Pizza, pasta, espresso, gelato. Some things (okay, a lot of things) are just better in Italy. Try as we might to remake the magic here in the U.S., a dish or a product is only as good as its ingredients, and there's no denying that, in many cases, Italy produces better, higher-quality ingredients.

That's because more often than not, authentic Italian food utilizes fresh, local ingredients, ingredients that grow and thrive in the Mediterranean climate and come from the earth. And the food is prepared so simply and effectively that those ingredients can live up to their full potential. No added nonsense or unnecessary preservatives, just simple, fresh ingredients creating delicious food that speaks for itself.