For Italians, food is sacred, and the way that Americans reinterpret Italian cuisine is a downright sin. Aside from breadsticks (think Olive Garden), Shrimp Scampi, and Pasta Carbonara, the one thing true Italian chefs warn to avoid like the plague in American restaurants is Fettuccine Alfredo. In fact, they call the American preparation a crime. “Pasta with meat or chicken together on a plate is considered a crime,” said Chef Barbara Pollastrini. She recommends pairing fettuccine with butter and Parmigiano cheese — which, by the way, is the real Alfredo sauce. When the meal is over, don’t even think about ordering a nice cappuccino to finish the meal. As Pollastrini pointed out, Italians traditionally enjoy a cappuccino at breakfast, but never at the end of a dinner.
