Italy

Lasagne tastes good, is filling, is very nutritious, the ingredients (except for meats) are easily stored, many even without refrigeration, like dried pasta. It can be made with freshly made pasta as well. Part of the ingredients, like the sauce, can be made well in advance and canned or frozen for longer term storage. It is inexpensive to make and contents are easily obtained by ordinary people. It can be varied so it isn't boring as: with meat, without meat, with spinach as a vegetarian dish, with meatballs, with different cheeses, with onion, with mushrooms, with different herbs, etc. American people love lasagna, too! Although the most popular lasagne in the U.S. is the baked version, it can also be eaten without layering and baking for a quicker meal. You might think of it as the Italian version of a casserole.

An Italian menu should feature distinct graphics that relate to Italy. There can be pictures of areas of Italy or Italian cuisine and wine. The menus are usually sophisticated with the name of the restaurant and the items it serves featured prominently.

A typical Italian breakfast would be delle uova (some eggs), il Pane con della marmellata e del burro (bread with jam and butter)
A traditional Italian breakfast might consist of cappuccino, and cornetto. In another part of Italy a traditional breakfast would be zabaione, and cookies.

The precise answer is because they were introduced to Italy following the discovery of America by the Spanish.

Naples at the time was under Spanish rule and the commercial ships brought this strange new fruit, or is it a vegetable, to the city.

It soon became popular and lent itself to early fusion cooking.

== == One has to be careful as to best-selling or most popular. Not the same thing. The most popular cheeses in France are Camembert (as you might expect - no cheese board is complete without Camembert) and Gruyere, which is extensively used for sandwiches and toasting. But the Best-selling cheese by far is Emmental, which is principally used grated in cooking - and a very large proportion of french recipes use grated cheese. Emmental is also the third most popular cheese. The second best-selling cheese, incidentally, is usually given as goat-s cheese, but I think this is unfair unless you give cow's chese the first place; there are many varieties of goat cheese. However, the figures I have seen (quoted by Bongrain, who make caprice des Dieux which comes sixth) are: Popularity 1 Camembert

2 Gruyere

3 Emmental Most sold 1 Emmental

2 Goat

3 Camembert

No, it is imported but blended and roasted in Italy.

Technically, coffee can be grown anywhere but its ideal environment is the region near the equator, between the Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn. Italy may be outside this region but its artisans have long mastered the processes that go into a perfect cup of coffee.

Pasta is eaten first, but the main meal is LAMB roasted with potatos.

In the North of Italy, the answser is easy: Emilia -Romagna stands alone.

In the Centre and South it is less easy: definitely NOT Tuscany, nor the island of Sardegna.

But Lazio, Abbruzzi and Le Marche in the centre and Sicily, Puglia, Calabria could probably make quite a strong case for being "famous for pasta"

Chianti.

One of the most full bodied and dry wines from Italy is Sagrantino di Montefalco. It is one of the most tannic grape varities in the world. The producers are very good at balancing them and making incredible wine.

For more information on Sagrantino you can take a look at:

http://www.squidoo.com/sagrantino-di-montefalco-wine

artigiano

Olives ( many varieties).

Figs

Tomatoes(Calabria for sundried), (San Marzano for canned)

Trebbiano Grapes for Balsamic vinegar and wine( also many other grape varieties).

The famous lemons Of Sorrento

The famous Gargano lemons of Apulia.

Porcini Mushrooms

Portobello Mushrooms

White Piedmontese Truffles( the most expensive food in the world).

Wild Black Truffles

Sicilian Oregano ( the best along with Greek).

Blood Oranges ( Sicily).

Almonds( At the foot of Mt. Edna) The Best.

Pistachios ( Sicily)

Pine Nuts ( aka pignoli nuts)

Hazelnuts.

Chestnuts

Garlic

Wild Fennel

Fava Beans

Escarole

Cannelini beans

Canoroli Rice

Aborio Rice

Brown Lentils

Chamomille( Bonomelli)

No they did not. Tomatoes originate from America and reached Europe after the discovery of America.

Yes, lasagna did originate from Italy. I'm doing a research project about Italy and it is!8-)

- Chicken and sun-dried tomato bruschetta; Marinated chicken, spinach, feta and sun-dried tomatoes on grilled or toasted slices of focaccia bread.

- Bruschetta with shallots; The same base as the last appetizer though shallots are the special ingredient.

- Bruschetta; Fresh tomatoes, parsley, chives, garlic and basil on toasted french bread with pesto.

- Mozzarella and tomato appetizer tray; Mozzarella and tomato slices topped with roasted red peppers and herbs on toasted bread slices.

- Dulcia domestica; Dates stuffed with chipped pine nuts, cooked in wine and honey and cooled.

- Papa Felico's garlic sausage bread; Italian bread topped with sausage, tomato, mozzarella cheese, red bell pepper and balsamic vinaigrette.

- Nikol's garlic bruschetta; Toasted sourdough topped with garlic herb cheese spread and lightly marinated tomatoes.

- Italian Nachos; Italian sausage, pepperoni, banana peppers, mozzarella and pizza sauce, of course piled onto the nachos.

- Spinach Arancini; Arborio rice balls with spinach and parmigiano-reggiano and a cube of mozzarella cheese rolled in seasoned panko bread crumbs then deep fried.

- Lamb cannelloni; Seasoned lamb and goat cheese rolled in lasagna sheets and drizzled with a mint, pine nut and olive oil sauce.

These are only a few delicious appetizers I have chosen myself, and they are personal favourites. Garlic bread is another option, but can also be served with any of these. I hope this helped.

Nahh, they like to get their pasta noodles from a box and the pasta sauce from a can. and they like their pizza from Papa John's

Although Bulgaria is a member of the EU their tobacco duty is not yet fully harmonised with eu levels. Therefore at present, assuming you are from the UK, you cannot bring back the full EU quota ( a vague 'reasonable amount for personal consumption') I believe it is still only 200 cigarettes from Bulgaria but best to check at time of travel.

As an Italian I would not say it is sacred, however, we do love our pasta!

As an Italian I would not say it is sacred, however, we do love our pasta!

As an Italian I would not say it is sacred, however, we do love our pasta!

As an Italian I would not say it is sacred, however, we do love our pasta!

As an Italian I would not say it is sacred, however, we do love our pasta!

As an Italian I would not say it is sacred, however, we do love our pasta!

Since Italian meals usually come in what we would call 'courses' consisting of individual dishes served family style, from a serving dish, the presentation is usually rather simple, but often includes an artistic garnish of some sort.

Even in a restaurant, sliced meats (especially cold meats) are usually presented 'family style' on a large platter so that each slice is displayed in a pleasing arrangement. Pasta dishes and salads are also frequently presented family style, even in restaurants.

At formal affairs for groups and in larger restaurants, you will find elaborate buffet-style presentations, often with branches and blossoms arrayed among the serving dishes, which may be on pedestals of different heights.

I guess the short answer to this question is that many dishes are presented "family style", with each guest serving him or herself, so the presentation is that of the serving dish, rather than individual portions.

The only place each dish would be presented separately would be at an upscale restaurant, where each course will be presented in an artistic manner and beautifully garnished. At most of the less expensive restaurants, one chooses various dishes from a glass display counter, already on plates. Then these are warmed up and brought to your table.

In certain cities, there are food bars where patrons eat standing up! Unlike the Macdonalds (which you can also find in some Italian towns) this is usually not 'fast food' in the sense of fast cooking. It is 'slow cooking' served quickly for fast eaters. This is especially noticeable in Milan, where everyone is in a hurry, and in tourist meccas. You can find every kind and price range of restaurant in most towns and cities, but if you look for the ones featuring traditional food of the region, you are more likely to get real home-cooking and a feeling of being a guest in the owner's home.

Many restaurants in Italy have websites, so check your guidebook for the Italian names and website addresses to see more about presentation.

i think it is

Religion has a big influence of the way Italians eat.

Well not really, it makes no difference to them at all

Actually religion does make a impact on the way Italian eat. It doesn't effect their daily lives but on special occasions such as Good Friday and Christmas, many traditional Italians are influenced to follow some Catholic ideas. Although this may be known, on Good Friday they do not eat meat. They also do not put vinegar on their salads on good Friday, this is because pone time Jesus was tired and asked someone for water, instead they gave him vinegar. On Christmas lamb is typically eaten for dinner, this is not because of a popular meal choice but because it comes from the lyric "lamb of God you take away the sins...". Hope this helped!

There are millions of Italian dishes and each region of Italy has it's own favorites. Pasta, bread, fish, and vegetables form the basis for many Italian dishes, but you are better served by looking at an Italian cookbook to get a better idea.

A good example would be an Italian soda. This is a drink where cream is poured into a narrow glass with a syrup-like flavoring on top. When you get it, you mix it with the straw and drink. It is interesting because the syrup is almost sweet and the cream is somewhat bitter. Together they make for an excellent drink that comes in many flavors.

---- Please feel free to edit or add more

Thank You.

Puglia is the region of Italy with the most land given over to olive production and hence most olive oil output.

Although figures vary year by year, due to weather conditions above all, the region produces typically 43% of Italy's olive oil, way above anyone else including Tuscany.

There are quite a few varieties of red and white grapes that make Italian wines. Some red grapes include Nebbiolo, Barbera, and Dolcetto. Some white grapes include Cortese, Grechetto, Vernaccia.

there are a lot of grapes and olives grown in Rome as well as olives