Loved around the world, Italian cuisine is famed as one of the very best in the world. While we all know and love Italian pizza and pasta, that’s just the surface of what this country has to offer. This small country may only be the size of California, but it has a diverse cuisine, with the Northern and Southern regions dishing up very different foods.

While the Northern Italians love juicy lamb, creamy sauces, polenta and risotto, Southern Italians are famed for their pizza, tomato sauces, olive oil, and seafood. To get a better understanding of the Northern Italian vs Southern Italian food debate, we look at the differences in the cuisine and the best dishes to try in each region. Buon appetite!