Italia, I chose the pasta. So many of the dishes at this restaurant focus on pasta. You can take this Tutto Italia Pasta recipe and make it at home with your favorite sauce or topping to bring Italy into your house.
Ingredients:
- 7 Cups All-Purpose Flour
- 8 Each Whole Eggs
- 1 teaspoon Salt
Method of Preparation:
In a kitchen aid mixer with the dough hook attachment, add the eggs and salt. Turn the machine on speed 2, and slowly add flour, just enough at a time that the eggs absorb the flour. Once all the flour has been added, and the dough has formed, remove from the machine. Form into a ball, and wrap in plastic wrap. Allow to rest for 30 minutes at room temperature. Cut into quarters, and press into flat discs, to feed into the pasta machine. Start at the highest number, and work you way down to number 3 for the lasagna. Pass the dough through that machine at least twice on each number. Cut into 13 inch long pieces, you should end up with roughly 10.
To Cook:
In a 12 quart sauce pot, bring cold salted water to a gentle boil. Blanch the pasta sheets one at time, until they just begin to float. Rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process, and layer between wax paper until ready for use. Then can be refrigerated over night after being cooked.
