A lot of the foods we traditionally associate with Italy did not actually originate there. Most people are aware of Marco Polo introducing noodles from China. However what you may not know is that the tomatoes that are such a key part of many Italian dishes actually came from America and went back to Italy. Ironically a lot of Italian food Avon OH found its way back there!
The first thing to say is that there is a range of different styles of cuisine from Italy. While there are signature dishes such as pizza and pasta these can vary according to different regions. This is partially due to the fact that people from these areas traditionally sourced their ingredients from the local area and partially due to the fact that Italy was not a unified country until the nineteenth century and to this day there are still distinct differences in the cuisine of the various regions.
In Napoli their speciality is what is known as the Neopolitan pizza. In Europe there are very strict controls as to what this constitutes. The rules affect aspects such as the thickness of the dough, the amount of toppings and the size of the pizza itself. Any deviations mean that the pizza is not considered truly authentic.
However this is just one aspect of the food culture of Italy. For example if you go to Rome you will notice that there tends to be less sauce, usually just enough to coat the pasta. Pizzas also tend to have a thinner base and tend to have fewer toppings then you would get from a more American style restaurant.
It is also worth remembering that Italy is not one singular culture. Indeed the country itself was only fully unified in the nineteenth century and therefore there are still distinct differences in culture around the different regions. Like a lot of European cultures the food is influenced by what is commonly available such as seafood dishes being a speciality of coastal areas.
Authenticity also affects how food is cooked. For example a truly authentic pizza will be cooked in a wood fired oven. The reason this is important is because conventional ovens do not tend to be hot enough to cook them. In Europe there are often strict rules on what can be considered a proper pizza. When it comes to the crust, toppings and everything else size really does matter!
Naturally times change and recipes adapt. Inevitably you will get some places that cater for the fast food crowd and others that favour haute cuisine. What you choose inevitably depends on circumstances and your own personal preferences. What may seem appropriate for your friends before you go out may not necessarily be right if you are looking to impress someone on a date!
This is where reviews can help. As well as getting the best dishes they can also help you find the places with the best service and facilities. However it is worth looking at as broad a range of views as possible as this will allow you to get the best overall range of opinions. You may also want to look for recipes online so you can have a go at cooking authentic Italian food yourself!
The first thing to say is that there is a range of different styles of cuisine from Italy. While there are signature dishes such as pizza and pasta these can vary according to different regions. This is partially due to the fact that people from these areas traditionally sourced their ingredients from the local area and partially due to the fact that Italy was not a unified country until the nineteenth century and to this day there are still distinct differences in the cuisine of the various regions.
In Napoli their speciality is what is known as the Neopolitan pizza. In Europe there are very strict controls as to what this constitutes. The rules affect aspects such as the thickness of the dough, the amount of toppings and the size of the pizza itself. Any deviations mean that the pizza is not considered truly authentic.
However this is just one aspect of the food culture of Italy. For example if you go to Rome you will notice that there tends to be less sauce, usually just enough to coat the pasta. Pizzas also tend to have a thinner base and tend to have fewer toppings then you would get from a more American style restaurant.
It is also worth remembering that Italy is not one singular culture. Indeed the country itself was only fully unified in the nineteenth century and therefore there are still distinct differences in culture around the different regions. Like a lot of European cultures the food is influenced by what is commonly available such as seafood dishes being a speciality of coastal areas.
Authenticity also affects how food is cooked. For example a truly authentic pizza will be cooked in a wood fired oven. The reason this is important is because conventional ovens do not tend to be hot enough to cook them. In Europe there are often strict rules on what can be considered a proper pizza. When it comes to the crust, toppings and everything else size really does matter!
Naturally times change and recipes adapt. Inevitably you will get some places that cater for the fast food crowd and others that favour haute cuisine. What you choose inevitably depends on circumstances and your own personal preferences. What may seem appropriate for your friends before you go out may not necessarily be right if you are looking to impress someone on a date!
This is where reviews can help. As well as getting the best dishes they can also help you find the places with the best service and facilities. However it is worth looking at as broad a range of views as possible as this will allow you to get the best overall range of opinions. You may also want to look for recipes online so you can have a go at cooking authentic Italian food yourself!
