History: Early Italian Culinary Culture

• Cross cultural influence came

from the great kingdoms of
the Etruscans, Greeks, and
Saracens from the Arab
empire.

Major contribution of the Etruscans to Italian

cuisine was a porridge :  pulmentum

Arabs predecessor
to the modern
lasagna; lagana,

The Greeks popularized the kind of fish

chowder : brodetto
 Saracen influence?
• The Saracen influence on Italian cuisine was brought from raids in the eighth century and again during the
Crusades beginning in the eleventh century, when Crusaders brought back new products from the lands

18th Century Contributions…

• Puff pastry : millefoglie (used in
sweet and savory dishes)
• Rice
• Buckwheat
• Tarragon
• Fruits such as: lemon, pomegranate ,
oranges, Italian ice-cream, also known as Gelato, made from  milk, cream,
various sugars, and flavoring such as fresh fruit and nut purees
• Number of spices
• New techniques in food preservation

grappa, a high-alcohol-content
spirit distilled from grapes,
though it has its origins in
Saracen
 Flowering of Independent Italian Culture
• Finally, after Italian
unification in the middle of
the nineteenth century,
individual “compartments”
of the Italian peninsula
made distinct, individual
contributions to culture
• Influential cookbooks such
as Pellegrino Artusi’s La
Scienza in cucina e l’arte di
mangier bene (The Science
of Cooking and the Art of
Eating Well) which collected
typical Italian household
dishes. 
 Mediterranean Diet?
• Obesity very rare: rate
8.5%  compared to
American 30.6%.
• Studies show
Mediterranean diet has
many benefits; lowered risk
of heart disease and
cancer, to living a longer Italian enjoy a diet that is rich in
• Fruits
life. • Vegetables
• Beans
• Poultry
• Olive oil
• Tomatoes
• Whole grains
• Dairy
• Red-whine
& they eat very little red meat
 Meals of the Day?
• Breakfast : Relatively small breakfast consisting of ; small
breakfast of coffee with milk (rather than cream or half and
half) along with cereal or a cornetto,( croissant).

• Lunch: typically consists of a "first plate" and "second plate,"

such as a
sandwich and salad, or a small plate of pasta followed by a
small piece of fish or chicken and vegetables.

• Snack: Midday snack usually consists of yogurt or fruit,

not cake, cookies, or candy

• Dinner: Larger meal, but is not served too late (to allow
time for proper digestion). It's usually pasta with a tomato
or vegetable sauce; a small portion of fish or meat;
vegetables; and fruit for dessert. Mineral water is the
preferred beverage, along with a glass of red wine. All
portions tend to be small when compared to our own
supersized quantities.
Table Manners?
• Wait to sit down at the table until the hostess has
been seated.
• Follow the hostess' lead to determine when to eat.
Either the hostess will instruct the guests to begin
or she will just begin to eat herself.
• knife should be held in the right hand and the fork
in the left at all times
• NO ELBOWS ON TABLE!
• Keep your hands above the table during a meal
• Use your fork and knife to eat all foods, including
fruit and cheese
• Place your fork and knife together diagonally
across your plate to indicate that you are finished
and your plate can be removed
• Wait until the hostess leaves the table at the end
of a meal to leave the table yourself
 Methods of Preparation

• Sautéing a combination of carrots, celery and onions is the ideal start for many popular
Italian dishes,
• Pot roasting and braising make up the primary way that Italian meats are prepared
• Microwaves are not popular because the food doesn't taste as good as when it is cooked
with small gas or electric hobs. 
• Crudo: technique by which a combination of finely minced raw vegtables are mixed
• Simmering: vegetables from raw to cooked in a generous amount of olive oil and oregano
• Al dente:  term used in cooking pasta and vegetables indicates that the pasta or veggies are
soft and ready
Top 10 Famous Dishes Quiz
#1 #2

#3 #4
#5 #6

#7
#9
#9 #10
Bibliography
CAHILL, M. (2011, October 22). Top 10 Italian dishes - dailypress.com. Hampton Roads news,
information, weather, hurricane coverage, sports, entertainment, restaurants, real estate,
jobs, business, classifieds - dailypress.com. Retrieved January 18, 2013, from
http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-toptenlist.o22,0,3664086.story

Italian Food History and Culture. (n.d.).Random History and Word Origins for the Curious Mind.
Retrieved January 18, 2013, from http://www.randomhistory.com/italianfoodh

Italian Diet Secrets. (2012, November 12). WebMD - Better information. Better health.. Retrieved
January 18, 2013, from http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/italian-diet-secrets

How to Follow Italian Table Manners | eHow.com. (n.d.). eHow | How to Videos, Articles & More
- Discover the expert in you. | eHow.com. Retrieved January 18, 2013, from
http://www.ehow.com/how_2228059_follow-italian-table-manners.html