Italy is the graciously beautiful country known for its rich heritage, culture, art, and let’s not forget its most relished and cherished food varieties. Italian cuisine has reached across all continents. There have been many changes, variations, and adaptations that have all blended in. The culture of any country plays an important role in this. Every country has added their own creativity and colour to the beloved Italian Cuisine. Italian food receives a huge fan base more than any other cuisines. From pasta to pizza, wine, gelato, Italian food is simply the best. It is also well documented that the Italians are notorious for keeping their food waste to a minimum due to their simplicity of their dishes.
So, let’s look at 10 interesting facts about Italian food to inspire you which are as follows:
- Spaghetti and Meatballs is not an Italian dish
It is known to be one of the most renowned dishes in the world, but unfortunately, it is not an Italian dish. The fact is most pasta dishes are not topped with meat. Only special dishes like “al Forno” which is topped with meat.
- Traditional Italian Pizza always has a thin crust
There are a lot of variations of pizza but in Italy, they always have a thin crust pizza. Learn how to make a traditional Italian Pizza!
- Italians have a light Breakfast
Breakfast is believed to be the most important meal of the day in most countries but in Italy, they believe different. They only drink milky coffee first thing in the morning like cappuccino or caffe latte. The reason for this is they prefer to save their appetite for their main meal lunch.
- Pepperoni Pizza is not originated in Italy
A fun fact, pepperoni with one P means bell pepper in Italian. Pepperoni originates in the USA.
- There are more than 600 different pasta shapes
Worldwide, there are over 6 hundred varieties of pasta produced. There is a pasta shape to complement every pasta dish out there. There are different sizes of stuffed ravioli, penne or tubes, spaghetti, curly spirali, and many more to name.
- Pasta is eaten once a day, every day
Many Italian people eat pasta at least once a day. Some are very picky, most will not skip their pasta meal as there are many ways pasta can be eaten in a meal; therefore, you will want to eat a different meal for every day of the year.
- On average there is fifty-one pounds of pasta eaten each year
On average a person in Italy will eat over 51 pounds of pasta every year. Now that’s a lot of pasta!
- They don’t use Garlic that often
Garlic bread can be very hard to come by in Italy. Bread is normally served plain, and they very rarely use Garlic butter. When they are seasoning their dishes, using less is more.
- Buon Appetito is their pre-meal saying
Italians say to each other “Buon Appetito” before eating a meal.
- A person should not walk while eating
They consider walking while eating very disrespectful. If someone has spent a lot of time cooking the dish, then you should be able to sit and enjoy the food. In fact, you would rarely see a person hooked on their phone while eating in company.
- The 3 items that are always on an Italian dinner table
In Italian homes, on their dinner table, there is always wine, bread, and water.
- There are more than 300 different kinds of grapes in Italy
There are more than 300 different variations of grapes grown in Italy. Here are some of the best Italian grape varieties!
- In Italy, the main meal is Lunch
The Italian word for Lunch means “il pranzo”. Lunchtime is their main mean of the day.
- Italians like their pizza simple and plain
Authentic Italian pizza is known as pizza Margherita. A very basic pizza consisting of dough, mozzarella cheese, tomato sauce, and basil.
- Italians drink their coffee differently
A milky coffee is only reserved for breakfast time. After their meals, they prefer an espresso. It does not contain milk.
- There is a national Italian Food day
The nation Italian eat food day is February 13th.
- In wine production, Italy ranks second worldwide
The wine production in Italy ranks second place, trailing France, and ahead of the United States and Spain.
- In the 18th century, Pizza was invented
Naples invented the Pizza during the 18th century.
- Iconic Moka Coffee Pot
Italians at home make their coffee in the famous Moka Coffee pot invented in 1933 by Alfonso Bialetti.
- A modern dessert in Italy is “Tiramisu”
The Tiramisu came about in the 1970s and comes from the Veneto region in Venice. It is a very sweet treat and is made with layers of cookies or savoiardi biscuits with marscapone cream. The name Tiramisu means “pick me up”.
- Every region in Italy has its favourite ways to eat pasta
In Rome, the classic and favourite dishes with pasta are alla carbonara and cacio e Pepe.
Many people around the world are familiar with Italian cuisine. If you are traveling to Italy to enjoy their food and cuisine one day, then why not grab a pizza and have a milky coffee for your breakfast it will be a memorable experience that you will remember for a lifetime.
