History of Roman Cuisine

Ancient Rome

In ancient Rome, much of the food was inspired by the surroundings. Since Rome was placed next to the ocean, the original Roman cuisine was heavily influenced by seafood. The large amount of land also allowed Romans to grow wheat, vegetables, and fruit. Due to the riches of Rome, Romans could afford to eat many of these luxury foods.

After the 1500's

Roman dishes became more pasta and bread based, which was a huge step in how Romans identify and differentiate themselves from other Italians. Many of their meals are very cheese heavy and relatively simple in recipes. One quote explains Italian food culture simply, yet accurate:

First we eat, then we do everything else.

This food culture formed much of how modern Italians think. The importance of food was not to be underestimated. For this, several restaurants opened surrounding these recipes, which began the classic Roman "food culture."