As a naturally curious and creative individual, Leonardo Da Vinci saw art in the act of dining, cooking, and even organizing a kitchen. A few references to Da Vinci’s love for animals has also led credence to the theory that he practiced vegetarianism, along with his fondness for a classic Italian vegetable soup.

Leonardo Da Vinci's favorite dish was minestrone soup, per East Bay Times, but the soup that he enjoyed was different from today's minestrone. Tomatoes and durum wheat used to make pasta were not present in Europe when Da Vinci was alive, so researchers have used clues to paint a better picture of Da Vinci's minestrone.

The only cookbook that was found in Da Vinci's library, Bartolomeo Platina's "On Right Pleasure and Good Health," had a recipe for chickpea soup made from chickpeas, groats, salt, pepper, cinnamon, and herbs. While it isn’t exactly minestrone soup, this recipe might be similar to the minestrone that Da Vinci made.