Best ethnic food I remember is pork ribs, sauerkraut and polenta. Not that soupy stuff Italians make, but nice and firm that slices and holds it's shape. Like Gramma used to make. Was always amazing to watch the little baba just whip the bejeezus out of a pot of the stuff and plop it on a plate exactly when it's firming up.
Never met that soupy stuff. The traditional way or serving polenta is it has to be thick enough when dumped in the middle of the table on a cotton towel that it holds it shape. You slice or spoon off how much you want, spread it out, spread some butter on it an then top with a marinaro sauce which usually had pheasant, rabbit or squirrel in .Some times all three.
Worse case of food poisoning I ever had was from a Italian sausage sandwich in a restaurant in Las Vegas. I think it was called the Bootlegger .
Now days I am more of a fan of Mexican food
