| In the United States, with its rich Italian-American | | | | that includes Venice) - has its own food traditions |
| culture, it can be difficult to distinguish between | | | | based on the plants and animals that have been |
| Italian-style meals, Italian-style food products, and | | | | nurtured there in the past. |
| Italian-American traditions that you might see on | | | | In the north, corn and rice are more plentiful than |
| television and movies, and real Italian gourmet foods | | | | wheat. Therefore, they are more likely to use polenta |
| that are used in real Italian meal traditions. | | | | or Arborio rice (risotto) than pasta in their meals. Beef |
| The origins of Italian gourmet flavors, foods, and | | | | is more plentiful in the regions in the center of Italy, |
| traditions are rooted in simplicity and natural availability. | | | | such as Tuscany and Umbria. Garlic is used more in |
| Italian cooks have always used the plants that grew | | | | the foods from the regions of central and southern |
| where they lived and the animal products from the | | | | Italy (such as Rome and Naples) than in the north. |
| animals that thrived where they lived. Food has been - | | | | Seafood is used primarily in the cuisines of seaside |
| and still is - made by hand from local ingredients that | | | | (and lakeside) towns, such as Venice, Como, Rimini, |
| are in season. Nowadays in the land of pre-processed | | | | Cinque Terre, Sorrento, and Rome. |
| foods that are available year-round, that can be | | | | Learning which food types are typical of the city that |
| considered "gourmet". In fact, it is just the real Italian | | | | your Italy fan loves, is a big step toward making a |
| way. | | | | memorable Italian meal experience. |
| If there is a person in your life that is a fan of Italy and | | | | If your Italy fan is far away, or if she or he has more |
| pines for a taste of traditional Italian flavors in an Italian | | | | fun making their own Italian meals, an Italian gift basket |
| meal, there are ways to impress even if you have | | | | is a very thoughtful gift. A basket that is carefully |
| never set foot in Italy yourself. | | | | chosen to include authentic products made in Italy, or a |
| The first consideration to please your fan of Italian | | | | gift of an aged balsamic vinegar or cheese imported |
| cuisine is to determine what part of Italy they like best. | | | | from the region of their favorite Italian city would be |
| Italy is made up of several regions, each with its own | | | | cherished and well-used. |
| agriculture and traditions, that have only been unified as | | | | A little bit of research to find out the part of Italy that |
| a country since the 1800s. Each region - such as | | | | your loved one is missing is the ticket to re-creating the |
| Tuscany (the region that includes Florence and Siena), | | | | magic that they crave. Bravo and brava to all of you |
| Lombardy (the region that includes Milan), Lazio (the | | | | who wish to create the authentic Italian experience for |
| region that includes Rome), or the Veneto (the region | | | | the Italy fans in your life. |