“A Brief History of Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce” is the title of a webinar organised for Wednesday 17 November (10 am in the USA and Canada) by the Consulate General of Italy in Chicago, in collaboration with the local Italian Cultural Institute.
The lecture will be given by Massimo Montanari, who will present his essay entitled ‘Breve storia degli spaghetti al pomodoro‘ [‘A Brief history of Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce’] This easy-to-read publication tells a story that challenges stereotypes and shows how one of the most recognisable symbols of Italian cuisine and national identity is the product of centuries of encounters, dialogue and exchange.
Tracing the history of one of Italy’s ‘national dishes’ – from Asia to America, from Africa to Europe; and from the beginning of agriculture to the Middle Ages and up to the 20th century – the Author demonstrates that in order to understand who we Italians are, i.e. our identity, we almost always have to look beyond ourselves, to other cultures, peoples and traditions.
Massimo Montanari is Professor of Medieval History at the University of Bologna, where he also teaches History of Food . He is one of the founders and editors of the journal Food & History, and one of Europe’s leading scholars of the evolution of agriculture, landscape, food and nutrition since the Middle Ages.
To register for the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_yJNsu8acTd-27_f-vLXQZw
