10 Things You Didn't Know About Authentic Italian Foods | Scampo | Italian-Inspired Cuisine in Boston, MA (2024)

10 Things You Didn't Know About Authentic Italian Foods | Scampo | Italian-Inspired Cuisine in Boston, MA (1)

Italian dishes are considered among the most authentic meals in the world, and for good reason too. The amount of expertise and care with which these meals are prepared and the ways they are eaten are some telling factors that make them stand out. This article will consider 10 facts about Italian cuisine that highlights their renowned uniqueness.

1. No Meatballs and Spaghetti in Dishes

No authentic Italian dish contains meatballs and spaghetti as they are considered standalone dishes that should be eaten separately. Therefore, you can't find both on an Italian restaurant menu as one dish.

2. High Focus on Ingredients Quality

Italians love to use the best ingredients when cooking, and their dishes are usually simple. They use few ingredients and ensure every one of them is high quality to produce a tasty meal.

3. Italian Dishes Have a High Focus on Quality

A portion of an authentic Italian dish is more vegetables than meat. The reason is typically attributed to Italy’s unique location - situated on the coast of the Mediterranean with access to lots of vegetables. However, some Italian dishes are eaten occasionally with fish.

4. Little Pasta Sauce for Large Bowl of Pasta

Italians believe that pasta is complemented by its sauce and do not think pasta is tasteless. So, an Italian-made pasta cannot be found drenched in its sauce as only two or three tablespoons are used on the giant bowl of pasta.

5. Italian Nutella is Different from American Nutella

The Italian Nutella is not the same as the American Nutella. Both taste slightly different because the American version contains hydronated fat and more sugar. Also, Italian Nutella is packaged in glass jars, while plastic jars are used for the American Nutella

6. Italian Expresso Do Not Contain Much Caffeine

Italians can drink their espresso right before bedtime without finding it difficult to fall asleep. This is because their espresso contains less caffeine than the typical American coffee.

7. Grocery Products Are Never Touched

You cannot touch the fruit or vegetables you see displayed at an Italian grocery store. All their produce is of good quality and fresh and if you touch them, be ready to hear some yelling.

8 Fruits in Meals to Aid Digestion

Italians do not have to worry about digestion after every meal as it always includes fruits or vegetables. A perfect example is an Italian salad that comes with slices of oranges.

9. Authentic Balsamic are Rare

Authentic balsamic cannot be found in a typical grocery shop as it takes a minimum of 12 years of aging before it is sold to people. It can cost around $45, above $100, while the gold label can cost $200.

10. Desert Pastries Are Eaten in the Afternoon

Dessert pastries are eaten in the afternoons by Italians. After dinner, they prefer to have some soft desserts, gelato, cakes, and tiramisu.

Dining at Scampo In Boston

Italian dishes are unique, and their history has proved that they are not be judged as most foods. This article has outlined 10 amazing facts that emphasize Italian dishes' uniqueness and originality. You can experience Italian food and culture at Scampo in Boston. Call today for a reservation and in the meantime browse our menu. We look forward to seeing you soon.

10 Things You Didn't Know About Authentic Italian Foods | Scampo | Italian-Inspired Cuisine in Boston, MA (2024)

FAQs

What makes authentic Italian food? ›

Fresh ingredients such as tomatoes, garlic, onions, basil, oregano, rosemary, and olive oil are common in classic Italian dishes. These are all authentic Italian cooking staples and blend perfectly to create flavorful dishes packed with depth and complexity.

What are 5 interesting facts about pasta? ›

11 Facts You Probably Didn't Know About Pasta
  • 1/11. Pasta Was First Eaten in China, Not Italy. ...
  • 2/11. Tomato Sauce Came Later. ...
  • 3/11. 600 Different Shapes. ...
  • 4/11. Thomas Jefferson Brought Pasta to America. ...
  • 5/11. Italians Eat the Most Pasta. ...
  • 6/11. How Much Pasta Do Italians Eat? ...
  • 7/11. America's Favourite Pasta Is... ...
  • 8/11.
Feb 10, 2022

What are 10 interesting facts about Italy? ›

Did You Know? 20 Fun Facts About Italy
  • Italy has 58 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. ...
  • It's the birthplace of the Renaissance. ...
  • The Vatican City is a country within a country. ...
  • Venice has 150 canals and more than 400 bridges. ...
  • An Italian invented the first eyeglasses. ...
  • Italian is the language of Western classical music.
Mar 18, 2024

What is the Speciality of Italian cuisine? ›

Cheese, cold cuts, and wine are central to Italian cuisine, and along with pizza and coffee (especially espresso) form part of Italian gastronomic culture.

What is the secret ingredient in Italian food? ›

Oregano, rosemary, thyme, and garlic are often used to enhance the natural taste of ingredients without overpowering them. The delicate balance of these flavors is what sets Italian dishes apart.

What is the oldest Italian dish? ›

Testaroli has been described as "the earliest recorded pasta". It is also a native dish of the southern Liguria and northern Tuscany regions of Italy. Testaroli is prepared from a batter that is cooked on a hot flat surface, after which it may be consumed.

What is the national food of Italy? ›

Commonly known around the world as spaghetti bolognese, in its authentic form 'Ragu alla Bolognese' is recognised as the national dish of Italy. Its origin can be traced back to Imola, a town near the city of Bologna, where a recipe was first recorded in the 18th century.

What was pasta first called? ›

The word 'pasta' is an Italian word meaning 'paste', referring to the paste that pasta dough is made from with egg or water and flour. However, before Italian pasta as we know of, was all over the world, pasta was called 'maccaronaro'. This means 'kneading dough with energy'.

What's unhealthy about pasta? ›

This is because refined pasta is high in carbohydrates, without offering much else in the way of nutrients. However, pasta can be made healthier if paired with more nutritionally dense foods, such as vegetables. Whole-grain pasta options are also healthy alternatives to traditional refined pasta.

What does pasta symbolize in Italy? ›

In most traditional households, pasta is made from scratch using grains. And till the end result of a bowl full of deliciousness, Italians treat it as a symbol of togetherness and as a moment where the family or loved ones sit together and enjoy their staple food.

What are 5 fun facts about Italy for kids? ›

Here are 10 amazing facts about Italy that your kids will love:
  • It was established in 1861. ...
  • People speak Italian. ...
  • The weather changes throughout the year. ...
  • The capital city is Rome. ...
  • There are active volcanoes in Italy! ...
  • The most popular sport is football. ...
  • Some notable figures were Italian.

What is Italian food rich in? ›

A lot of the ingredients in many Italian dishes are rich with Vitamin A (olive oil, spinach, onions), which is helpful for reducing your risk of heart disease. It can also help lower your blood pressure and help fight free radicals in your body, both of which are insanely helpful for improving your heart's functions.

What is most Italian food made of? ›

The Essential Ingredients of Italian Cooking: Exploring the 7...
  • Olive Oil. Olive oil is an all-around pantry workhorse used in Italian cuisine. ...
  • Tomatoes. ...
  • Cheese. ...
  • Mushrooms. ...
  • Pasta. ...
  • Basil. ...
  • Wine. ...
  • Celebrating Italian Flavor, Culture, and Tradition with 7 Staple Ingredients.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Aracelis Kilback

Last Updated:

Views: 5791

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (64 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Aracelis Kilback

Birthday: 1994-11-22

Address: Apt. 895 30151 Green Plain, Lake Mariela, RI 98141

Phone: +5992291857476

Job: Legal Officer

Hobby: LARPing, role-playing games, Slacklining, Reading, Inline skating, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Dance

Introduction: My name is Aracelis Kilback, I am a nice, gentle, agreeable, joyous, attractive, combative, gifted person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.