Discover The History of Italian Food... Dare To Satisfy Your Curiousity!The history of Italian Food is as varied as the history of Italy. Italy is made up of 20 regions. With every town, every village, makes the same dish in vastly different ways, and every town and village has its proudest specialty. Lombardy Region, north Italy, is best known for it's risotto, osso bucco and such famous cheeses as Gran Padano, Robiola, Provolone, Gorgonzola and Taleggio. Emilia-Romagna Region, another northern region, with a rich history of meats and eggs. Home to Bolognese sauce, and cured meats as prosciutto di Parma. Then there is their eggy pasta totellini, their cheese Parmigiano Reggiano and of course their balsamic vinegar of Modena. Tuscany Region is home to some of Italy's most awesome olive oils, breads, and cheeses of sheep's milk. Not to mention their wonderful arrays of simple yet distinctive salads as panzanella. A fresh mixture of onions, tomatoes, basil and crumbled bread. Lazio Region, with its pastas. Both fresh and dry. It's zucchini, artichokes, herb oils and whole roast pig. A couple of the dishes you may recognize are spaghetti carbonara or bucatini al amatriciana. Campania Region, home of world's first pizzeria, fresh mozzarella cheese, sweet tomatoes, figs, lemons, eggplant and of course limoncello. The great after meal drink. Sicily Region, with all of its fruits, almonds and olives. Where you find a wide variety of meats lamb, pork, veal and rabbit. Some also claim it is the region that invented meat balls. But I think there would be plenty of heated discussion on that topic. :) Local cooking preferences and customs are shaped by geographic, historical, and climactic differences: some regions are landlocked and mountainous, others hug the sea and are hilly; some regions have absorbed Arab or Greek influences, others have been marked by the French or Austrians; some regions live under the dazzling Mediterranean sun most of the year,others have cold winters, snow, fog, and harsh winds. This, along with the fact that the large-scale exchange of culinary traditions among Italians is a recent phenomenon (linked to modern roads, technology, and an improved post-war economy), explains the history of Italian food and how Italy managed to maintain its varied cuisines into the twenty-first century. Enjoy the history of Italian food and the one true constant that goes through each and everyone of her regions is, Great Italian Food comes from the heart with all the love and attention a mother gives her child. This and this alone marks the Great Calgary Italian Restaurants. |
