Aside from the amazing architecture and great art and major cultural performance establishments that are associated with Italy, the cuisine of this great country is also one of the major cultural heritage elements that entices numerous people from to visit around the world. In addition to the geographic beauty that is associated with much of the Italian countryside, the regional food offerings inspire great romantic sentiments in people, even if they have never visited the country. This is a pretty powerful reputation, and one that is well deserved. Italians are proud of their cooking heritage and who hasn't heard of the Italian mother who feels insulted if you don't eat her food? I guess first we'd have to find the person who wouldn't be honored to eat it, but that's another project.
While many people in the United States place most pasta-based dishes in the broader category of Italian food, in actuality the spices and specific dish based cuisine can be more reflective of a particular region or area from which the food arises. And most of the restaurants in Italy are reflective of this. In addition, the two major Islands of Italy, Sicily and Sardegna are well known for their own cuisine and original food dish heritage. It is interesting to discover that the country of Italy is frequently acknowledged of being made up of twenty different regions and each of these has its own distinct characteristics. And while many people associate the majority of Italian food with various pasta and seafood dishes, as well as pizza, most of the local towns and villages create specialty dishes that might be associated with these main archetypes but are made in a distinct local manner.
Meanwhile, there are some broader distinctions that are typical to the larger divisional aspects of the country. For instance, the northern Italian regions are known for using more polenta and rice in their dishes while the southern Italians have a strong orientation toward olive oil and prefer it almost entirely to butter. Some of the other more specific regions like Lombardy, Tuscany, Veneto, as well as others, are known for particular dishes. Lombardy has some of the most delicate squash filled tortellini dishes and Tuscany has more of a rustic reputation. Campi in Tuscany is famous for its braised goat. Wherever you find yourself in this historic country, there is a restaurant, deli or cafe that will surprise you with the unique local cuisine offerings, and these are usually complimented by a great wine.
To find a great Italian restaurant, check out Italianrestaurants.com.
