The widespread availability of international cuisines is among the most celebrated effects of multiculturalism on the United States. Few dishes are more popular here than Italian ones, yet Italian American specialties often taste different than those found in the homeland. The history of Italian food in America is one of cross-cultural pollination, with dishes from Italy being influenced by, and in turn influencing, other cuisines of the United States.

American Additions

One of most notable ways Italian food changed in the United States was the incorporation of larger quantities of meat. Italian immigrants earned higher wages in America, allowing them to buy more meat. It is for this reason that meatballs are so much larger in the United States than in Italy.

In addition to incorporating more meat, Italian-American immigrants also made greater use of sauce. The deep red pasta dishes that Americans are used to are rare in Italy, where the noodles themselves usually play a larger role. Even when Italians do use sauces, they are less likely to opt for red sauce.

Italians also left behind certain types of foods. Oxtail, for example, is common fare at restaurants in Italy, but is rarely available on Italian American tables.

In addition to the types of foods consumed, Italian Americans changed the order in which they ate. In Italy, meals are traditionally divided into six stages, each containing a different type of food. Italian-Americans, however, began serving all major food groups in a single dish, speeding up their meals.

Italian Innovations

Cultural change is rarely one-sided, and American cuisine changed just as much as Italian food did. The most recognizable result is the popularity of pizza, which has become so widespread in the United States that many Americans claim it for themselves. Pizza has fused with foods from other ethnic groups in this country, and is often available at Mexican, Portuguese, and even sushi restaurants!

Pizza is nothing without cheese, which also grew in popularity thanks to Italian influence. Able to buy more milk than they could in the old country, Italian immigrants introduced mozzarella, parmesan, and other premium cheeses on a grand scale.

In addition to pizza and cheeses, Southern Italian immigrants helped to make seafood more popular in the United States. Sicilians had a taste for clams, which they found new ways to prepare once they reached our shores. They also helped create fried calamari, combining their taste for squid with Portuguese deep-frying methods.

For dishes containing the best of what Italy and America have to offer, visit L’Amore today.

Italian food is some of the most delicious cuisines in the entire world. And even before the main course, most Italians like to have something to whet their appetite: an amazing appetizer. The best Italian appetizers can be easily shared with everyone at the table and are tasty enough to please all palates. In short, Italy simply does appetizers right. From zesty calamari to fan-favorite antipasto, keep reading to learn the 5 most popular Italian appetizers — and be sure to try one (or more) today!

Bruschetta

This unique appetizer looks as good as it tastes. Once called “the original garlic bread,” bruschetta is made of grilled ciabatta bread. In fact, In fact, the word “bruschetta” is derived from the Italian word “bruscare,” which means “to roast over coals.” The grilled bread is then topped with olive oil and salt. Individual toppings may vary, but ours includes chopped tomato, onions, basil, garlic and extra virgin olive oil.

Calamari

Calamari is the culinary name for squid (but doesn’t “calamari” sound much better?!). The squid meat is firm and white with a mild, sweet flavor. The body of the squid is the prime section of edible meat, although the tentacles are edible as well. Calamari can be served in flat pieces or in rings. There are many ways to prepare and cook calamari. Typically, every country has its own way! Ours is sauteed or fried with black garlic, red pepper, and pepperoncini puree.

Shrimp Scampi

Love shrimp? Then you’ll absolutely love shrimp scampi, which is shrimp that’s been sauteed with garlic in butter and olive oil and then splashed with white wine. Our version includes jumbo shrimp that we saute in garlic, butter, and white wine — and then serve fresh with crostini. The fresh flavors of shrimp scampi will make your taste buds sing.

Beef Carpaccio

This popular appetizer is made up of raw beef, thinly sliced or pounded thin. A great beef carpaccio appetizer is packed with flavor and will practically melt in your mouth. Our version is then topped with capers and shaved with Parmigiano, before being served with lemon and aioli sauce. And of course, we only use the freshest, highest-quality beef fillet, making it an absolutely pleasing gourmet appetizer.

Antipasto

Perhaps the most popular Italian appetizer, antipasto is a dish made up of a variety of different Italian favorites. Even throughout different regions of Italy, an antipasto appetizer contains different kinds of meats, cheeses, and vegetables. Our version is made up of a divine variety of Italian meats and cheese, olives, and grilled vegetables.

Is your mouth watering yet? To try any of these fantastic Italian appetizers today (and feel like a true Italian for a little while), stop in to L’Amore Italian Restaurant. We can’t wait to see you!

To taste genuine Italian cuisine without flying to Italy, stop into L’amore Italian Restaurant. We promise it’ll be delicioso!

Italians are known around the world for being friendly, helpful, respectful, polite and considerate people. They’re generally very nice and easy to get along with. In addition to that, Italians are people of tradition — and they have a few key traditions that have remained tried and true through the years. Read on to learn five important Italian traditions that’ll just never change.

Family

The idea of family is one of the most important values in Italian culture. And, although Americans usually think of family as their immediate family (mom, dad, and kids), Italians think of family as their entire extended family (aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents and more). Italians simply love spending time with their families; most Italians never stray too far from home and enjoy getting together with loved ones very frequently. Even as Italian children grow into adults, they’re taught to remain just as close to their families as time goes on.

Art and Architecture

Italians can definitely appreciate classic art and architecture. That’s because, as Italians, they’ve grown up around some of the most famous structures in the world: the Colosseum, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Sistine Chapel. In addition, art is everywhere in Italy. Even on a quick visit, you’ll find numerous museums, churches and public buildings with breathtaking art and architecture. Finally, if you’re looking for a world-renowned fashion house, you’ll find quite a few in Italy, including Armani, Gucci, Benetton, Versace, and Prada — just to name a few.

Holiday Celebrations

Italians love a good celebration, and they’ll find any excuse to throw a party! Major holiday celebrations happen in Italy on Christmas, Easter, Pasquetta (which occurs on Easter Monday and involves having family picnics to welcome spring), Saints Day (which occurs on November 1 and involves decorating the graves of deceased family members) and Liberation Day (which occurs on April 25 and marks the end of World War II in Italy in 1945). Aside from these major holidays, Italians love to celebrate the feast day of their town’s patron saint.

Food

Who could forget food? Italian cuisine might just be the most important Italian tradition. For Italians, food isn’t just nourishment… food is life. As Italians cook their meals, they view the food preparation as art. The most popular food items in Italy are cheese and pasta (penne, spaghetti, linguine, fusilli and lasagna). The most popular beverage in Italy? Wine, of course.
Now that you know these five important Italian traditions, you’ll never have to re-learn them because, well, they’ll never change! These five traditions are simply staples in Italian culture. Without them, Italy just wouldn’t be Italy.
To taste genuine Italian cuisine without flying to Italy, stop into L’amore Italian Restaurant. We promise it’ll be delicioso!

From Bolognese sauce to lasagna to parmigiana, it is virtually impossible to imagine Italian cuisine without the tomato. Yet as with chili peppers in India, potatoes in Ireland, and peanuts in Southeast Asia, Italians have only had tomatoes for a few hundred years. Before the Columbian Exchange, no one in Italy had heard of this fruit. By learning how the tomato became a part of it, you can understand Italian cuisine’s truly international character:

Lifted From Latin America

The tomato was originally cultivated in Central and South America, where the Aztecs and other pre-Columbian civilizations had used it in their dishes for centuries. The word “tomato” comes from the Nahuatl  “tomatl,” meaning “fruit.” When the Spanish Empire conquered the region, they brought the tomato back to Europe along with other local fruits, vegetables, and animals.

Though it is not known exactly when the tomato reached Italy, it must have been some time before 1544, when Italian author Pietro Matthioli wrote about it. Matthioli, however, believed that the fruit was poisonous. For this reason, Italians were slow to adapt it into their cooking, instead using tomato plants for decoration. In 1548, a Tuscan steward described the tomato as a “pomi d’oro” or “golden fruit;” this led to the modern Italian word for the food, “pomodoro.”

Early Eating

Despite the initial assumption that they were poisonous, tomatoes gradually made their way into Italian cooking. This was in part due to the influence of Spain, which controlled much of southern Italy during the 16th and 17th centuries. Spaniards taught Italians to fry tomatoes in a pan along with onions, squash, and eggplant, creating a dish similar to modern ratatouille. The fruit became popular in part because of its ability to flavor food, no small matter at a time when spices were expensive and hard to find.

By the 18th century, Italians had begun experimenting with tomato conservation methods. By boiling them and then sealing them into tight containers, they could keep the fruits in good condition throughout the year.

Tomatoes truly hit their stride in the 19th century, when Margherita pizza, pasta al pomodoro, and other staples of modern Italian cuisine came into vogue. Just as these dishes were becoming popular, Italy began its process of unification, helping to spread them and other cooking techniques more evenly across the country. It was also at this time that the Diaspora started, with Italians traveling to Brazil, Argentina, the United States, and other countries. This established Italy’s global reputation for cooking delicious tomato dishes.

For more information on the history of Italy’s delicious cuisine, or to try that cuisine for yourself, contact L’Amore Italian Restaurant today.