As an Italian citizen, I am appalled by what passes as "Italian" food in the U.S. It's not just the fault of American-born people who have never been to Italy; it's also the fault of Italian-American immigrants who have adapted Italian cuisine to appease to American tastes. Italian cuisine is not all garlic and tomatoes; like American cuisine, there are very strong regional differences. I am frankly tired that the great gastronomic tradition of my country is bastardized daily as a tomato and garlic heavy concoction of spice and cheese and what else.