🇮🇹 The Italian Factor™

A completely unofficial, slightly sarcastic, and 100% personal way I rate how Italian a recipe feels.

🍝 What Is The Italian Factor™?

The Italian Factor™ is a scoring system I created for fun — and maybe a little therapy — to rate how Italian (or not) a recipe really is.
I use it to measure the Italianness of every dish I make or share on this blog, whether it’s a beloved classic, an Italian-American comfort food, or a wild experiment that just wants to be Italian.

It’s not meant to gatekeep, judge, or shame (okay, maybe gently tease). It’s my way of celebrating Italian food culture while having a laugh — and sharing a little insight along the way.

⚙️ How It Works

Each recipe gets a score from 0 to 100, based on five categories that reflect what I personally value in a good Italian(-ish) dish: ingredients, technique, origin, name, and overall vibe.

At the end, I assign a score and a badge that matches the dish’s Italian Factor™.

1. 🧀 Authentic Ingredients (30 points max)

Ingredients matter. The closer they are to what you’d actually find in an Italian kitchen, the higher the score.

  • +5: Using real Italian DOP/IGP products (like Parmigiano Reggiano or San Marzano tomatoes)
  • +3: No weird swaps (bacon ≠ guanciale)
  • -5: Cream in carbonara — don’t do it
  • -3: Garlic powder, pre-shredded cheese, or “Italian seasoning”
  • -2: Fake parmesan in a green plastic container

2. 🍳 Traditional Techniques (25 points max)

I’m all for creativity, but some rules were made to be respected. Like cooking your pasta properly.

  • +5: Traditional techniques (soffritto, pasta al dente, etc.)
  • +3: Good timing, proper layering, smart use of pasta water
  • -5: Overcooked pasta, rinsed pasta, or slow-cooker lasagna
  • -3: “One pot” shortcuts that sacrifice flavor

3. 🗺️ Recipe Origins (20 points max)

Where a recipe comes from — or pretends to come from — says a lot.

  • +10: A dish with clear Italian regional roots
  • +5: A well-loved Italian-American classic
  • 0: A “Mediterranean-inspired” invention with vague vibes
  • -5: Something made up and randomly labeled “Tuscan” or “Italian-style”

4. đź“› The Name (10 points max)

A name can make or break your Italian street cred.

  • +5: Proper Italian name, correctly used
  • -3: Word mashups like “Carbonara Alfredo Lasagna”
  • -5: Titles like “Pizza Pasta Bake Surprise” — please, no

5. 🤌 The Overall Vibe (15 points max)

This is where I trust my gut. Does the dish feel Italian, even if it’s not traditional? Does it show love for the culture?

  • +5: It captures the soul of Italian food — even with a twist
  • +5: It’s made with care, curiosity, and a little respect
  • -5: It’s clearly more about SEO than cucina

🏅 The Final Score & Badges

Each recipe earns a final score out of 100, and I give it a badge that reflects its Italian Factor™:

ScoreBadgeLabel
90–100🇮🇹🥹“Nonna Is Crying Happy Tears”
70–89🍝🟢“You Get It”
50–69🍕🟡“Italo-Adjacent”
30–49🥑🔴“Italian-Inspired (Kind Of?)”
0–29🤡🚫“The Vatican Has Logged On”

🧑‍🍳 Why I Created This

I love cooking Italian food — the traditional stuff, the Italian-American comfort dishes, and even the wild cross-cultural combos.
The Italian Factor™ is just my way of sharing that love while having a little fun along the way. It helps me explore, explain, and laugh about what makes a dish “Italian” — and what doesn’t.