A revised version of one of my classic icebergs on the now defunct icebergcharts site. Italian cuisine is by far one of the most influential and popular cuisines in the world. The country is known for its emphasis on food, from world famous dishes like pastas and pizzas (and not to mention its hundreds of desserts, pastries, stews, traditional home cooking and more) to protection of quality, freshness and cooking/eating traditions. Many traditional dishes have old, possibly ancient origins (pasta being an example, dating back to 400 BCE, not to mention its growth of popularity all across Europe), and its cuisine spread as a result of a history of Italian migration to many parts of the world, starting in the 19th Century, and had stayed famous thanks to its versatility and unique flavours while still retaining its simplicity.