Tomatoes aren't native to Italy, I'll give you a minute to process. I know, I hear you saying 'But tomatoes are classic in Italian food, red pasta sauce is like...their thing!' But it's undeniably true, tomatoes aren't native to Italy, they came from the 'New World' in the 16th century and even then it took some time for them to be accepted into the Italian diet. Something considered a quintessential part of the Italian diet and 'Italianess' in general, is not actually Italian. I'm sorry I had to break the news to you, but someone had to. Tomatoes aren't the only thing the Italians have absorbed into their diet from abroad, though.
Maize and the potato also made their way to Europe from the 'New World' and slowly but surely found a place in European diets, especially the diets of peasants. Both maize and the potato were considered lower class. This time period was plagued with famines and malnutrition in general, especially because diets became dependent on one ingredient. Maize and the potato both became popular eventually out of hunger but also because they were easy to grow and gave a high yield. Because of the rise of maize and the potato Italy gained two more 'classics,' polenta made from ground cornmeal and gnocchi made from potatoes (though gnocchi can be made from flour as well).
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Although reluctant to include them in their diets at first, potatoes, maize, and especially tomatoes became an important part of the Italian diet, some even becoming classics!
Ciao for now!
Veni. Vidi. Mangia.
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