While Italian is giving way to Mexican and Chinese foods as the favorites among the younger generations, local Italian restaurants are not too worried, writes Alfred Lubrano for The Philadelphia Inquirer. 

For years, the overwhelming majority of baby boomers said they preferred Italian food over any other. Their parents, the Silent Generation, also liked Italian best. Millennials rank Mexican over Italian, while Gen Z put Mexican in first place, Chinese in second, and Italian in third. This has broken the decades-long pattern of Italian food being the favorite among Americans. 

Italian cuisine is “for eating sitting down,” said Jacob Noble, a guitar teacher. “Mexican and Chinese have more dishes that fit better with young people’s grab-and-go culture. The only portable Italian is pizza.” 

However, these numbers are not making local chefs who specialize in Italian cuisine nervous. Sean Weinberg, chef and co-owner with his wife, Kelly, of Restaurant Alba in Malvern, said that regional cooking “keeps things interesting” in Italian food. 

“The red-gravy Italian spots could be taking a hit,” said Weinberg. “But we aren’t worried if Italian slips to No. 2 or 3.” 

Read more about Restaurant Alba in The Philadelphia Inquirer. 

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