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Food is such an integral part of Italian culture — regardless of the region — that it is impossible to speak of one without the other. One of the reasons why Italian food is so appreciated internationally is that Italians understand and respect its place in culture. It has been said that food is art, nutrition, philosophy, diplomacy, spirituality, science, medicine, culture, joy, spirit, and entertainment. In the case of Italian food, this is especially true and realized by the locals.

No one in Italy is ever accused of speaking about food “too much” or called “a foodie.” Instead, a buona forchetta, or “good fork,” is used to describe a person who appreciates good food (as they rightly should), and it’s a compliment. Throughout history, we see the use of food in pagan culture, through antiquity, in Christianity, and now in our modern world with an almost sacred (and rightly so) appeal. The food we consume is one of the most powerful tools we have to affect our personal health and happiness. Prior to the 20th century, it was the philosophers and physicians who wrote about food, not the chefs themselves, which underscores the importance of the topic of cuisine. From Pythagoras’s teaching of nutrition in Kroton (Crotone), to Apicius writing the first Roman cookbook, to the scholars of the Middle Ages to Pellegrino Artusi’s 19th century writing classic, we can witness food being a highly appreciated form of culture.

Culture, in the Italian kitchen, is the knowledge that traditions were created for specific reasons (religious, seasonal, in commemoration of events); to recreate a recipe as it was customarily done is to promote the heritage of a particular region. In addition to the pleasure of eating mouthwatering specialties, this desire to uphold culture is the base of Italian cuisine. In many instances in the kitchen, shortcuts can be taken to save time and money. A true Italian cook, however, always opts for the traditional option, when possible, because they realize that losing customs is too great a price to pay and that spending a few moments to pass down heritage is time well spent.