Of Rice And Men Italy Arborio

Italy may be known for its pasta, but it has one rice that is as special as they come"[Last month, the series 21 Days, 21 Reasons, 21 Recipes, 21 Quotes considered the many benefits of moving from a meat-based diet to a plant-based one. As October 31 marked the day the world's human population reached a staggering 7 billion, thinking about feeding all those people is a higher priority than ever before. One of the solutions to global food security is also one of the reasons that humans have demonstrated such intense fecundity: rice. As rice can sustain more people than any other grain per acre, the technological advances and territorial expansion of rice farming have been closely linked to human population growth. This month, the series Of Rice and Men takes a tour around the globe, looking at a different rice variety from a different region and-continuing last month's daily recipe idea-a vegan recipe for a rice-based dish. This grain of humble origins has the power to feed the world; considering the skyrocketing human population, we're going to need a lot more of it. Get your rice cooker ready.]"Tucked in northern Italy's Po Valley about halfway between Turin and Milan lies "uno piccolo comune" of some 1,000 inhabitants called Arborio, which gives its names to Italy's famous rice. While Italy is much more known for its pasta, the Po Valley's ancient canyon is home to a fertile, well-irrigated area that locals call "La Bassa" (the "low plain"), a perfect location to grow rice. So it's no surprise that, while most Italian dinners feature pasta as a first course, in the Po Valley, rice dishes-usually some form of risotto-are the opening act for "la cena".How and when rice first arrived in Italy is not clear, though it is believed that Venetian or Genoese merchants brought it from the east sometime in the 14th century. Italians have done a "molto bene" job with this medieval import: Today, Italy is Europe's number one rice grower.RECIPE: Wild Mushroom Risotto. The best risottos are legendary: creamy, rich and packed with flavor. The short-grained arborio rice is perfectly suited for this dish because of its high amylopectin starch content, making it chewy when cooked. Experiment with different kinds of mushrooms-creminis, chanterelles, hedgehogs, shitake, oyster, hen of the woods-or just throw them all in. Substitute chicken broth with mushroom broth to make this dish vegetarian. For a vegan version, substitute the parmesan with a finely ground nut, such as almond, macadamia, hazelnut or pine nut, and the butter with an olive oil-based butter substitute such as Earth Balance. Anthony Bourdain, never one to shy away from an opportunity to be more decadent, adds black truffle shavings. You can also add a splash of dry amontillado, cognac or a bit of truffle oil. The most important thing is to cook the rice just right. After that, risotto is great dish to experiment with.WINE PAIRING: Wines made with the Nebbiolo grape, such as Barolo and Barbaresco, are perfect for risotto. Nebbiolo comes from the same region-the Piedmont-as arborio rice. Hints of truffle can be noted in some of these wines, making it particularly suited for mushroom-based dishes. And great wine has been made in the Piedmont long before arborio arrived: In the 1st century AD, Pliny the Elder wrote about the region's exceptional wine, describing the Nebbiolo's distinctive qualities.ACTION ALERTS * Donate rice for free (Freerice.com) * Due 11/15: Tell US Fish ">PART OF THE PROBLEM * World is nearing climate point of no return, IEA says. The last real chance to combat climate change could be "lost forever" within the next five years if countries continue to build power plants, factories and buildings dependent on fossil fuels, according to the International Energy Agency, which has completed the most thorough analysis yet of world energy infrastructure (The Guardian)PART OF THE SOLUTION * Rock band backs UN chief's sustainability drive. American rock band Linkin Park is partnering with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to promote the new initiative Sustainable Energy for All, which aims to ensure universal access to modern energy services as well as double both the rate of improvement in energy efficiency and the share of renewable energy worldwide. The United Nations Foundation, through its new Energy Access Practitioner Network, will join representatives from the private sector and civil society to solve energy issues in order to achieve universal access by 2030 (AP) * Fur Free Friday is November 25 (FurKills.org)PAST SERIES * 21 Days, 21 Reasons, 21 Recipes, 21 Quotes: Eating plants, loving animals (October 2011) * Rich Dog, Poor Dog: Considering man's best friend (September 2011) * Physicists ">"image: arborio rice (jgiacomoni)"