What influences the cuisine of particular countries? things like climate?

Yes climate: the most important

On the one hand it determines what can grow where, but also what can be stored how. For example, one of the reasons why Indian food is so spicy is that it helps to kill the bacteria in a climate where bacteria can grow faster!

In places with cold winters potato dishes flourish, as potatoes can be stored over winter.

Another is also soil quality

Further the proximity to sea (Why Spain has soo much sea food!) and trade routes: for example in communism certain fruits were not available in the Eastern Bloc!