Eating ‘Real’ Italian Food: Are You Breaking the Rules?

Adding chicken to your Italian dishes and putting ketchup on pasta are among the top culinary mistakes we Americans make when eating Italian food.

OK, I'll admit, I'm guilty of the chicken in my pasta accusation, and I don't plan on changing. But, do people really put ketchup on their pasta?  Ewww!

They are two of the worst Italian food faux pas according to a tongue-in-cheek list released by the Academia Barilla in Parma, Italy - an institution dedicated to defending 'Italian food products made by reputable artisans and certified denominations against poor quality imitations'.

The list of kitchen no-no's, as the Independent on Sunday reports, has been released in order to 'teach foreigners how to avoid culinary horrors' when making Italian food.

Here's an overview of how and what to eat and not eat according to the experts.  (Or, you can just go about your business and eat what you darn well please however you like it.)

NEVER DRINK A CAPPUCCINO DURING A MEAL

A cappuccino is for breakfast and ideally should be drunk with something sweet. Although the Academia concedes it can be ordered afterwards, it points out that an Italian never would.

RISOTTO AND PASTA ARE NOT SIDE DISHES

Unless you're serving it as part of a specialty dish such as l'Ossobuco alla milanese, it's a faux pas.

DON'T PUT OIL IN THE PASTA WATER

Oil should be added after cooking.(I do this all the time and it keeps my pasta from sticking, but I'm nor the expert here)

DON'T PUT KETCHUP ON PASTA

'A true culinary sin', says the Academia.

SPAGHETTI BOLOGNESE DOESN'T EXIST IN BOLOGNA

They eat their Bolognese sauce with tagliatelle and not spaghetti.

PASTA WITH CHICKEN IS NOT ITALIAN

'No one in Italy would ever serve such a dish,' says the report.

CAESAR SALAD IS NOT ITALIAN EITHER

Its inventor was but the dish is not.

RED AND WHITE CHECKED TABLECLOTHS ARE UNKNOWN IN ITALY

Although that hasn't stopped every 'Italian' restaurant not in the country from using them.

FETTUCCINE ALFREDO: ALSO NOT ITALIAN

While it was invented in Rome, the dish is entirely unknown in Italy.

FOOD IS FOR FAMILY TIME

Eating alone in front of the TV is not the Italian way. Instead, you should respect tradition (and your mamma) and share supper times with those you love.