Risotto

Risotto is quintessentially Italian and lends itself to so many variations

Maria's reply: You are 100% correct, Risotto has to be one of the best Italian recipes. Anywhere in the north of Italy from Piedmont to Veneto it is popular and there are literally hundred of different recipes for risotto.

Virtually all of the rice used in making risotto in Italy comes from the Piedmont region which is where I lived for nearly ten years. Unbelievably, despite having lived in the heart of risotto land so to speak, for so long I completely forgot about it and I am so glad you mentioned it.