An Essay On Italian Food

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Italian food is the world’s most popular cuisine. It is an essential part of Italian life and very common to non-Italians. The most well-known Italian dishes today are pasta and pizza, but Italian cuisine varies greatly from one region to another. For instance, “the popular Italian-American dishes generally come from the southern region of Campania and the island of Sicily, just off the southern coast” (Traditional Italian). However, many years ago, Italy was made up of different nations, conquered by many, and it experienced vast influences from different countries. These impacts would shape the food of Italy and its’ culture.
Italian food began about 13,000 years ago and became recognized when “the Etruscans, Greeks, and Romans moved into the Italian peninsula around 1,000 BCE” (Italian Food History). By about 400 BCE the Romans had taken control of this diverse area. During this period, Italian cuisine consisted of barley or wheat that would be cooked into a type of porridge and enriched with wild greens, root vegetables, fruit or, for a really big celebration, honey. The boarders of the Roman Empire provided spices like cumin, sesame, coriander, oregano, olive oil and saffron to those who could afford it. “After conquering Macedonia around 200 BCE, the returning standard bearers brought commercial baking to the city of Romulus and Remus enriching the history of Italian food and making bread the staple of the Roman welfare system called the Annona” (Italian Food History). Even with such diversity, the people of Italy were quite poor and had to rely on locally available foods to create their recipes. This is why many Italian dishes, including today, are based on simple ingredients like cheese, eggplant, olives, and olive oil....

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...with direct contact and a smile is good enough. Once a relationship starts to develop so does the greeting. For example, a handshake can develop into air-kissing both cheeks and a pat on the back between men. First impressions are important to Italians and it is best to show good manners and respect when greeting people especially when meeting for the first time. The way you dress can also impact how you will be greeted and whether you will make a lasting impression. Clothes indicate your social status, your family’s background, and your education level. Furthermore, since Italy is home to many famous fashion houses, such as Gucci and Prada, you will be judged on your clothes, shoes, accessories, and the way you carry yourself. Not only is having some fashion sense a good thing, being able to project a confident and resilient demeanor will help make good impressions.

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