Tuckahoe author discusses hHistory of Italian food(2)
Mariani said potatoes, corn, chili peppers and the all-important tomato were brought to Italy from the Americas after Christopher Columbus’s journey.
“When tomatoes were brought back to Italy, initially, they were fed to hogs,” Mariani said. “But in the south, especially near Naples, the tomatoes grew so well, people started to eat them.”
Still, the Italians of those days were mostly starving and eating pretty badly. In addition to dealing with a dismal and skimpy food supply, early Italians had a ruling class, who did not treat peasants well.
Joanne Pergolis of Tuckahoe was one of roughly a dozen or so attendees who purchased a copy of the book and had it signed by the author.
“I am part Italian and I like to cook,” she said. “I can’t wait to go home and read it.”
The book continues the journey of Italian cuisine to America and pays particular attention to pizza.
“I visit 20 cities around the world each year and no matter where I go, and no matter what kind of food is offered, there is always pizza on the menu,” Mariani said.
Pizza as we know it in America was created in Naples in 1889, Mariani notes.
“Pellegrino Esposito made a pizza for the visiting Queen Margarita and wanted to model it after the colors on the Italian flag,” Mariani said. “He used tomatoes for the red, mozzarella cheese for the white and basil for the green.”
