Pizza. Lasagna. Spaghetti. Cannoli. Tiramisu. Do you know what all of these things have in common? They make up the extraordinary cuisine we know as Italian food!
This world-renowned cuisine is one of the most delicious (and healthiest) in the entire world and you can find an Italian restaurant almost anywhere. But did you know that Italian food is deeply rooted in history and the evolving culture that makes Italy what it is today?
We’re diving deep into the (brief) history of Italian food, tracing it back thousands of years, and investigating how it has evolved into one of the world’s favorite comfort foods.
Craving some Italian-inspired meals? Head on down to Cafesano: Italian & Mediterranean Bistro for a delicious meal today!
A Brief History of Italian Food
It has taken thousands of years for the diet in the Mediterranean country of Italy to evolve into what we see on menus today. Agriculture, society, politics, and science all play a hand in how we get pizza, spaghetti, and tons of different pasta sauces.
Greek and Etruscan Influence
Before the time of the Romans, Greeks were living in southern Italy and Sicily, introducing staple foods like figs, honey, and goat cheese.
While in central Italy, the Etruscans, who lived in Italy even before the Romans, left traditions of using legumes in soups and making flatbreads. They also were one of the first people to use thyme and rosemary, two very important herbs in Mediterranean food, in cooking.
The Origins of Italian Cuisine
The beginnings of the sophisticated and delicious Italian cuisine dates back to the Ancient Romans, a civilization that ruled most of Europe, northern Africa, and the Middle East.
The Romans relied heavily on grains such as barley and farro and were craftsmen at baking bread, which would be enjoyed with olive oil and cheese. You would also find grapes, olives, honeyed fruit, spiced wine, and hearty meat served at extravagant feasts during this time period.
As the Roman Empire spread, trade routes brought spices such as pepper and cinnamon and dried dates to be used in the humble beginnings of Italian cuisine.
The Middle Ages: A Time of Culinary Transformation
Skipping ahead a few hundred years, we see that the Medieval Ages started to transform cuisine to resemble more of what we see in modern Italian food. During this time, we see a rise in culinary innovations to preserve food, such as curing meats, aging cheeses, and drying pasta.
Monasteries also played a large role in shaping Italian cuisine, especially by producing wine and olive oil. It was also during this time, around the 1300s that the first Italian cookbook was written, Liber de Coquina, or the Book of Cooking.
It’s also during the Middle Ages that we see a rise in prominent regional dishes and cuisine. For example, northern Italy’s food-focused more on dishes that included butter, cream, and cheese, especially in dishes like risotto and polenta. In southern Italy, the dishes focused more on seafood, olive oil, and citrus fruits.
The Renaissance and Culinary Revolution
As the country entered its period of enlightenment, also known as the Renaissance, when art and education were top priorities, Italian cuisine went through a monumental revolution.
During this time, explorers reach the New World and bring back new fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes, potatoes, and corn. That’s right; before Christopher Columbus sailed the Atlantic, Europe didn’t have tomatoes!
With these new ingredients, Italian food takes on a new curve, incorporating tomato in pasta and potatoes in legume stews. As chefs incorporated these ingredients, they also refined classic dishes of risotto, pasta, and sauces.
The Italian Food We Know and Love Today
You know that delicious dough with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese you enjoy with friends while watching a football game or gathering around for a movie on a Friday night? Pizza originated in Italy in the 18th century, but the classic pizza, Margherita, wasn’t invented until 1889 in Naples for Queen Margherita!
During the 19th and 20th centuries, pasta became more popular and gelato experienced a sharp rise to fame. And as Italian immigrants settled down in countries like the United States, Australia, Canada, and Argentina, more people were introduced to this delicious cuisine.
During World War II, when soldiers were stationed in Italy, they were said to have developed such a love for the cuisine. When they returned home, they wanted their wives to learn how to cook their favorite Italian dishes!
It wasn’t until the 1950s that we began to see Italian restaurants open up worldwide, sharing some of the most iconic and delicious meals on their menus for the world to enjoy.
Key Principles of Italian Food
Italian food is more than just pasta, pizza, wine, and tiramisu. There are key principles that formed Italian food to be what we love today.
- Simple, High-Quality Ingredients – Italian food calls for fresh, simple, high-quality ingredients; you’ll taste the difference!
- Farm to Table – The key to an authentic Italian meal is using super fresh ingredients from local sources for the best flavors.
- Family Affair – Italian food is meant to be enjoyed and savored in a comfortable setting, preferably with loved ones; this is a major value the Italians hold when it comes to their food.
- Expert-Crafted Products – You can find imported Italian products in most grocery stores, from cheese to cured meats to pasta; pick some up next time you want to try an authentic Italian recipe.
Italian cuisine isn’t just food; it’s a time to enjoy the little things in life with the people you love most.
Live La Bella Vita and Enjoy Your Next Italian Meal at Cafesano
Are you ready to satisfy your craving for handcrafted pasta dishes, brick oven pizzas, or delicious sweet desserts? Come on down to Cafesano Italian & Mediterranean Bistro at one of our two locations in Reston or Dulles to get your Italian food fix!
Join us for happy hour and enjoy fine imported Italian wines or for lunch and dinner to enjoy a perfectly al dente pasta dish with friends and family.
Check out our menu to see what you’ll order next at Cafesano!