The Popularity of Italian Cafes and Restaurants in the United States

Italian cafes and restaurants are a mainstay of many communities across the United States. Cozy trattorias, pizza parlors, and gourmet restaurants can now be found in cities from coast to coast, attracting locals and tourists who want authentic Italian flavors. But when did this trend start? And when did Italian restaurants influence the collective tastes of the American public?

Italian pasta

Early history

 

Italian food runs the gamut from pizza to pasta, lasagna to ice cream, with thousands of Italian restaurants across the country. Usually found in major metropolises like New York City, Philadelphia, Miami, and Chicago, Italian restaurants many only serve Italian fare to guests or combine ingredients with foods from other countries or local dishes. So, when did this practice start? Well, Italian food was brought to the United States at the end of the 19th century. As Italian immigrants started to settle in major cities, from New York City and then onwards to cities in the West, they introduced their cooking methods and flavors to local residents, with Italian food becoming very popular quickly. An early dish that was introduced during this period is called Chicken Tetrazzini, named after the opera singer Luisa Tetrazziini. This sandwich, which was created in New Orleans, was created for Italian workers. Other popular examples of Italian-American foods, which are still popular today, include Philly cheese steak.
20th Century

After the Second World War, soldiers who returned to the United States from Italy brought additional recipes and ingredients, with many dishes introduced around this time still popular today. Soon, Italian food became a staple of the American diet, wth food such as salami, pizza and sun dried tomatoes garnering a loyal legion of foodies. Some communities had not one, or two, but several Italian restaurants. These eateries were characterized for their warm and welcoming atmosphere where guests could mingle with other diners and talk about the important topics of the day. Soon, Italian restaurants began to increase in size and offer more menu items.

Today

Italian style cafe

Some of the best Italian restaurants today can be found in communities across the United States, and Italian food is available in supermarkets in towns and cities. There is a general appreciation for this cuisine across the country and Italian restaurants now share characteristics similar to eateries in the “motherland.” Some restaurants might incorporate outdoor seating or a garden space, just like trattorias in Venice or Rome. They might also serve alcohol. Recently, there has been a trend for chefs to use more authentic Italian ingredients, including the methods used by the first Italian immigrants who came to the United States.

Coffee and wine culture

Another influence of Italian food on Amerian culture has been the rise of the coffee shop. Both independent, local coffee shops and big name brands offer Italian coffee drinks such as espresso, a trend that has spread across the country. Italian wine has also proved successful, something that has remained popular in the United States for centuries. The first Italian wines were brought to the country in the 1700s, and, today, there are a plethora of wine varieties available, including light and full-bodied wines.

 

Italian Food: America’s Favorite Cuisine

Did you know that Italian food is the most popular international cuisine in the United States? According to statistics from the National Restaurant Association, 61 percent of those surveyed said they consumed Italian food at least once every month, more than the 26 percent who sad they only ate it a few times a year. In fact, Italian food was voted more popular than Chinese and Mexican dishes. So, why do Americans love this cuisine? And what’s the history behind it?Bruschetta with tomato

History

Italian immigrants who settled in the United States soon started cooking food from their country and meshed flavors with local ingredients and other international influences to help create Italian-American cuisine that is consumed and loved today. More than seven million Italians arrived in the United States between the 1800s and First World War. However, because they were from different parts of Italy, such as Florence, Naples, and Rome, they all brought a unique approach to cooking Italian food. When these immigrants settled in New York City or moved to other cities, they traded recipes and food ideas, something that, over time, has contributed to the wide array of Italian-American dishes available today.

Influences during the Second World War

During the Second World War, there was a second “boom period” for Italian cuisine, with immigrants arriving in the United States from Italy, again bringing their unique regional approach and often opening an authentic Italian bakery or café. Outdoor dining at intimate small café tables soon became a common sight.  Italian family bakeryItalian food evolved considerably during this period; as immigrants moved into different neigborhoods, they created recipes with other communities and experimented with different flavors and ingredients. Italian food was becoming increasingly popular, a trend that would continue over the coming decades. Many extended families would pool together resources to set up their first cafe or restaurant business, either using furniture rental or relying on skilled craftsmen within the group to make their own tables chairs and anything else needed.
Italian-American restaurants

The number of Italian-American restaurants swelled in the 20th century, with eateries popping up in major cities and towns across the United States. Many of these served Italian cuisine just like it was prepared in Italy, with recipes being passed down the generations. However, Italian food evolved, too, with some restaurants adding additional ingredients and flavors. Italian-American cuisine, therefore, is considerably different to Italian food from the motherland. For example, pizza, which originated in Naples, was often added to with unconventional toppings, sauce, and cheese. Many Italian restaurants at the beginning of the century right through to the 1970s blended American influences with Italian food. However, in the 1970s, when US trade laws were relaxed, chefs began to replicate the authentic flavors from their respective regions and served traditional Italian fare to customers. Today, Italian and Italian-American restaurants exist in many parts of the country, with both experimenting with different flavors. Italian wine has also evolved, with more varieties available than ever before.

 

Italian food has come a long way in the United States and is remarkably different to the food that was once cooked by Italian immigrants who arrived in New York City during the 1800s before heading to cities in the West. The future will likely bring more influences as chefs each add their own unique touch to authentic Italian ingredients. America’s love affair with Italian food and wine shows no signs of slowing down as this food continues to be consumed by people across the country.

Italian Sports and Their Impact on American Culture

Italy’s many exports, such as cuisine, fashion, and art, have had a considerable effect on American culture. Italian sport has also proved popular, with Italian league soccer garnering many fans. In Italy, there is a whole host of sports that are played and watched by people of all ages, including skiing and basketball. Here’s a lowdown on popular Italian sports and the effect they have had on the US.

 Soccer

Football, or soccer, is probably the most popular sport in Italy. Italians love of soccerToday, there are many soccer leagues and teams, with the Italian national football team considered one of the best in the world. Italy won the FIFA World Cup, the world’s biggest football tournament, in 2006, after beating France in a nail-biting match. However, Series A is the most popular Italian league with Americans, with matches being shown on the sports network ESPN. Here’s a statistic that you might not know: Italy has won four World Cups, making them second only to Brazil when it comes to all-time wins.
Motor Racing

Motor racing is a popular sport in Italy. There have been, in total, 98 Italian drivers in Formula One, as well as two World Drivers’ Championships. Famous Italian racers, including Giuseppe Farina and Alberto Ascari, have scooped prestigious titles during the 20th century. The 1950s was seen as the “golden age” of Italian motor racing, with three World Drivers’ championship wins. Today, motor racing has a devoted fan base in cities across the country, with Giancarlo Fisichella being the most recent winner of a Formula One Grand Prix. The driver won the title in 2006, which was his third and final victory, and his most successful season as a whole. Motor racing events can often be found showing on-screen in an Italian restaurant or trattoria in cities across the United States, especially when a famous Italian player is competing for a title.

Skiing

Expert skiier

Skiing is another popular Italian sport, and many Americans head to the north of Italy for winter sports such as skating and snowboarding. Mountain towns like Cortina attract travelers who want to combine sightseeing with a sports vacation. These towns are famous for their sporting facilities, which are among the best in Europe, as well as panoramic mountain vistas and exceptional scenery. The city of Turin, known for its architecture and cuisine, hosted the Winter Olympics in 2006. During the games, thousands of fans descended on the city to watch teams from around the world compete in various sports, including many from the United States. Ice hockey is another popular winter sport that is played in Italy.

Basketball

While you might consider basketball to be an American sport, the game is popular in Italy, too, and the country is considered to have one of the strongest leagues outside North America. Famous teams include Virtus Bologna, Virtus Roma, and Olimpic Milano. The national team won a gold medal at the Eurobasket competition in 1983. There are also many Italian-American and Italian players who compete in the American leagues. For example, Hank Biasatt, Mike D’Antoni, and Luigi Datome all compete in the NBA.

 

Impact of Italian Style and Art in the United States

It’s remarkable that a country with one-sixth of the population of the United States has had such a profound influence on American culture. Particularly during the 20th and early-20th-century, Italy’s biggest exports — namely food, wine, fashion, and art — have seeped into the collective American cultural consciousness. Here’s a brief history of the impact Italians have made in the United States.

Fashion

Some of the world’s biggest fashion houses originate from Italy, with top labels based in the cities of Rome and Milan, the latter being a major global style capital.Italian design There have been plenty of instances of famous Americans who have craved Italian couture. Jacqueline Kennedy loved the clothes that were designed for her by Oleg Cassini, and her fashion choices had a considerable impact on the American population at the time, garnering a loyal army of fashion lovers who craved her bespoke suits and jackets. Today, America’s biggest superstar celebrities are often adorned in Italian fashions, namely from big name labels such as Versace.

 

 

You can find Italian fashion stores on high-end streets in metropolises like New York City and Los Angeles, with their Fifth Avenue and Rodeo Drive locations synonymous with glamor. Italian clothes have always been associated with style, something that is likely to continue in the future. From singers to actresses to sports stars, Italian fashion — including traditional suits and dresses — regularly appear on the glossy pages of American fashion magazines.

Art

For all of Italy’s exports, few aspects of its culture have made a bigger global impact than its art. From paintings to sculptures to contemporary design, Italians have always been at the forefront of art. Much of the world’s fascination with Italian art can be traced back to the Roman times. Today, you can find examples of various Italian artistic styles at major museums and galleries in cities like New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, and Chicago. Italian art has influenced many American painters, with the Italian Renaissance period — when artists like Leonardo da Vinci painted timeless masterpieces — considered among the greatest achievements of human culture.

Many Italian painters are household names in the United States, such as Raphael and Michelangelo and movements such as Futurism, Novecento Italiano, Arte Povera, Spatialism, and Transavantgarde are studied in art colleges across the country. Much of the art that is revered originates from artistic hubs in cities such as Rome, Milan, Genoa, Naples, Venice, and Turin, all of which have become popular tourist cities often visited by American travelers.

Italian fashion and art

The appetite for Italian fashion and art has seen an influx of museums and galleries host exhibits which feature clothes, paintings, sculptures and designs from the motherland. Italian Futurism inspired fashionThere has also been an increase in the number of students who now study Italian fashion and art, taking influence from various periods in the country’s history when creating their own unique designs.

Italian’s fashion and art spans several centuries, with a plethora of different styles to study. The country continues to export their culture to Americans who want to find out more about Italy’s long and fascinating history. Today, Italian fashion brands like Valentino and Dolce and Gabbana are hugely influential, while artists like Botticelli, Bellini and Donatello are just as popular.

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