| Italy is one of the oldest countries in the world, and | | | | squid, now a common dish on every Italian restaurant |
| thanks to the geographical boundaries of the | | | | menu, was originally something Greeks were known |
| Mediterranean Sea and the Alps it has remained | | | | for consuming.The Roman Empire's excursions into |
| largely unchanged throughout history. Even during the | | | | North Africa were another fertile breeding ground for |
| Roman Empire, Italy was set apart. Legions that had | | | | culinary expansion. The number of herbs, spices and |
| been abroad always knew when they had returned | | | | vegetables that entered the Italian menu from Egypt |
| to the mother country. Italian food history, however, | | | | and the other African territories is uncountable.Even |
| reaches far beyond the country's borders.For | | | | today, Italian food history continues to evolve. Much |
| starters, look at pasta. There is much historical | | | | of the changes now, though, take place beyond the |
| debate on its origins, but many historians point to | | | | shores of Italy. In America, for example, chefs like |
| Marco Polo's voyages to the Far East, from which he | | | | Mario Batali have fused classic Italian dishes with |
| returned with all manner of foreign spices and foods, | | | | American cuisine to come up with dishes that |
| as the venue from which pasta came. The Chinese | | | | combine the best of both worlds. In cities and towns |
| had cooked with noodles for centuries, and Marco | | | | all over the country, chefs are taking traditional |
| Polo's men encountered the same on their | | | | ingredients and combining them in new ways. In what |
| travels.The tomato, now considered a staple in Italian | | | | could perhaps be called a "full-circle" journey for |
| cuisine, was long thought to be poisonous, partly | | | | pasta, some Italian-Asian fusion restaurants are even |
| because it is related to the deadly nightshade plant. | | | | beginning to evolve.But perhaps the best way to get |
| Other Europeans found it to be palatable long before | | | | a full idea of Italian food history is to get out and eat |
| the first Italian cook simmered some down to make | | | | some. Better yet, eat a lot! Eating Italian food is |
| tomato sauce.The Greeks, neighbors and frequent | | | | always better than Italian food history.Andrew |
| military rivals of the Italians, had a great amount of | | | | Krause is a Chef and Pastry Chef for over 30 years, |
| influence on Italian cuisine, especially in the area of | | | | at persent I own a Gourmet Bakery called The |
| spices and the preparation of seafood. Calamari, or | | | | Cheese Confectioner. |