Fettuccine Alfredo is a pasta dish made from fettuccine tossed with Parmesan cheese and butter. As the cheese melts, it emulsifies the liquids to form a smooth and rich coating on the pasta. The term is a synonym for pasta with butter and Parmesan cheese (Italian: pasta al burro e parmigiano), one of the oldest and simplest ways to prepare pasta. The dish was named by Alfredo Di Lelio I, a restaurateur who opened and operated restaurants in Rome, Italy, throughout the early to mid 20th century. While the term "Fettuccine Alfredo" is especially popular in the United States, in Italy the dish is largely unknown under that name. The American version of Fettuccine Alfredo is usually richer and very different from the original recipe created by Alfredo Di Lelio I.