Hispanic style is bright, colorful, and delicious- from the food to the clothing and more. It adds flair to most anything it touches, so it is no surprise it has made its mark all around the world. While that mark has come through several avenues, the following are just a few of them.

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How Italian Food Conquered the World

 

Say “Italian food” and you immediately conjure up visions of pizza, spaghetti, and other pasta- and for good reason. They are delicious and popular, but they are by no means the only food responsible for how Italian food conquered the world. They are merely a taste.

 

The delicious and most well-known pizza- the classic Margarita pizza- was named after Italian Queen Margherita. The creator, Raffaele Esposito, even chose the ingredients in honor of the very new Italian flag’s colors: Tomatoes for the red, mozzarella for the white, and basil for the green. Over the years, variations have been created, but this classic pizza started the popularity across Europe and eventually the world.

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Upon coming to America, Italians also brought the idea of Italian bread sandwiches filled with cheeses, peppers, ham, and more. Sometime later, the son of an Italian immigrant actually used these sandwiches to open what we now know as Subway. Did he ever dream it would grow into the worldwide giant it is today? Probably not as he was merely looking for a way to pay for his college tuition.

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As more and more Italians began to emigrate to American, more and more of the delicious ingredients and meals came with them. Soon, Americans were learning to make their own tasty spaghetti dishes and enhance their own meals with Italian ingredients and practices.

Smell the Espresso

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Espresso- known as a tiny little coffee drink by many and adored by many more- was created by Italians. The word espresso is actually derived from the Italian word "esprimere", which means “to press out” or “express”. The name is accurate as espresso is made by forcing or pressing a small amount of very hot water through ground coffee.

 

The very first espresso machine was created by Angelo Moriondo, a citizen of Turin, Italy who received a patent for his machine in 1884. Milan’s Luigi Bezzera improved upon that first machine and patented each of the improvements in 1901.

 

Over the years, several other improvements have been made to the original design, but one thing remains the same: The drink’s presence in Italy. Espresso may be popular in America and other places around the world, but in Italy, it is a way of life. Now, anyone who chooses can wake up and smell the espresso in their homes, though- arguably- the best espresso still comes from its native Italian land.

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How to Make a Margarita Italian Style

 

There have been several stories about where exactly margaritas originated from. Thanks to the tequila present, margaritas have commonly been considered a Mexican drink, though many argue this. Considering that cocktails are not really cultural in Mexico and that it is said Mexican locals do not drink them, it lends credence to this opinion.

 

There have also been a few ladies named Margarita who are said to be responsible for the name. One was Margarita Henkel, a German ambassador’s daughter. She supposedly tasted this drink and the creator named it after her.

 

A man named Danny Negrete is said to have created the drink for his sister-in-law as a wedding present- her name also being Margarita. Of course, Mr. Negrete also worked at a race track where the famous Rita Hayworth performed- her given name being Margarita Cansino.

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Regardless of the origin, the margarita is a popular mixed drink, and though the ingredients all over are pretty similar, they do tend to vary some according to location, culture, and preference. And, of course, the essence of Hispanic style is as present in a margarita as it is anywhere else.

Ready to learn how to make a margarita Italian style? Let’s jump in. The ingredients are simple. 

 

You will need:

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• 1 oz Lime Juice

• 0.5 oz Orange Liquor- Cointreau or Triple Sec are common choices

• 1 oz. Almond Liquor- Amaretto is popular, but you can choose your own

• 1.5 oz Tequila- Pick your poison, so to speak

• Salt and Sugar

• A Lime

 

The salt and sugar are for the rim of the glass if you want to make the traditional look and feel of the margarita. If so, simply wet the rim with the lime, and then dip and swirl it in your salt and sugar mix.

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Do be aware though that this mixture can affect the almond liquor, so take that into consideration. It might not be a bad idea to try it with and without a salt and sugar rim to determine your preference.

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With or without the rim, you move on to mixing the sweet and sour liquids. Put the wet ingredients into a shaker with ice. After about 25 seconds, strain into your glass. It’s that simple. The amounts listed above will make one Italian margarita.