Editing Italy (section)

=== Cuisine ===
{{Main|Italian cuisine|Italian meal structure|List of Italian foods and drinks}}
[[File:Salumi e vino lucchese.JPG|thumb|[[Italian wine]] and ''[[salumi]]'']]

[[Italian cuisine]] is heavily influenced by [[Etruscan civilization|Etruscan]], [[Ancient Greek cuisine|ancient Greek]], [[Ancient Roman cuisine|ancient Roman]], [[Byzantine cuisine|Byzantine]], [[Arab cuisine|Arabic]], and [[Jewish cuisine|Jewish]] cuisines.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2023-04-05|title=The History of Italian Cuisine: A Cultural Journey – Italian Cuisine|url=https://italian-cuisine.org/the-history-of-italian-cuisine-a-cultural-journey|access-date=2024-02-25|website=italian-cuisine.org}}; {{Cite web|title=Italian Cooking: History of Food and Cooking in Rome and Lazio Region, Papal Influence, Jewish Influence, The Essence of Roman Italian Cooking|url=http://www.inmamaskitchen.com/ITALIAN_COOKING/rome_Lazio/Rome_LAZIO.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100410100532/http://www.inmamaskitchen.com/ITALIAN_COOKING/rome_Lazio/Rome_LAZIO.html|archive-date=10 April 2010|access-date=24 April 2010|publisher=Inmamaskitchen.com}}</ref> Significant changes occurred with the discovery of the [[New World]], with items such as potatoes, tomatoes, and maize becoming main ingredients from the 18th century.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Making of Italian Food...From the Beginning|url=http://www.epicurean.com/articles/making-of-italian-food.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327080045/http://www.epicurean.com/articles/making-of-italian-food.html|archive-date=27 March 2010|access-date=24 April 2010|publisher=Epicurean.com}}; Del Conte, 11–21.</ref> The [[Mediterranean diet]] forms the basis of Italian cuisine, which is rich in [[pasta]], fish, fruits, and vegetables and characterised by its simplicity and variety, with many dishes having only four to eight ingredients.<ref>The Silver Spoon {{ISBN|8-8721-2223-6}}, 1997 ed.</ref> Italian cuisine is noted for its regional diversity,<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia|title=Italian cuisine – Britannica Online Encyclopedia|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/718430/Italian-cuisine|access-date=24 April 2010|date=2 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100716014306/https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/718430/Italian-cuisine|archive-date=16 July 2010|author=Related Articles|url-status=live}}; {{Cite web|title=Italian Food – Italy's Regional Dishes & Cuisine|url=http://www.indigoguide.com/italy/food.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110102020059/http://www.indigoguide.com/italy/food.htm|archive-date=2 January 2011|access-date=24 April 2010|publisher=Indigoguide.com}}; {{Cite web|title=Regional Italian Cuisine|url=http://www.rusticocooking.com/regions.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100410072851/http://www.rusticocooking.com/regions.htm|archive-date=10 April 2010|access-date=24 April 2010|publisher=Rusticocooking.com}}</ref> abundance of difference in taste, and as one of the most popular in the world,<ref>{{Cite web|date=6 January 2013|title=Which country has the best food?|url=http://travel.cnn.com/explorations/eat/worlds-best-food-cultures-453528|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629071154/http://travel.cnn.com/explorations/eat/worlds-best-food-cultures-453528|archive-date=29 June 2013|access-date=14 October 2013|publisher=CNN}}</ref> wielding strong influence abroad.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Freeman|first=Nancy|date=2 March 2007|title=American Food, Cuisine|url=http://www.sallybernstein.com/food/cuisines/us|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100418064119/http://sallybernstein.com/food/cuisines/us|archive-date=18 April 2010|access-date=24 April 2010|publisher=Sallybernstein.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Most Americans Have Dined Out in the Past Month and, Among Type of Cuisine, American Food is Tops Followed by Italian|url=http://www.harrisinteractive.com/vault/HarrisPoll18-DiningOut_4-3-13.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520205539/http://www.harrisinteractive.com/vault/HarrisPoll18-DiningOut_4-3-13.pdf|archive-date=20 May 2013|access-date=31 August 2013|publisher=[[Harris Insights & Analytics|Harris interactive]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Kazmin|first=Amy|date=26 March 2013|title=A taste for Italian in New Delhi|url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/7ab87234-9214-11e2-851f-00144feabdc0.html|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/7ab87234-9214-11e2-851f-00144feabdc0.html|archive-date=10 December 2022|access-date=31 August 2013|work=[[Financial Times]]|location=London}}</ref>

Italian cuisine relies heavily on traditional products; the country has a large number of traditional specialties protected under [[Geographical indications and traditional specialities in the European Union|EU law]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Keane|first=John|title=Italy leads the way with protected products under EU schemes|url=http://www.bordbia.ie/industryservices/information/alerts/Pages/ItalyleadsthewaywithprotectedproductsunderEUschemes.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329075250/http://www.bordbia.ie/industryservices/information/alerts/Pages/ItalyleadsthewaywithprotectedproductsunderEUschemes.aspx|archive-date=29 March 2014|access-date=5 September 2013|publisher=[[Bord Bia]]}}</ref> Italy is home to 395 [[Michelin star]]-rated restaurants.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.michelin.com/en/publications/products-and-services/michelin-guide-2024-italy-two-new-3-michelin-stars-restaurants|title=Michelin Guide 2024 - Italy - Two new 3 Michelin stars restaurants|access-date=20 November 2024}}</ref> [[List of Italian cheeses|Cheese]], [[Salumi|cold cuts]], and [[Italian wine|wine]] are central to Italian cuisine, with regional declinations and [[protected designation of origin]] or [[Geographical indications and traditional specialities in the European Union#Protected geographical indication (PGI)|protected geographical indication]] labels, along with [[pizza]] and coffee forming part of gastronomic culture.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Marshall|first=Lee|date=30 September 2009|title=Italian coffee culture: a guide|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/italy/6246202/Italian-coffee-culture-a-guide.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131010212148/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/italy/6246202/Italian-coffee-culture-a-guide.html|archive-date=10 October 2013|access-date=5 September 2013|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London}}</ref> Desserts have a long tradition of merging local flavours, such as citrus fruits, pistachio, and almonds, with sweet cheeses such as [[mascarpone]] and [[ricotta]] or exotic tastes such as cocoa, vanilla, and cinnamon. [[Gelato]],<ref>{{Cite news|last=Jewkes|first=Stephen|date=13 October 2012|title=World's first museum about gelato culture opens in Italy|url=http://www.timescolonist.com/life/travel/world-s-first-museum-about-gelato-culture-opens-in-italy-1.15866|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016062518/http://www.timescolonist.com/life/travel/world-s-first-museum-about-gelato-culture-opens-in-italy-1.15866|archive-date=16 October 2013|access-date=5 September 2013|work=[[Times Colonist]]}}</ref> [[tiramisu]],<ref>{{Cite news|last=Squires|first=Nick|date=23 August 2013|title=Tiramisu claimed by Treviso|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/10261930/Tiramisu-claimed-by-Treviso.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829091009/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/10261930/Tiramisu-claimed-by-Treviso.html|archive-date=29 August 2013|access-date=5 September 2013|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London}}</ref> and [[cassata]] are among the most famous examples of Italian desserts.

The [[Italian meal structure]] is typical of the Mediterranean region and differs from North, Central, and East European meal structures, although it still often consists of breakfast (''[[Italian meal structure#Breakfast (colazione)|colazione]]''), lunch (''[[Italian meal structure#Lunch (pranzo)|pranzo]]''), and dinner (''[[Italian meal structure#Supper (cena)|cena]]'').<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mangiare all'italiana|url=https://www.studiare-in-italia.it/php5/study-italy.php?idorizz=5&idvert=62|access-date=12 November 2021|language=it}}</ref> However, much less emphasis is placed on breakfast, which is often skipped or involves lighter portions than are seen in non-Mediterranean Western countries.<ref>{{Cite web|date=29 March 2016|title=Colazioni da incubo in giro per il mondo|url=https://www.lacucinaitaliana.it/news/in-primo-piano/colazioni-strane-nel-mondo|access-date=12 November 2021|language=it}}</ref> Late-morning and mid-afternoon snacks, called ''[[Italian meal structure#Mid-afternoon snack (merenda)|merenda]]'' ({{Plural form}}: ''merende''), are often included.<ref>{{Cite web|date=12 August 2021|title=Merenda, una abitudine tutta italiana: cinque ricette salutari per tutta la famiglia|url=https://www.corriere.it/cook/news/cards/merenda-abitudine-tutta-italiana-cinque-ricette-salutari-tutta-famiglia/merenda-come-deve-essere_principale.shtml|access-date=12 November 2021|language=it}}</ref>