There's always room for discussion, but perhaps these topics found through our search function will answer your inquiry.

• Italian cooking before the introduction of the tomato

• When did "traditional Italian" cuisine start and what made it happen? The Roman food is almost nothing like it.

• What was Italian food like in the 14th and 15th Centuries?

• How did tomatoes become so important to Italian cooking?

• How did the Tomato come to be such an integral part of Italian cuisine?

• What was Roman/Early Middle Ages food like in Italy?

• What were some Old World cuisines like before the Columbian Exchange?

• How much culinary knowledge was exchanged between China and Italy esp regarding culinary techniques?

• Italian cuisine pre-Columbus