On vacation in Italy? You’re certainly not alone. Over 70 million people visit the country each year, and of those, over 12 million spend at least part of their trip in Rome. Whether you’re already familiar with Italy or you’re hoping to plan your first trip, you may have heard of some of the ways this country has influenced America – especially when it comes to food, fashion, and art. Here are eight ways Italy has influenced America over the years.
The Best Brand in the World Is Made in Italy
When you think of brand names like Ferrari, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace and Prada, what country do you picture in your mind? Even if you can’t afford any of these designer items, chances are good that you crave them from time to time. There’s a reason why over 90% of luxury goods are made in Italy: Italian companies work hard and have become globally recognized for their craftsmanship, design and quality. It also doesn’t hurt that some fashion experts consider Italians the most elegant people on earth. If imitation is truly the sincerest form of flattery then it seems as though all Americans want to be Italian!Preppy Style Comes from Rome
The Preppy style of fashion is named after those who attend prep schools, but it can also be seen on Italians who visit New York City’s Central Park. The style originated in Rome and was brought to England by American expats during World War II. This look became popular again in 2003 when Ralph Lauren brought it back. Don’t worry if you want to dress like a preppy and don’t go to a prep school; all you need is some Polo and Bass Weejuns, Oxford button-downs, chinos or khakis, belts with a boat shoe, and maybe even a baseball cap for when you go sailing on your yacht.American Cuisine Has Been Transformed by Immigrants
Although regional variations and local ingredients are an important part of American cuisine, many of our favorite dishes were brought over by immigrants. Italians have contributed spaghetti sauce, pizza, lasagna, and calzones (from calzoncelli, meaning trousers), as well as ravioli and manicotti. Chinese immigrants have given us chicken wings (from their chicken wing bone meat dish), as well as fortune cookies, egg rolls and dim sum. Mexican immigrants brought chili con carne to Texas; Tex-Mex chefs made it into a fast food sensation with nachos (Spanish for little things), tacos, enchiladas, burritos and fajitas.Even Burgers are Beloved by Italians
Americans may have been slow to embrace Italian food and fashion, but they’ve certainly taken a liking to one of its most iconic foods: The hamburger. Invented in 1904 by Louis Lassen at his New Haven, Connecticut restaurant, Louis’ Lunch, it was born out of desperation—Lassen ran out of beef one day. He improvised with what he had on hand and decided to serve it between two slices of toast. It proved so popular that tourists now make pilgrimages there just for a taste.Americans Love Wine So Much, We Invented Our Own
Americans drink an average of three glasses of wine a week, nearly twice as much as we did back in 1990. And it's not just our love for wine that is growing; so is our love for Italian wines. Thanks to California-based importers like Robert Mondavi and Opus One, we have developed a taste for northern Italian wines with high levels of acidity and low alcohol content. But Italians didn't invent the sweet reds we enjoy today—they were actually born in Argentina, where Italian immigrants brought their winemaking skills.The First Fast Food Chain Came From Italy
Americans, who love fast food, should thank Italy. The first American fast food chain was founded by a man named Walter Anderson who, believe it or not, learned how to make pizza pies in Italy before moving back to New York City and opening his own business called Pizza Hut. Even though we tend to think of McDonald's as being quintessentially American, we actually have Italians (and Greeks) to thank for introducing America’s favorite pastime: eating food while on-the-go.New York Was Probably Named After an Italian City (Probably New York)
New York was most likely named after New York City, which in turn was probably named after one of its original settlers, a German named Diedrich Knickerbocker. But that name is a pseudonym—it’s also (probably) Dutch for chicken eater. In reality, though, it could also be Italian.We Eat Pizza with a Fork and Knife Because of Old Naples
In Naples, pizza wasn’t designed for a handheld slice. It was meant to be served family-style, on large trays that everyone could reach across. To eat it properly, you used a fork and knife (and didn’t put pepperoni on your first piece). Immigrants brought their Neapolitan pizza tastes with them when they came to America—along with some of their traditions.