Gloria Lucchesi cooks some local beans that she prepared using the cooking containers, on Nov. 12, in San Casciano dei Bagni, Italy. Valerio Muscella for NPR hide caption
Italian food
Wayne Wright shares a recipe for lasagna. He learned many Italian recipes from circus performer Edmondo Zacchini. Jennifer Wright/Collage by NPR hide caption
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating two salmonella outbreaks that are tied to Italian-style meats like salami and prosciutto that are often used for charcuterie boards. Richard Drew/AP hide caption
Sebastiano Ridolfi tries on the costume of Papà del Gnoco, or "Gnocchi Dad," the Santa-esque figure who's the symbol of the gnocchi-themed pre-Lent celebration in Verona, Italy. Although Ridolfi didn't win the election to be Papà del Gnoco, he was received warmly by the crowd and remains committed to challenging traditions. Andrea Di Martino hide caption
Sugar is considered critical for achieving a smooth and silky consistency in gelato. But new technology is aiming to achieve the same results with less (or no) sugar. Irina Marwan/Getty Images hide caption
Mimosa cake is made of layers of sponge cake brushed with citrus liqueur and liberally spread with pastry cream, then topped with small cubes of even more sponge cake that are meant to mimic the small blooms of the mimosa flower. It's the taste of the Festa della Donna, an Italian holiday when women of all ages leave the menfolk behind to celebrate each other. GiuseppeParisi/Getty Images/iStockphoto hide caption
Mary Cittoni, Joanne Cittoni Gonzalez and Clemente Cittoni work together, making malfatti in the kitchen of Val's Liquor in Napa. Lisa Morehouse/KQED hide caption
In Italy and the U.S., restaurants are pledging to use sales of Amatrice's signature dish, spaghetti all' amatriciana, to raise funds for the devastated Italian town. Keith Beaty/Toronto Star via Getty Images hide caption
Last June, Milan swiped the record for world's longest pizza with a 1.5-kilometer pie. Naples is not amused — and it's cooking up its vengeance. Olivier Morin/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
Japanese food was once derided, but it's now in the canon of haute cuisine, says author Krishnendu Ray. How we value a culture's cuisine in our society, he says, often reflects the status of those who cook it. Alex Green/Getty Images/Ikon Images hide caption
Michele Vaccaro buries a fig tree in the yard of Mary Menniti in Sewickley, Pa. Hal Klein for NPR hide caption
Why Bury Fig Trees? A Curious Tradition Preserves A Taste Of Italy
At 820 calories, Maggiano's tiramisu packs in more than the tiramisu served at Olive Garden (510 calories) or Macaroni Grill (690 calories). But it pales in comparison with the version served at Carrabba's, which has 1,060 calories. Maggiano's hide caption
Ava Gene's, a Roman-inspired restaurant in Portland, Ore., incorporates colatura, a modern descendant of ancient Roman fish sauce, into several of its dishes. Deena Prichep/NPR hide caption
Various types of pancetta, bacon made from pork belly, on display in Turin, Italy. Unlike the American variety, which is smoked, Italian pancetta is cured in salt and spices. Giuseppe Cacace/AFP/Getty Images hide caption