History of Italian American Cuisine

From the Old Country to the American Table, this course explores the rich history of Italian American cuisine in the United States. Students will learn how Italian immigrants transformed humble regional traditions into some of America’s most beloved foods, including pizza, spaghetti and meatballs, chicken parmigiana, Sunday gravy/sauce, garlic bread, muffuletta, and Italian beef. Through stories of immigration, family, Little Italys, restaurants, markets, and home kitchens, this course reveals how food became a powerful expression of identity, memory, and the American Dream.