is there a philospohy of food pairing

I grabbed these from the internet too: --------------------- The meal starts with an antipasto, which simple means before the meal and can be almost anything. The meal then follows with pasta or soup, then the entr=E9e. The vegetable and salad may be served with the entr=E9e or as the next course. Followed by cheese and fruit and desserts on a special occasion (like a dinner party). Finally the meal ends with a nice cup of coffee. The meal itself is served with a nice bottle of wine thought out the meal, rather than a different wine with each course.

------------------------------------------ The first course was usually an antipasto of meats (Prosciutto, salami and ham), marinated vegetables, cheese such as provolone and mozzarella, and roasted red peppers. You'd better take a little walk after that course to get ready for the following items. There might be a soup course; a stuffed pasta dish such as homemade ravioli, lasagna or manicotti; meat that was cooked with the gravy including meatballs, sausage and braciole; roasted chicken and-or roast beef. Sweet potatoes, stuffed artichokes, salad and string beans could all serve as accompaniments.

The dessert course completed the final couple of hours since it included fresh figs or other seasonal fruit, cakes, pignoli cookies and Italian pastries. Nuts in the shell sat in bowls, waiting to be cracked and picked over as the grownups engaged in heated discussions.

------------------------------------------------------------- If you don't want to cook Italian, I have nothing to say...