| Italy is one of the oldest countries in | | | | People of this place have a |
| the world, and thanks to the | | | | gastronomical affair with food. Eating |
| geographical boundaries of the | | | | is a passion and an integral part of the |
| Mediterranean Sea and the Alps it has | | | | culture in country. So when you are in |
| remained largely unchanged throughout | | | | this place, expect to add a few pounds |
| history. Even during the Roman Empire, | | | | to your frame. Italian cooking finds it |
| Italy was set apart. Legions that had | | | | roots back to different regions and is |
| been abroad always knew when they had | | | | influenced by various factors. If you |
| returned to the mother country. Italian | | | | are looking for healthy and cheaper |
| food history, however, reaches far | | | | eating, then you must venture into South |
| beyond the country's borders. | | | | Italy. |
| The spread of Italian food diversity | | | | The world famous and supremely popular |
| began after the fall of the Roman Empire | | | | Pizza was born in Campania along with |
| when individual city states began to | | | | tubular pizza and the various tomato |
| uphold separate identities and | | | | based pizza and pasta sauces. Even if |
| traditions. Each region began to display | | | | you are one of those few people who do |
| its own unique way of cooking, right | | | | not like pizzas, you should try one. The |
| down to the formation of a meatball to | | | | reason the pizza of place is popular is |
| the characteristic cheeses and wine | | | | because of its simplicity and its fresh |
| produced in a locale. The north | | | | ingredients. Pizza margherita is the |
| developed Tuscan beef, while black | | | | most popular pizza in Italy named after |
| truffles were very popular in Marches. | | | | Queen Margherita. |
| Provolone and mozzarella cheeses | | | | No body can deny that, these dishes are |
| developed in the south, as well as a | | | | some of the tastiest preparations in the |
| host of interesting citrus fruits. | | | | world. Along with including various |
| Even today, the history of this food | | | | healthy ingredients like fresh |
| continues to evolve. Much of the changes | | | | vegetables and grains, a large number of |
| now, though, take place beyond the | | | | recipes are served best with different |
| shores of Italy. In America, for | | | | types of specialized sauces and |
| example, chefs like Mario Batali have | | | | condiments. Among the rest, meat sauces, |
| fused classic dishes with American | | | | prepared in a variety of ways, form some |
| cuisine to come up with dishes that | | | | of the most common parts of a variety of |
| combine the best of both worlds. In | | | | Italian recipes. From pastas and |
| cities and towns all over the country, | | | | spaghetti preparations to lasagna and |
| chefs are taking traditional ingredients | | | | meatballs, meat sauces are served with a |
| and combining them in new ways. In what | | | | wide variety of the dishes. The desserts |
| could perhaps be called a full circle | | | | are probably the most unusual, at least |
| journey for pasta, some Italian Asian | | | | to Americans. They include things with |
| fusion restaurants are even beginning to | | | | names like spumoni and tortoni. If you |
| evolve. | | | | don't know what they are, find yourself |
| No doubt that this food has captured the | | | | a good Italian restaurant and experience |
| hearts of people around the world. | | | | them. |