The DDS Detective

In 1967, Jim Delligatti, a native Italian and owner of a small McDonald's in Pittsburgh, invented what would later become the most popular sandwich in the world: the Big Mac. In 1915, the Italian Jacuzzi family revolutionized relaxation with its innovative line of hot tubs and spas. And of course we cannot forget Ettore Boiardi, an Italian immigrant from Emilia Romagna, whose line of pre-packaged pastas propelled him to multi-million dollar fame as "Chef Boyardee." Clearly, the Italians have had a pervasive effect on American culture. At Dartmouth, one will find no shortage of foods with roots in Italian cuisine: Collis pasta, Home Plate paninis, even groan Foco pizza (they can't all be winners). But this week, I decided to take Italian fare within DDS in a more gourmet direction, and I recreated one of my all-time favorite antipasti: bruschetta.1.Go to the Home Plate sandwich line and ask for a piece of sourdough bread to be drizzled with olive oil and pressed in the Panini press.2.While the bread is being grilled, ask them to dice up some tomatoes and onions and put them in a small bowl.3.After the bread is done being pressed, get a thin layer of sun-dried tomato pesto spread on it and two pieces of fresh (NOT sliced) mozzarella put on top. 4.After you go through the register, squeeze the juice of one lemon slice and pour a little bit of balsamic vinegar into the bowl of onions and tomatoes. Mix well.5.Spoon the onion/tomato mixture on top of the piece of bread, and finish with a few shakes of salt and pepper.This might sound complicated, but it is actually very easy to make and tastes incredible. So if you are feeling down because you didn't get into the FSP you wanted and aren't travelling anywhere particularly exciting over spring break, what are you waiting for? Make a bruschetta for yourself, crash an Italian one drill, and answer questions by making as many wild hand gestures as you possibly can. No justification necessary. When in Rome, you do as the Romans do.