Italy is an ethnically diverse nation with approximately 60 million people living within its borders and not much larger than Arizona. This ethnic diversity has also had an effect in the type of cuisine that is periodically churned out and developed over hundreds of years of political as well as social changes.
If you are a first-time vacationer to Italy, you may be surprised to discover that Italian cuisine varies from one region to another and has more variety than the typical spaghetti combined with meatballs or parmesan which is the every-day meal in Italian restaurants that are in the United States. You may also be astonished to discover that each region has its own wines, vegetables and cheeses.
This is why you cannot compare the foods that are cultivated in the countryside of Italy with that of a supermarket as you will know the difference when these regional delicacies are eaten with unique wines.
There are two major regions of Italy, and the cuisine of each region differs one from the other. The major areas are the northern region and the southern region. To know the major differences in Italian regional cuisine, we will need to explore these regions to find out why their cuisines are different, despite the fact that they are within the boundaries of one country.
Northern Cuisine
For those who may not know, northern Italy is full of mountainous terrains and its proximity to Austria, France and Switzerland cannot be doubted. The Lombardia and Piemonte regions are excellent for breeding cattle, and that is what the locals focus on. Therefore, the regional cuisine is almost primarily based on dairy products. Sauces are enriched with cream and embellished with garlic and herbs. Soups, as well as stews with lots of beef, are abundant in the region, especially during winter time. But the preferred choice during the spring season is tender veal cutlets which are breaded.
The mountainous regions of northern Italy are always the first to experience winter, and therefore, residents enjoy hard sausages which help to get through the season. Other northern delicacies that have begun to receive worldwide recognition are preserved salted meats known as prosciutto as well as salami. Let us not forget that the popular parmesan cheese also originates from this mountainous region.
Southern Cuisine
Visitors to the southern region of Italy will be welcomed with cuisines that are peculiar to the region. The climate in this region supports the growth of plants like tomatoes, eggplants as well as peppers, and these plants are primarily the foundation for most of the delicacies that are peculiar to this region. Southern Italian professional cooks make use of these plants in such a way that makes the cuisine of this region different from any other region or locality on planet earth.
The southern region is where pizza, the most popular food ever invented in Italy, originated from, and that was as a result of the abundance of tomatoes in this region. Seafood, salad greens, as well as other foods like eggplant parmigiana, are just a few of the southern classics known.
In conclusion, the major differences in Italian regional cuisines are primarily as a result of the type of climate in each of these regions. The north of the country does more of dairy products due to its mountainous regions, the southern part does more of fresh agricultural produce, which could probably be attributed to its proximity with the Mediterranean.
Christinis Ristorante Italiano specializes in Northern Italian Cuisines and has been serving our fine dining guests for over 30 years.