Julia Piccinini Parisa Crane

Eriko takamine

Southern European Cuisine

Southern Europe

Follow Mediterranean Diet Health Promoting with emphasis on grains, legumes,

vegetables, and fruit Tomato is of particular importance to character of

southern cookingSimilar foods due to shared climate and

influences but different ways of preparing depending on country and region

Contemporary Food Habits Consume more milk and meat and less fish, produce and

legumes

Agriculture and Core Foods

How the geography and history interacted to produce the current and traditional food ways. Lies along the Mediterranean Sea with a warm

Mediterranean climate North: Agriculturally richer: fresh pastas more

common (stuffed with meat, cheese and vegetables) South: Agriculturally poorer, pasta is usually dried and

served with unfilled tomato-based sauce

Agriculture and Core Foods

Name and prevalence of the major religions associated with Italy Roman Catholic Church-Catholicism National parishes helped immigrants adjust to

America

Agriculture and Core Foods

Location of Italy Lies along the Mediterranean Sea Shaped like a boot Separated from the rest of Europe by the Alps (forms

northern boarder)

Agriculture and Core Foods

Emigration from Italy More than 5 million Italians have settled in the US

Majority came from the poorer southern Italian provinces and from Sicily between 1880 and 1920.

Earlier immigrants settled in the large industrial cities on the East Coast

Due to discrimination, many communities within urban centers were formed, often called “Little Italies”.

Many cities still have “little Italies” such as: North end of Boston and North Beach in San Francisco

In the US now, there are approx. 17 million Americans of Italian descent and 500,000 immigrants who were born in Italy

Agriculture and Core Foods

Food: Breakfast Light: Coffee with milk (caffe latte), tea or hot

chocolate, bread and jam

Agriculture and Core Foods

Food: Lunch (Main Meal) Appetizer course:

Antipasti (ham, sausages, pickled vegetables, and olives, or crostini (crispy slices of bread with various toppings like tomatoes and cheese)

Wet course (Minestra) or Dry Course (Asciutta) Soup or dry course (asciutta) of pasta, risotto, or gnocchi

Main course Fish, meat, poultry, roasted, grilled, pan-fried or stewed. Usually

served with starchy or green vegetable, followed with salad. Bread is also served with olive oil and balsamic vinegar for dipping.

Dessert Fruit and cheese; pastries or biscotti, ice-cream on special

occasions

Agriculture and Core Foods

Food: Dinner Lighter version of lunch

Wine usually accompanies dinner and lunch Coffee and espresso after dinner, at home or in coffee

house Marsala may be served with cheese before the meal for a

light appitizer course or after dinner Wine custard (zaboaglinoe) (dessert)

Agriculture and Core Foods

Specific core foods needed to make a meal fit the definition of a meal:

Pasta Served:

With sauce (asciutta) In soup (en brodo) Baked (al forno)

Shapes: Spaghetti (string) Capelli d’angelo (angel hair) Linguini (flat stips) Fettucini (ribbion) Tagliatelle (medium width flat noodle)

Agriculture and Core Foods

Way of eating today in America? Milk products

2nd and 3rd generation southern Europeans drink more milk into their adulthood than ancestors

Meat/poultry More meat and less fish are eaten then in Europe

Fruits and Vegetables 1st and 2nd generation southern Europeans generally eat

only fresh fruits and vegetables. Fats and oils

Use of olive oil has decreased

Religious or Social Meaning of Food and Food Customs in the Culture

Roman Catholic is the largest religious group in Italy

There are many holidays associated with the religion

Religious Holidays

Capodanno (New Year’s Day) It starts on December 31

and a national holiday It was originally religious People eat lentils with

family Symbolize money and good

fortune for the coming year In some parts of Italy,

people eat a cotechino (a large spiced sausage) or a zampone (stuffed pig's trotter). symbolizes the richness of

life in the coming year

Religious Holidays

Ognissanti (All Saints’ Day) It is on November 1st and a national holiday People bring flowers to grave of their relatives and

respect their ancestors People eat lunch together in some town Two major desserts are enjoyed

Pane dei Santi are like flat bread with walnuts, figs and raisins

Castagnaccio is a cake

Carnival It is taken place in Venice,

Italy It starts 40 days before

Easter and lasts two weeks The first carnival recorded

is in 1268 People wear costumes and

masks Costume contests are held Frittelle and galani are the

famous food http

://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJWvBDj2bcg&feature=related

Religious Event

Importance of Food in the Culture

Italy is the country that may have the world’s oldest known cookbook

Apicius (cookbook) was written around the 4th century

During the Middle Ages, Italian food was often mentioned by writers

Italian culture sees family connections important, so meals are necessary

Social Customs and Manners

People wait until everyone is ready to eat

Host should cook food more than needed Many different kinds of

dishes are prepared Traditionally, one meal

lasts three hours People should eat a small

amount of food from different dishes

Guests should bring a homemade dish even though 　 a lot of dishes are already prepared

Eating Behaviors/Etiquette

Engage in “passeggiata” a leisure stroll before and after dinner

Do not eat in front of tv, computer, or while reading a book

Keep your wine glass almost full if you don’t want a refill

Table Manners

Keep both hands above tableDon’t rest elbows on tableBurping is extremely vulgar

Utensils used for all foods including fruit Knife held in right hand, fork in left Place utensils diagonally across your plate to

indicate you are finished with your foodhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFXL_wKJsoE

Implications of the Cultural Background to the Health Care Provider

Health disparities: Experience less heart disease, stomach and lung

cancers, strokes, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity then other western nations.

More of a relaxed stress free lifestyle and are physically active

Since 1950, more of the cuisine has changed towards westernized diet causing a higher risk of cancer

Now, instead of traditionally, they are enjoying fast food, which is causing obesity rates and other diseases such as diabetes to rise.

Implications of the Cultural Background to the Health Care Provider

Barriers to cross cultural communication: Not many, Italian dishes and traditions seem to be

welcome. Pasta and wines are enjoyed by many Americans

Implications of the Cultural Background to the Health Care Provider

Traditional therapies: Heavy vs. Light

-Heavy food (fried items/red meats) is difficult to digest

-Light food (gelatin, custards, soups) is easy to digest and good for those who are ill

Wet vs. Dry (with or without ample broth or fluid) Wet (leafy greens-escarole, spinach, cabbage, soup) food is

also good for those who are ill Served once a week to “cleanse out the system” Illness is associated with dryness of the body

Acid vs. Nonacid Citrus fruits, raw tomatoes, and peaches are thought to be

acidic foods. Acidic food may cause skin ailments

Traditional Health Beliefs and Practices

• Similar to American culture but also associate with folk medicine Prefer to seek advice from family and friends before consulting a

health professional• Well being is defined as ability to pursue normal, daily activity• Illness is due to contamination through unclean sick person or

hereditary (blood)• Unsatisfied cravings are seen to cause deformities

• If woman doesn’t eat food that she smells, she may suffer miscarriage

• Fresh air is believed necessary to health• “heavy” air in US considered unhealthy compared to Italian “light”

air• Minor illnesses are believed to be contribute by evil eye (Malocchio)

Malocchio (Evil Eye)

Caused by bad thoughts of other people Influences lives of person being thought

about especially in weak conditionWays to ward it off:

Garlic due to its pungent smell Carrying a piece of amethyst ( a purple

variety quartz) Red peppers made into a garland Small red pepper looking thing with a little

man in a tuxedo and top hat with humpback Rubbing the humpback brings good luck

Malocchio cont.

Believe certain people have “healing powers”

Malocchio taken away by these healers since its assumed cause of their misery by: Using dish of water and dropping oil from finger

If oil makes many spots, you have a bad problem with evil eye

Try again until only one spot occurs which shows the evil eye has been taken away

Foods with Medicinal Value

Basil- lowers blood sugar levels, reduces fever and irritation from insects

Fennel- stimulates appetite, aids in digestion, increases breast milk production, eye wash for conjunctivitis

Liver, red wine, leafy veggies- good for bloodRaw egg or dandelion greens- strength and

vitalityBalsamic vinegar and olive oil- health

promoting (served with bread at meals)Believe wine mixed with milk in stomach

causes too much acid so it is avoided at meals and consumed as a snack

Italian Phrases

“Ciao!” – “Hello!”“Come va?” – “How’s it going?”

“Ho molto fame!” – “I’m hungry!”