Borderless Bites: Is Italian Gastronomy Really All That?

If you asked me a few months ago what the pinnacle of the culinary world was, I would have answered without hesitation: Brazil and Spain. Being a Brazilian raised on Spanish soil, my palate was forged between the soul and abundance of Brazilian food and the impeccable technique and respect for produce that define Spain’s kitchens. I thought I had already seen and tasted the best.

But then life brought me to Italy. More specifically to Genoa, between the Ligurian Sea and the mountains, where the scent of fresh basil and focaccia coming out of the oven seems to permeate the city walls. And the burning question remains: is Italian gastronomy really everything people say it is?