I'm Indian, and some of the most amusing conversations I've had about food have been with Italians.
An Italian professor was insistent that I stand up and defend the need for Indian food to use a million spices. He was proud of the fact that delicious Italian food could be whipped up using just three ingredients. I was in full agreement with him, that Italian food was wonderful, and that it was commendable how far they could take simple ingredients. But he was almost demanding (diplomatically of course) that I take the other side and argue that one needed a million spices to make good food.
An Italian friend was aghast that I would suggest putting Onion and Garlic in the same meal. It was strictly either/or for him.
An Italian professor was insistent that I stand up and defend the need for Indian food to use a million spices. He was proud of the fact that delicious Italian food could be whipped up using just three ingredients. I was in full agreement with him, that Italian food was wonderful, and that it was commendable how far they could take simple ingredients. But he was almost demanding (diplomatically of course) that I take the other side and argue that one needed a million spices to make good food.
An Italian friend was aghast that I would suggest putting Onion and Garlic in the same meal. It was strictly either/or for him.