6 Fun Facts About Italian Cuisine and Dining

1. Italians Eat an Average of 26 Kilograms of Pasta per Year

That's equivalent to about 57 pounds, or more than a pound per week, per person! Italy consumes more pasta than any other country. (This does not include other noodles, such as ramen.) Worldwide, 13 million tonsof pasta are produced each year - about 3 million of them come from Italy.

2. Tomatoes Were Not Popular in Italy Until the 17th Century

In addition to pasta, the tomato has become one of the key elements in Italian and Italian-American cuisine, but it has not always been that way. Tomatoes were initially grown in Central and South America; they were brought to Italy in the 1500s. Initially, the Italians feared the tomato was poisonous and used it to decorate their homes.

It was not until the 16th and 17th centuries that Italians actually began cooking with tomatoes. At this time, Spain had a strong influence over southern Italy, and the Spanish taught the Italians to cook with tomatoes alongside other vegetables like onions and eggplant. A century later, Italians began preserving tomatoes in jars for year-long use.

3. The Italians Invented Pizza in the 19th Century

Pizza is not the ancient Italian dish some think it to be, either. Although several theories disagree who actually invented pizza, the predominant one is that it was invented in Naples in the late 1800s.

A flat bread, topped with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil was served to King Umberto I and Queen Margherita when they visited. Over the following decades, this traditional Margherita pizza rose in popularity.

4. Lunch Is the Main Meal in Italy

Most Americans consider dinner to be the primary meal of the day. In Italy, however, lunch is the largest meal and the one consumed with most ceremony. Known as pranzo, it is typically served between 1:00 and 3:00 in the afternoon. Although the popularity of fast food has made quick meals more common, many Italians do still go home from work or school to eat pranzo.

A traditional pranzo consist of two courses. The first course consists of a pasta or rice dish. The second course is usually meat or fish served alongside a vegetable or fruit side dish.

5. Italians Only Add Milk to Coffee in the Morning

Italians love their coffee, but they are quite particular about the ways in which they prepare and consume it. Coffee beverages made with milk, such as cappuccinos and lattes, are only consumed in the morning, before 11:00. They believe these drinks to be too heavy to consume later in the day. If an Italian needs an afternoon pick-me-up, they order a plain espresso.

6. Italians Use Garlic Sparingly

Italian-American cuisine is typically quite heavy on the garlic. In Italy, garlic is used more sparingly. The Italians are often afraid to overpower a dish by using too much garlic. Instead of chopping a few cloves and adding them to their sauté pan - as an Italian-American chef might do - the Italians often sauté a garlic in olive oil to infuse the flavor in the oil, and then remove the actual garlic from the pan.

Do these fun facts have you craving pizza, pasta, or another Italian favorite? Head to Picano's Italian Grille, where you can enjoy delicious Italian cuisine in a friendly atmosphere. From pollo marsala to lasagna, you'll love our fresh, flavorful dishes.