I am an American Italian, but feel I am more Italian. My grandparents and two aunts Mary and Alfonsina came from the old country, North of Bologna a small town called Renazzo in the Province of Farrara. They settled in Sagamore. My father, mother and I lived with my grandparents until I was eight years old. “Nanna” as I called her cooked the “real” Italian cuisine. Every thing was made from scratch. Grandpappa had his own garden, grape arbor and made wonderful homemade wine that he stored in the cellar.
So, I know from this experience at a very young age, and in later years, through my month long stays in Bologna what “Italian food” really is. In Italy I am know as Giovanni the Italo/Americano because I have my dual citizenship with Italy.
Italian American food is not Italian it is American’s version of what people think Italian food is or should be.