Italian cuisine can be traced back to writings in the 4th century BC.

The cuisine changed with the discovery of the New World which introduced items such as potatoes, tomatoes, bell pepper and maize. These are central parts of today's cuisine but were not introduced in scale until the 18th century.

Pasta is the centerpiece of Italian eating and Italians take pride in their proficiency in the many and varied kinds of pasta making and cooking. Cheese and wine are a major part of the cuisine. Italian cuisine is now famous worldwide.