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Umbrian

I think one of the best things about Italy - and I like Italian food more than any other - is precisely what you say. It's not only enormously diverse, it is food and methods of cooking it that have survived for generations. My sister in law is from Torino so cooks many of the Piemonte dishes but also diversifies into those from other areas, things her friends or their parents made etc. and makes pasta every day. Last time I stayed with them she made gnocchi because I love it so much and it looked so beautiful, sitting on a wooden board, waiting to be cooked, that my brother photographed it! Many years ago, when I was in Venice, we had lunch at the Cipriani and I chose risotto ai piselli. My ex asked me why I chose such a simple dish and I said "because this will be the best risotto ai piselli I shall ever eat." So far, so true! I love risotto but my husband hates it, so you can guess what I ate at every opportunity when we were in Italy last year! Personally, I greatly favour the simple "like mama used to make" food over the more elaborate posh restaurant stuff. In Florence, we ate at a place called Antica Fattoria a few times and the food was just as if it had come out of a home kitchen. It was outstandingly good. By contrast, a more modern restaurant owned by a younger couple was good but somehow lacked that 'soul' feeling. -- Sacha