Food History in Italy

Geographical Location of Italy and Its Effect on the Italian Cuisine

Italy is located in the Northern part of Europe and is geographically separated from other European countries by high mountains. Mountains occupy quite a portion of the country that create and provide magnificent valleys, forest, plains, rocks, and foothills. The Mediterranean coastlines similarly add to the beauty of Italy. Moreover, Italy has a variety of weather conditions. These geographical features of Italy influenced the Italians to develop magnificent cuisines.

Italy is a nation in which every place seems to be bordered by a natural environment. Hence in every location, there seems to be a variation of culture. This is one factor why Italy produces a variety of great cuisines. Moreover, the rich sources of food ingredients, which the Italians derive from planting in its rich natural environments, help Italy to invent different tastes in their cuisines.

The geographical features of Italy, however, are not the only aspects that contribute to the wonderful Italian cuisines. Volpi writes the following, indicating that history also has a great influence to the Italian cuisine.

But geographical fragmentation alone will not explain how the same country produced all of these: the rich, fat, baroque food of Bologna, based on butter, parmigiano, and meat; the light, tasty, spicy cooking of Naples, mainly based on olive oil, mozzarella, and seafood; the cuisine of Rome, rich in produce from the surrounding countryside; and the food of Sicily, full of North African influences.

Influences of Italy's History to the Italian Cuisine

The history of Italy, particularly its colonization by different groups of colonizers from different parts of the world, had great influences to the Italian cuisine that the world loves. First, the colonization of Italy by the Romans brought a number of cooking styles and customs to the Italians. The Romans, who had the great influence to the Italians in cooking styles, imported to the country different kinds of foods and spices from different places around the world, even from as far as China. This includes wheat, wine, and a variety of spices that suits the food preferences of the Romans.

Another group of colonizers that had a great influence to the Italian cuisine are the Arab Muslims. During their occupation in Sicily, dry macaroni became popular. This was made even more popular, and was also brought around the world, when the bronze press was invented. The Arab Muslims also brought different spices in Italy that are continuously used in the Italian cuisines these days. As indicated from an online article, on the influences of the Arab Muslims,

Muslims contributed greatly to Western cuisine with a variety of foods: rice, spinach, alcohol, oranges, lemons, apricots, sugar and more. And in Sicily their influence is still greatly felt today.

Today, the contributions of the Romans and the Muslims in the Italian cuisine are very much present. From the colonization of Italy by different groups of people, the Italian cuisine developed into one that is admired by many people all over the world. The pasta, spices, pizza, and many other kinds of Italian foods that attract many tourists from different parts of the world are continuously contributing not only in the transformation of the Italian cuisine but of Italy's economy as well.

Practical and Social Rituals Associated with the Italian Cuisine

The different regions and different tastes of the Italians present some practical and social rituals that can be associated to the good culinary taste of the Italians. In the past, during the Roman occupation, it was a tradition that guests lean on the dinner table with his left elbow while his right hand is free and is usually used for eating.

In terms of cooking, there is a tradition in most Italian cuisines to use tomato as an ingredient. In the process of cooking, it has been a social ritual for the chefs to perform and demonstrate different tricks while cooking an Italian cuisine. For instance, when preparing pizza, chefs usually entertain the audience by tossing upward the pizza crust that he is preparing, then catch it as it falls and then toss it again.

In terms of eating the Italian cuisines, on the other hand, it has been a tradition to use different spices that can add to the taste of their food. This includes cheese, tomato sauce, pepper, and other rare spices that the Italians themselves prepare.

Ingredients, Seasoning, Styles, and Cooking Procedures Attributable to the Italian Cuisine

When one thinks of an Italian cuisine, the first thing that can pop to one's mind is the pastas and the delicious sauces that come with them. Or, one may also immediately think of a red or white sauce. Moreover, tomato sauce, cheese, and different spices may immediately come to mind once an Italian cuisine is mentioned. As mentioned earlier, Italy is divided into different regions that similarly have different ways and styles of cooking. Hence, it is said that there is no similar food that is prepared in the same way in 2 places in Italy. However, there can be similarity in the ingredients and seasonings that are used in cooking an Italian cuisine.

According to Diner's Digest online, Italian cuisines are prepared in a style that is characterized by innovation and art where different themes and a variety of cooking models are established. As for the ingredients, spices and vegetables usually make up an Italian food. This includes mushrooms, tomatoes, beans, grains, olive oil, cheese, and many others. These are usually blended together which brings out the richness in taste of the Italian cuisine. In Tuscany, however, seasonings such as garlic, onion, and basil, are modestly used to bring out the natural flavor of the main ingredients such as the vegetables (Hawkins). Seafood and meat also play an important ingredient in Italian cuisines.