Italian food is often discussed yet rarely understood.  There are plenty of half-truths and myths surrounding Italian cooking and food.  Let’s take a look at some intriguing Italian food facts you might not have known.

Garlic is not Used in Italian Food as Frequently as Most Assume
Though garlic bread is quite popular in Italian restaurants, garlic is not used in Italian food to the extent that most imagine.  Just about everyone agrees garlic bread tastes amazing yet real Italians typically eat plain bread, possibly with olive oil.  Contrary to popular opinion, real Italian bread is not to be soaked in garlic and butter.

There is no Italian Wedding Soup in Italy
No one is quite sure where the “Italian” part of Italian Wedding Soup originated.  It is likely Italian wedding soup resulted from the combination of American and Italian cuisine.  Though this soup, comprised of meat, veggies, and stock, tastes quite scrumptious, it is unavailable in the vast majority of restaurants in Italy.

Real Italians do not Order Pepperoni Pizza
Pepperoni pizza is certainly popular in America yet it is not a top-seller in Italy.  In fact, pepperoni, spelled with a single “P” after the initial “E” actually means bell pepper in Italian.  As a result, you could easily order pepperoni pizza in Italy and end up with pizza topped with peppers.

Italian Coffee is Different Than Most Imagine
Coffee with milk is typically consumed in the morning hours throughout Italy.  Espresso is the coffee of choice enjoyed after meals.

Bread is More Than an Appetizer
Bread is best used to soak up the additional sauce remaining on the plate after a dish of pasta.  Therefore, it is a mistake to strictly eat bread prior to beginning the meal.  Rather, bread should be saved until the final third of the dining experience of even the very end of the meal to mop up any leftover sauce.

Authentic Italian Pizza has Thin Crust
Pizza originated in Italy yet most are unaware the authentic version of this tasty delight does not have a thick crust.  Rather, real pizza has a thin crust.  So don’t be surprised if you are served up a pizza pie with smaller crust than expected – it is the Italian way.

Hundreds of Pasta Shapes Exist
All in all, more than 600 varieties of pasta are available across the globe.  This means there are all different pasta shapes available for myriad Italian dishes.  From curly spiral pasta to straight spaghetti, tubes/penne, ravioli pockets, and beyond, the list of pasta variations are seemingly endless.