Italians Expressed Their Displeasure Online Over Italian Dishes Cooked Wrong

Throughout history, Italians have gifted the world a fantastic array of culinary delights that are also subjected to varied experiments in the name of fusion food. While people are grateful for the lip-smacking recipes, a few come up with their take on the classics to disheartening consequences. As if that wasn’t enough, they share their cooking exploits on social media for all to see...and praise, maybe?

Expectedly, the posts end up with brickbats instead, especially from the Italians who take pride in their food and rightfully so. Can we blame them? They weren’t thrilled when we added pineapples as a pizza topping, but they let it slide. Yet here we are looking at a few instances when they refused to accept it and strongly expressed their displeasure at what was shared as 'culinary art'.

A Meal Beyond Expectations

We all have been in situations where we see a fancy meal on a restaurant menu, and we immediately order it expecting it would be as good as advertised. Sadly, when it’s finally at our table, it’s not exactly as we thought it would be, as one carbonara fan found out.

If the image the chef posted is anything to go by, the carbonara took some bit of time to plate, and he did his best to impress the eyes. Nonetheless, it doesn’t look sumptuous, and someone came up with a way to rectify that; the chef should give the next carbonara some TLC!

DIY Meal Misfire

Nothing beats the satisfaction one gets after making themselves a proper meal at home, especially if they were trying the recipe for the first time. Still, sometimes the plan backfires massively and hilariously, leading to some inedible food that is also not so pleasing to look at.

This person wanted to make some pizza and decided to use some peanut butter and sausages to create what they called peanut butter and bullet pizza. Unfortunately, as one user posted, this doesn’t look like a pizza anyone can consume, and while we commend the lad for trying, maybe he should try switching up the ingredients next time for better results.

Peanut Butter Fandom

In another case of people experimenting with peanut butter, this person decided to spread the paste on leftover pizza. While they recommend using the vegan pepperoni variant, we don’t think the sandwich spread should ever go near it under any circumstance.

A pepperoni pizza made with vegan ingredients sounds like a good idea, especially to health buffs, but not so much with peanut butter as an extra topping. Instead of consuming the strange meal, a commenter even had other ways to escape the ordeal. So what happened to people eating regular pizza?

Salad Cream Spaghetti

At first glance, one might think the meal in the image is simply some spaghetti served with some bacon, right? Until the person who made the food took their time to explain that it was homemade spaghetti carbonara with a special sauce.

The problem, though, is that the said sauce isn’t the proper one since they used salad cream instead. We wonder what prompted the person to use those specific ingredients, but clearly, not many people were impressed with those choices, with one Giuseppe choosing to let the atrocity slide. In all honesty, the meal doesn’t look pleasant, and we’d love to know how it tasted.

The Meal Mashup

We have seen funny-looking dishes in the past, but nothing beats this one. This person wanted to experience the best of everything and chose to have lasagna soup with a scoop of mozzarella, parmesan, and ricotta mixture, all in one bowl.

Now we get the curiosity that comes with wanting to know how a specific meal would taste after adding some random ingredients, but this might have gone a bit overboard. While the person reacted perfectly to the image, we, on the other hand, wonder how the creator of the meal got to that version of lasagna. We’d love to know their recipe.

The Messy Doughnut

One would expect to get a tasty flavor when one bites into a doughnut, perhaps a superb taste of the triad mixture of butter, sugar, and flour with sweet fillings. Even though this person was trying to create a new form of the snack, spaghetti is quite the wrong choice, in our opinion.

Some netizens also agree that this is truly scary. So, are we now supposed to eat spaghetti with bare hands? That thought alone looks quite messy already! Maybe next time, this person can find a more suitable combination for this sort of culinary adventure.

Drenched Lasagna

It is often a good idea to try out something new in our kitchen. However, more often than not, things usually go wrong when we do. In an attempt to prepare a homemade lasagna, this person has made an awkward meal, with what looks like water being a prominent part of it.

Who knows, maybe the fresh tomatoes had so much water, or there was a spillover while the meal was being prepared. Nevertheless, the only reality here is that Daniele just provided a perfectly witty idea of what can be done with such an amount of liquid.

The Shell Topped Carbonara

There are too many artistic takes these days on Italian food that some people tend to lose focus on the actual thing: flavor. A single glance at this picture, and one would probably think that this person has mistakenly left the yolk inside the shell.

Still, passing this off as a fancy topping comes very much unpleasant to some reactors. Considering how far from impressive it looks on the plating, one would instead take this as an extreme approach to being artistic on dishes. Additionally, Paolo does have a valid point in that response.

Another Point for Debate

Just when we think canned foods are perfect and unable to infuriate a person, perhaps this is time for us to rethink. A simple look at this can of pineapples will leave some food enthusiasts stunned, especially when we consider that they have been labeled perfect for pizza.

Still, let's not conclude yet since this item may look appealing to people who are on the positive side of the pineapple on pizza debate. Then again, the person who made a response wouldn't have that and even exclaimed they would rather have their eyes cut. Maybe they really dislike having the fruit slice on the Italian pie.

Americanized Pizza Gone Wrong

We're not sure everyone would agree, but Americans always want to go the extra mile. Their eagerness to do a little extra is almost naturally inherent in them, whether it's movies, sports, or food. Sadly, their efforts can go south, like in the dish we have here. In an attempt to be creative with Italy's delicious pizza, this person almost committed a culinary crime.

All would have been picture-perfect until the idea to substitute bite-sized toppings with full-size burgers came calling on this pie maker. Well, wherever that idea might have come from, it didn't just mean well for our health-conscious friends. Can adding more greens help?

Permission Denied

Italians are known to be proud of their food, and they've every reason to be. Their delicious cuisine that equally looks and smells spectacular is probably the reason why it's consumed with enthusiasm the world over. So, when people trudge over the invisible line in the name of experimentation, some face such adverse reactions just like this dish.

Honestly, what in the universe is this mold of "SpaghettiOs" with Vienna sausages poking out from its center meant to represent? A spacecraft? No wonder the dish invoked a flurry of comments banning the creator from tasting any Italian food ever! Even Joss Whedon doesn't take such liberties with his sci-fi creations.

Not The Cheez Whiz, Please

To think that a business boasted about this brand-new experimentation in pizza toppings! Well, to each his own, right? Not really. Italians cannot take a slight on their cuisine, and neither can those who love their food! There's a serious limit to the acceptable list of ingredients that can be on it.

We do agree with the person's reaction to the post. A generous spread of Cheez Whiz does not make an excellent condiment for pizza. It's as simple as that. There's meat, veggies, cottage cheese, and even pineapples that can be added as toppings. Any of those will make for a delicious snack but not the cheesy sauce.

Taste Vs. Appearance

Culinary experts agree that food has to first appeal to our eyes before we find it tasty when we eat. Although, it's not always true. Many times, the dishes have looked incredibly delicious but tasted like sandpaper. Here is someone who decided to diss a nation's pride by comparing the original with the American pizza! Wrong move, buddy!

The comeback for the post was sharp, defending the authentic version over the perfect-looking copy in solid words that allowed no argument. Of course, looks aren't everything; the Italian pizza might be uneven and disproportionate but likely tastes fantastic. Why else would the rest of the world replicate the masterpiece?

Wrong Bit of Side Dish

Oh, No! A side salad next to spaghetti is not an appealing combination that one wants to see occupying the same space. Scooping both onto the same plate might have saved a trip to the buffet table, but is it worth tripping over flavors in a rush? If it's an a la carte plating instead, we don't have much to say!

These dishes look perfectly delicious on their own; seeing the two together is what irks the commentators. Someone even went to the extent of sneeringly suggesting adding dessert onto the plate! No, please don't. After all, there's a limit to how much mishmash anyone can take.

Insensitive Palate

Sad to say, the internet is full of people generally complaining about anything and everything; food is no exception. This person took off on the entire Italian cuisine, saying that everything tastes similar. Well, the remark revealed much more than their dislike for the country's cooking.

It also exposed their lack of culinary knowledge when they complained about pizza tasting the same as risotto. There's no comparison between the two whatsoever! The netizens, of course, were quick to catch on. Fabio called out the person's ignorance about the cuisine famous for its delicate balance of flavors. Surely, anyone with a sensitive palate will recognize the worth of Italian food.

Twist In the Romantic Tale

Two people finding each other and seeing their interests align perfectly is a blessed occurrence. Still, it's something that happens with much effort. Dating does help check someone who seems perfect until something unfortunate comes along that makes one take a few steps back.

Here's a classic example. Everything was going well until the girl of his dreams invited him into her social media world. Voila, a picture of an unappetizing plate of food was all it took for him to reconsider his choice of partner. Sadly, she unwittingly pulled the plug on a budding romance by misnaming it carbonara - a mistake any Italian food lover would never overlook.

Runny Coral Reef Topping

No other food in the entire world has been experimented on as much as pizza. Is there anything that hasn't been used as a topping yet? Isn't it enough that we have everything from pineapples to cottage cheese on the Italian pie? Let's draw the line at finding egg yolks on them, pretty please! They are all only acceptable to some extent.

Also, this pizza looks soggy for some reason. Yes, Marco seems to have guessed right. It does look like a disintegrated coral reef that's trying to ooze off and go elsewhere. People sure won't find the topping tasty enough to stay and have a bite either!

Un-Canned Dinner

We can say that it's dinner for one was prepared with lots of affection and less cooking skills. Canned beans toppled over dry noodles with ketchup added later, not that it'd help, but hey, all's fair in love! The girl must truly adore her boyfriend to proudly display his culinary efforts on social media.

Ouch! Someone even hoped that 'dinner' was a name for a pet, suggesting the dish looked like dog fodder. Even though the plate of food doesn't look appetizing in the least, it doesn't deserve such harsh words! Only the netizens disagree, as can be seen from the comment.

Better Left Unshared

Seriously, is this something that needs to be photographed? Well, someone already did, but why share it with the rest of the world? A stretchy sheet of red plastic is not what anyone would want to see on their favorite pizza. It's probably a frozen bit of tomato sauce, but it looks very unappetizing.

We wholeheartedly agree with Simone's reaction of shaking with disgust because, in all honesty, it's impossible not to. An Italian food lover would end up having nightmares about this pic for years! Despite the shudders, we can't help but be curious about what the person was trying to show off in the picture.

Questionable Cooking

One look at this photo and the state of 'lasagna' wrapped in plastic makes us have some burning questions for the chef. Some of which have been rightly raised by Dario. Of all the 'whys' jostling around in our brains, we want to know the entire method of cooking used by the sharer to prepare the Italian delicacy.

In hindsight, do we want to? Any process that uses a plastic bag to heat food doesn't sound proper and safe. If someone will use an air fryer, oven, or hotpot, leave out polymers, please! Otherwise, it won't matter how slow the dish cooks; it'll still be inedible.

Fusion Confusion

Whenever we see an appetizing dish before us, we often comment that it looks delicious, as if we can already taste it with our eyes. Well, that's basically how the eating experience is; we can somehow tell how food will taste based on its appearance.

So, we can understand that people who saw this dish for the first time assume it's not tasty. Still, that's not enough to say this wasn't delicious since only the people who have tried this could tell. Regardless, who would ever think of combining pizza ingredients with taco and ramen noodles? Definitely not someone who knows proper cooking!

Breaking Bones and Pasta

One cardinal rule when cooking pasta is not to break the noodles in half. For Italians, this is something considered taboo - hence the comparison of this commenter. Although the statement is pretty harsh, it sends the message that any cook should not do the act in question.

When one snaps spaghetti noodles in two, no chemical change will happen. So doing it won't make the noodles cook faster than usual. Also, the main reason why Italians prefer their pasta long is that it's supposed to wrap around one's fork when it's eaten. Now we know!

Not A Very Good Tip

This one is tricky, and no matter how loyal one is to the Italian way of cooking pasta, the safety of small children should be a top priority. Nevertheless, cutting spaghetti noodles should only be done for small babies, especially those who haven't turned a year old yet.

Any solid food given to infants should be cut into small pieces to avoid any mishap from happening. Bigger children, however, can very well eat spaghetti without parents cutting them into bite-size pieces, hence this guy's comment. After all, even kids should enjoy a good dining experience!

Looks Can Be Telling

It's evident that an offense against lasagna has been committed here, and if it hadn't been mentioned, we wouldn't think this is an Italian dish at all! Instead, at a glance, one would think this is a crushed dim sum or something.

At least, we are still thinking about food, unlike the one who gave a nasty comment! So when making traditional lasagna, remember there's this pasta-filling ratio that should be followed - a rule that probably wasn't observed by the person who cooked this. Also, it looks like this wasn't made with red sauce at all, so perhaps the cook was going for a creamy white version?

To Pineapple or Not? That Is the Question

First of all, we do not condone this lady's uncalled-for comment, even if she probably was just being witty. Also, the guy initiated it with his choice of words. He could have asked if Italians would be offended if he asks for pineapples in his pizza while at Naples.

Everyone knows that Naples is the modern birthplace of pizza; hence, this gentleman asks this question to avoid upsetting Neapolitans by ordering a Hawaiian pizza. Since pineapples are a no-no ingredient for the flatbread delicacy, just like pepperoni, ordering a pizza with the fruit while at the region will probably be met with a shocked response from food servers.

Someone's Trying to Be Clever

Italians are famous for many things; pizza and ancient wisdom are two of them. Aside from being the modern birthplace of pizza, the country produced several thinkers of ancient times like Pliny the Elder and Thomas Aquinas. So, it's understandable that this guy Stefano pointed to wisdom with his comment.

Someone was trying to be clever in attempting to make a case about pineapples on pizza. Although it's not a traditional ingredient, no one stops people from putting the fruit on their pizzas, not even Italians. Still, they have a right to defend their authentic delicacy when someone attempts to question it.

Too Far and Too Unappealing

Putting pineapples on pizzas is one thing; adding just about any food one can imagine to it is another. So, we could understand why this guy made this over-the-top comment on this pizza because it does look questionable!

There's no problem putting fish on the flatbread dish but making sushi a topping is off-putting. First, sushi is already a complete meal with rice, vegetable, and meat - it's not just an ingredient. Second, it's okay to try to mix food from different countries once in a while, but at least do it well. We completely agree this union may have disrupted the "Force."

A Healthy Version

Although this lady's reaction is understandable, we can't help but give a bit of a history lesson. First of all, Italians may have perfected lasagna, but the dish originated from Ancient Greece. Second, when they invented the delicacy, it was just made with layers of pasta and sauce.

So, safe to say, it's okay to add different ingredients to it, such as vegetables. While classic lasagna, as we know, includes meat and melted cheese, what if vegetarians want to try the recipe? Then, of course, it's okay to make one with only greens in them, like spinach, celery, and carrots.

Savory Sweet Slice

Since this dish is said to be a restaurant's bestseller, we won't argue with the taste. Some people like a strange combination of flavors in their food, like the loyal customers of this place; on the other hand, sweet and spicy is not a brand-new combination when one thinks about it.

The union of the two flavors is applied chiefly to Asian cuisines, so it's surprising to do it on a pizza. For those wondering what this tastes like, imagine putting cheese and chili on cinnamon bread. Naturally, some Italians, like Pietro, would see this slice as not fit for human consumption.

Unacceptable Strange-looking Mozzarella

It's safe to say this lady is loyal to traditions because she won't accept any other appearances of mozzarella cheese. Well, unfortunately for her, there are different kinds of mozzarella available on the market, and all of them are real. Although, this particular cheese variety is divided into two categories - regular and fresh.

Fresh is the one preferred by purists, and it's newly made from buffalo's milk. Bufala Mozzarella originated from Campania, Italy, where Naples is, the modern birthplace of pizza. While this lady won't accept the cheese unless it looks pillowy soft, and bright white, encased in a water-filled plastic bag, other grocery shoppers might still grab the block.

Too Heavy a Meal

In a world with diverse cuisines, it's no offense to try out innovative fusions with different authentic dishes. For example, someone here wanted to experiment with a combo of chicken-parm pizza with penne. Imagine having to consume all of that at the same time!

The pasta is already lip-smacking delicious by itself; why is it necessary to stuff it inside the chicken parm? We know food is meant to make one happy while being in check with their health. Still, the chef here is only serving layers of carbs! So, no wonder the sensible commentator felt that he'd survive longer for never having to eat this exotic concoction.

A Pie Nightmare

One often tends to associate the flavors and aromas of the food with their memories and happy times. So, we can't help wondering what pleasant feelings this recipe can ever evoke. Unfortunately, it looks like some people can't resist ruining our favorite Italian dishes with an awful blend.

From the very look of it, one perhaps wouldn't be wrong to claim this version of 'Bolognese Pizza' unfit for human consumption. So clearly, no one would go against Monica's wry description of the burnt beef toppings on the pizza. Maybe, next time they can make it look more appetizing, or just stop trying to put these two together!

Wait, What's That?

A glimpse of this dish can make anyone's mind think about all the odd stuff they never expect to be on the platter. Even so, all this person wanted for dinner was carbonara with corns. There's nothing unusual in craving this delicious preparation; if only they made it look a little more appetizing!

Now, who would disagree with the commentator when she calls this preparation outright inedible? Not us, for sure! Caterina made a crystal-clear description of what she think this meal is. Who knows what others may think of this, too? Some might even consider skipping their dinner than eating what's on this plate.

Someone Spurred the Debate

Whether pineapple qualifies to be an appropriate pizza topping is truly a never-ending debate. Some say it's delicious, while the rest despise it. So far, our concern was pineapple slices, but someone chose to go the extra mile to deal with the concept.

Instead of slicing it in uniform pieces, he boldly tossed the whole fruit on top of the pizza base! Something tells us that this move was intentional and was meant to gather reactions from netizens. By looking at this heated response, we can bet that the person who posted this was grinning at their success in irking the viewers.

The Unappealing Carbonara

While a carbonara prepared with tuna sounds impressive and tasty, we're not quite sure if anyone would wish to dig into the one in the picture. It's a nice try, but the cook messed up this authentic dish by using canned tuna instead of a fresh catch. We bet others also see the error!

In place of tuna fillet, if one is using canned fish, they have to be extra mindful about its consistency while cooking. Sadly, the thickness of this preparation looks extremely unappetizing, as mockingly stated by Pietro. Never mind, it was this person's first attempt, and we're sure he'll get better at it with time and practice!

Just About Everything on Pasta

When it comes to preparing a plate of spaghetti or carbonara, there are a few strong opinions on what one should not do. After all, if we aim to make an authentic dish, we must closely follow the recipe. Unfortunately, it seems like the person here either just winged it or didn't quite know how to incorporate one ingredient.

Although we love scrambled eggs, that's not what we're making here! Instead of being on the sauce, they were left in a messy pile above the ketchup-coated spaghetti. How unappealing for anyone wishing to grab a snack! No wonder the commentator used some solid wording to express his opinion.

Poor Nanas in Italy

Perhaps one shouldn't always take the liberty to add ingredients of their choice to pasta dishes that ruin their authenticity. Not that we're unorthodoxly opposed to exploring fusions, but seldom does it pan out great on our plates. The same is perhaps true for the dish in the photo.

From the heated response of the commentator, it is apparent that no self-respecting Italian would inspire this quirky combination of bacon in carbonara, however crafty it may appear and no matter how many non-Italians like it. In all honesty, we agree with Mr. Liberati, so we don't mind staying away from it!

Unrecognizable Dish

Lasagna is a delicious Italian dish prepared with cheese, different stuffing, and sauces layered between pasta sheets and baked to perfection. It is not a complex recipe, and its presentation is certainly not rocket science. Still, this chef has managed to experiment with the meal beyond anyone's expectation.

Giving them the benefit of the doubt, someone still learning culinary arts must have prepared this meal. Having said that, was there no one to supervise? Everyone knows the adage: we eat with our eyes first. So, who would even dare to try the lasagna after seeing this mess on the plate?

Unseen Button Please

With several cooking shows trending these days, everyone tries to do an elevated version of a classic recipe, but some should be left alone. For instance, this incredible person tried to put together two sumptuous meals: lasagna and ravioli. Sadly, just looking at this baking dish hurts our eyes!

The combination doesn't sound as appealing as these dishes separately, and social media approves that statement. As Pietro said, there's definitely a need to dial a hotline, call out to people involved, and let them know food lovers will not tolerate such changes. What a terrible act!

That's Not Even Close

Whoever has cooked this meal sure has a different take on how a traditional carbonara is prepared. It usually has just the right amount of cream to coat the pasta, not cover it like a white blanket, as shown in the image. Plus, we can't figure out if those round cuttings are pieces of meat or bread!

We understand someone must have tried to either experiment with the dish or take inspiration from it, but they should do justice to it, right? The chef could have come up with a new name for this recipe to avoid unfriendly remarks. Then again, a culinary expert does know better.

Crawling Gnocchi

It's a good thing there's no penalty for presenting an unappealing plate of food. Had it been, otherwise, this "culinary genius" would be paying a huge fine to Italy for cooking this gnocchi, or should we call it cocoons of butterflies? Let's give him credit for the confidence, though!

Besides the ill-shaped dumpling, even the sauce appears uninviting. Fortunately, we aren't the only ones who think so since people on social media also expressed their comments in a rather comic way. Let's all hope it did not taste as bad as it looked!

Together Isn't Always Terrific

People are getting creative with food these days, and there are both pros and cons to it. While there have been some incredible new dishes, others leave us questioning if there should be a legal law protecting traditional recipes so that people don't get too experimental.

Take this image, for instance. Steak and pasta are two delicious and distinct meals, so one can put these delicacies together only if they want to descend to a parallel universe because this isn't acceptable here. Some people who saw this dish might even need a sick bowl!

Tomatina Festival on A Plate

Italians love tomatoes as they go well with most of the kitchen ingredients and make a meal utterly delicious, but as people say, excess of everything can be terrible. There are still some dishes that don't taste well with condiments, especially ketchup.

Pouring so much sauce over the plain boiled pasta is an unpleasant sight for this post's commentators for sure. Judgmental may it seem, but they are only questioning this person's palate. Even the crowd at the Tomatina Festival does not obsess with tomatoes this much! Then again, if it works for those who consume it, all is well, right?

A Mix Nobody Wants

Be it pasta or rice - both are incredibly versatile ingredients that go well with other elements like veggies, meat, and sauces. We understand choosing between the two can be difficult, but some might think it's not a good idea to combine both. So, here we have someone who took pride in making a rather peculiar meal out of it.

Still, there is a silver lining about this dish as it prompted the joke beneath the post - it's hilarious! While the gentleman's suggestion is worthy of consideration, we hope someone gives this chef a cookbook after they see this image so that these mistakes don't get repeated.

Slowly Spoiling a Simple Dish

Slow cookers use low temperatures for cooking, so the process takes longer, making it perfect for people who want to prepare a dish ahead and not worry about getting it burnt. On the other hand, pasta is such a delicate food that it doesn't necessarily require slow cooking. Instead, just add them to boiling water, and it will be ready even before an episode of Friends ends.

Still, people want to be experimental. So, we hope this person had enough time to ponder on why their tortellini look and taste odd! They should also use the extra hours to rethink posting their attempts at remaking Italian classics!

An Italian's Nightmare

No, this picture doesn't show a meal still being prepared; someone actually deconstructed a spaghetti Bolognese and happily ate it for dinner. Just the look of it is making us nauseous so forget about trying it! The individual also hasn't cooked the beef properly. Why are they doing this to themselves and the Italian dish?

Cooking Bolognese hardly takes any time, so even if someone is in a hurry, they can prep the meal accurately and have it on the go or have a few boxes in the refrigerator to reheat later. So, there can't be a reasonable excuse for this culinary mistake that's making us suffer.

Pizza Pile

Heard about vegan pizza yet? It's made out of cauliflower base and cashew cheese, and it looks like the one in this picture. It may not be pleasing to the eyes, but if done right, it can taste pretty well. Although please don't add bamboo shoots like this pie maker wanted to do; it might not taste as good as one expects!

Plus, what about pineapples? It's a debatable topping for the rest of the world, but for most Italians, it's a shame to their traditional dish. So, when in Italy, avoid the fruit or even experimenting with their cooking styles, for that matter.

Call Culinary Investigation

Home cooks can make mistakes while preparing a meal, and it can be acceptable. Sadly, for this Croatian restaurant, serving Spaghetti Alla Milanese that looks like a crime scene should be declared a punishable offense! They must have had a busy kitchen because it shows on the plate.

Perhaps their chef could have removed the item from the menu for that day instead of serving this rather appalling pasta. We feel sorry for the guests, especially if they had to pay for this! Hopefully, this was just one incident that was never repeated to other customers.

Schooling A University Canteen

While it looks clean, this pasta bowl has cold canned pineapple, some withered green leaves, and no seasoning. These are words enough to break an Italian's heart as the person captioned the photo. One commentator also didn't hold back their reaction to express how they can relate to the university food experience.

Most people would agree that cafeterias should consider stepping up their service. We hope these students get a good cook soon, or else the chef will be taught a lesson by those who are well learned about their home country's culinary traditions.