FoodBanter.com - Italian food before pasta and tomatoes

On Wednesday, September 11, 1996 at 12:00:00 AM UTC-7, Ian Menzies wrote:
> A few of us at work were wondering about what people in Italy ate before
> the introduction of pasta? As I recall, both pasta and pizza were
> brought back to Italy by Marco Polo during the middle-ages.
> I have also heard that the tomatoe was native to the Americas and was
> introduced to Europe after 1492. What was served on pasta before
> tomatoes arrived? Lots of pesto? Cream sauces?
> Any answers will be appreciated.