Italian cuisine: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

Nov. 12, 2026

News •

Italian chef fired after refusing to put pineapple on pizza • Nov. 5, 2026, 2:56 AM ET (BBC)

‘An insult to his culture’: Italian chef sacked after not putting pineapple on pizza loses bid to get job back • Nov. 4, 2026, 3:00 AM ET (The Guardian)

Truck drivers' protest over gas prices puts Italian pasta industry at risk • Oct. 20, 2026, 9:03 AM ET (Jerusalem Post)

Italian rice farmer brings conservation to agriculture • Oct. 18, 2026, 5:23 AM ET (Deutsche Welle)

Facts

Also Known As	Italian cooking

Photos and Videos

Margherita pizza

Plate of spaghetti carbonara topped with pancetta and herbs, surrounded by raw pasta, diced pancetta, a wedge of hard Italian cheese, a whole egg, and grated cheese.

Illustration of various Italian pasta shapes including linguine, spaghetti, vermicelli, lasagna, elbow macaroni, ziti, rigatoni, manicotti, farfalle, ruote, rotini, and conchiglie, each labeled by name.

Plate of creamy Italian risotto garnished with asparagus tips, grated parmesan cheese, and parsley, served on a white dish.

Surprising health benefits of oregano

See All Videos and Images →

Topics

risotto mostarda di frutta fritto misto pasta pesto carbonara tiramisu pizza pancetta mascarpone Indian cuisine French cuisine soul food Chinese cuisine nouvelle cuisine fish and chips harissa shepherd’s pie grande cuisine fry bread

Key People

Mario Batali

Mario Batali

American chef, television personality, and author