People have certain ideas on what Italian American cuisine is. Generally people think of large plates of spaghetti and meatballs, often influenced by gangster films. However as with a lot of food around the world there is more to this particular type of cuisine than stereotypical images would suggest.
One positive mental image of this is that the food tends to be symbolic of family. It is something children learn from their fathers and mothers. These recipes are handed down and are often treated as a source of pride. Authenticity is often something that is richly prized and restaurants often pride themselves on following age old family recipes.
Another thing to remember is that the food can change depending on where the generations of immigrants into the United States came from. A lot of the foods that people have come to associate with this kind of cuisine come from people whose families originated in Sicily, Naples or Calabria.
One explanation for this cultural difference is in the nature of the ingredients available. Italian cookery tends to focus on the freshness of ingredients. In Europe during the early part of the twentieth century meat was more scarce and expensive. Therefore it tended to be used more sparingly in recipes.
Another difference is that Italians tend to have small plates of pasta as one small course. This tends to come just before a main serving of meat. In the United States you are more likely to get larger servings of spaghetti and meatballs. One reason for this is said to be that in Europe at that time meat was relatively scarce whereas in the United States cheaper meat was easier to come by and therefore could be served in larger amounts.
It is also worth remembering that like any type of cuisine over time it can develop. Just as the food from Italy changed as people came over to America so too have the tastes and styles of the people who have grown up in the country. A lot of chefs have taken this culture and learned from others to create fusion or fine dining variations on this type of food.
For example you can go into a restaurant and order an antipasti of wild mushroom crostini followed by semolina gnocchi in an oxtail ragu as the primi. A secondi may then consist of lamb cacciatore with brussel sprouts and pancetta on the side, followed by a sumptuous dessert or cheese course. As you can see this is different from the starter, main course and dessert style of menu.
The point is that Italian American cuisine is not necessarily solely restricted to pasta and sauce although this is great in and of itself! It is worth looking online for reviews, especially if you are looking for places in the United States to try this for the first time. Looking at a broad range of reviews will allow you to get various opinions and find the best places for your own personal taste!
One positive mental image of this is that the food tends to be symbolic of family. It is something children learn from their fathers and mothers. These recipes are handed down and are often treated as a source of pride. Authenticity is often something that is richly prized and restaurants often pride themselves on following age old family recipes.
Another thing to remember is that the food can change depending on where the generations of immigrants into the United States came from. A lot of the foods that people have come to associate with this kind of cuisine come from people whose families originated in Sicily, Naples or Calabria.
One explanation for this cultural difference is in the nature of the ingredients available. Italian cookery tends to focus on the freshness of ingredients. In Europe during the early part of the twentieth century meat was more scarce and expensive. Therefore it tended to be used more sparingly in recipes.
Another difference is that Italians tend to have small plates of pasta as one small course. This tends to come just before a main serving of meat. In the United States you are more likely to get larger servings of spaghetti and meatballs. One reason for this is said to be that in Europe at that time meat was relatively scarce whereas in the United States cheaper meat was easier to come by and therefore could be served in larger amounts.
It is also worth remembering that like any type of cuisine over time it can develop. Just as the food from Italy changed as people came over to America so too have the tastes and styles of the people who have grown up in the country. A lot of chefs have taken this culture and learned from others to create fusion or fine dining variations on this type of food.
For example you can go into a restaurant and order an antipasti of wild mushroom crostini followed by semolina gnocchi in an oxtail ragu as the primi. A secondi may then consist of lamb cacciatore with brussel sprouts and pancetta on the side, followed by a sumptuous dessert or cheese course. As you can see this is different from the starter, main course and dessert style of menu.
The point is that Italian American cuisine is not necessarily solely restricted to pasta and sauce although this is great in and of itself! It is worth looking online for reviews, especially if you are looking for places in the United States to try this for the first time. Looking at a broad range of reviews will allow you to get various opinions and find the best places for your own personal taste!
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