About Italian Food

There is a common saying: "Italians don't eat to live, they live to eat!" This is not at all hard to believe when you think about Italian food, and all the wonderful textures, flavors, scents, and history that make up each unique dish.

Italian food has changed somewhat over the course of time, however its roots can be traced back as far as about the 4th century B.C. As travel became more popular, and easier, many new types of foods were introduced, and many flavors from other regions of Italy spread.

Today, when you think about Italian food, delicious dishes such as lasagna, spaghetti, pizza, calzones, and canolis come to mind. What many people do not know about Italian food is that many of these dishes are "Italian-American" and not completely authentic.

Italian food consists of a great deal of fresh fruits and vegetables, cheeses, wine, and coffees such as espresso. Fresh bread is also included with most meals. A typical Italian meal consists no less than three or four courses and can often take hours to consume, especially on holidays or special occasions. A typical meal of Italian food is often made up of the following: an "aperitif" before the meal begins such as vermouth, campari, or spritz; "antipasto" which can consist of either hot or cold appetizers; the first course, known as "primo" which is always a hot dish such as pasta, polenta, or a soup; the second course, known as "secondo", which always consists of a type of meat; a side dish such as salad or vegetables, known as "contorno"; a first dessert of cheese and fruit; a larger dessert, known as "dolce", of cakes or cookies; coffee or espresso; and an after dinner drink such as sambuca or grappa, known as "digestivo".

While various regions in Italy have distinct flavors most Italian food consists of the same main ingredients and accompaniments. Tomatoes, peppers, garlic, cheese, and wine are found in all areas of Italy and can be used in different ways for different regional dishes. It is important to remember when thinking and learning about Italian food that it these foods are meant to be savored, enjoyed, and truly experienced.