Introduction

Italian food is the food of a people who have la joie de vivre, who have the gift of song and laughter and who are blessed with the divine gift of enthusiasm which alone leads to the creation of great works of art—and to gastronomic achievements of the highest quality. There is something as glowing in their cookery as there is in their art. It has the subtle artistry which is characteristically Italian. It has those rare qualities of delicacy and refinement which belong to the period in history when Italian culture was at its zenith, and many of the traditional dishes of Italy date from that period.