Islands

Certain brand names become eponymous with the products or foods they represent. Even in this new era of heightened awareness of Italian regional cuisines, the word “pesto” has met a similar fate, becoming synonymous with a specific version: pesto alla genovese, a blend of basil, pine nuts, garlic, olive oil, and grated cheese from Genoa in Liguria. But pesto isn’t defined by a single city’s tradition, and it’s not unique to northwestern Italy. It can be any pasta sauce made by mashing together ingredients in a mortar and pestle (or blending them in a food processor) and is typically composed … Read more