| When searching for the best Italian food, it may be as | | | | beans. Veneto also features more exotic dishes |
| simple as looking around the corner to a local Italian | | | | putting into play more seafood and diverse ingredients. |
| restaurant. However for true Italian gourmet foods, its | | | | The region of Lombardy is known for being a big user |
| best to always head to Italy and search and explore | | | | of rice in their cooking. Cheese is also extremely |
| the regions where some of the finest pastas, breads, | | | | popular in this region, the land being well suited for |
| and cheeses are made. | | | | raising cattle and producing good milk and cheeses. |
| While much of Italian cooking was indeed inspired by | | | | Single pot dishes, which are somewhat popular in Italy |
| the discovery of the "New World" bringing in such | | | | are extremely popular here, taking less effort to make |
| items as potatoes, tomatoes, bell peppers, and maize, | | | | and while generally meant for the working class are still |
| this cooking has centered around pasta products, as | | | | considered gourmet Italian food on many levels. A |
| well as fine breads, and most definitely fine cheeses. | | | | region known for wild game, hunting, foraging, and |
| The regions where these products are produced are | | | | gathering is Piedmont. |
| directly influenced by the conditions in which the | | | | In this area nuts are especially popular as well as fungi |
| livestock are raised as well as soil. From the very | | | | and cardoons, a thistle like plant that resembles an |
| beginning Italy has had some of the richest soil for | | | | artichoke. Fine wines are also another characteristic of |
| wine grapes as well as Italian gourmet foods. The | | | | this area, including many fine sparkling wines. |
| country is rich in soil as well as in resources to produce | | | | One of the most savory regions in Italy for Italian |
| some of the finest cooking on the planet. | | | | gourmet food is Liguria an area which believes in using |
| Italy is well known for a pasta product known as | | | | only the freshest of ingredients. Pies, as well as onions, |
| risotto. The process of making risotto is usually very | | | | and olive oil are popular ingredients as well as dishes in |
| time consuming and this process on its own makes it | | | | Liguria. |
| one of the most sought after Italian gourmet food | | | | Hilly districts of this area value chestnuts and other |
| items in the United States as well as in the world. | | | | nuts in their cooking as well and the valley areas are |
| Risotto is usually added upon, and the ingredients will | | | | heavy into pasta products such as linguine. This area is |
| vary depending on the region and can range from fish | | | | however restricted by a landscape that does not allow |
| to chicken, as well as pumpkin and asparagus. The | | | | much for the growing of grain products and have also |
| region most heavily associated with risotto is Veneto, | | | | gone into making the most out of chick-peas as well |
| where other Italian gourmet foods are also found such | | | | as onions, artichokes, sausage, and cheese. |
| as pasta e fagioli which is soup containing pasta and | | | | |