A little of History.

When i was 16 years old and I went to England, my host family had prepared a lovely italian dinner, and I was very proud about this. I remember that, they had prepared the most famous Italian recipe in the world, ” Spaghetti with meatballs”.

 

Now, I grew up with my grandfather that was a food critic, and both my grandmothers were excellent chefs, actually, all grandmother’s in Italy are excellent chefs.
So, my first reaction ( in my mind, obviously) was, “ ma che schifo è ? ” How disgusting! “. You have to understand than that was my first time I see ” Spaghetti with meatballs”, We do not have in Italy, it is unusual to put together meatballs with Spaghetti. Hence, I ate them but, I do not like them. Even though, i was hit of the fact that my host family has been thus attentive with regard to me.
But we go on, one of the questions more frequent that many people asked me, was: ” Is it truth that in Italy, you eat pasta and pizza every day? “

Now, this is one of the questions more complicated to explain to the overseas.
Italy is much different in each part of it, for instance, we have to think that until 1861, Italy was separated in 5 countries and each one had own State, Rules, Languages and obviously Cuisine.
Therefore is complicated to answer this question because, particularly in the North Italy, they are used to eat, rice, and a particular dish, also known as ” Polenta“, this dish not exist for example in the South Italy, nevertheless is more common eat pasta in the South Italy but not only that. But i will say more in another article, more specific of this one.

Do you want eat Italian? You have to follow these simple rules.

So, Let’s start.
Italian food culture is probably very different from what you’re used to at home. And, since Italians have been perfecting it for over 1,000 years, and it is most different in each part of Italy, especially, in the South Italy,so try going with the wine and olive oil flow instead of fighting against the current when you’re in Italy.

1. Don’t ask for “fettuccine alfredo” or “spaghetti with meatballs”

They don’t exist here. Alfredo is an Italian name, and when you ask  Italians people if they really had never heard of “fettuccine alfredo,” they responded: “Chi?” (Who?) To get pasta with cream sauce, try any one with panna (cream) listed in the ingredients – just know that you’ll never find pollo (chicken), on that same list. Explaining the idea of putting chicken in pasta provokes confused looks and expressions like, “Che schifo!“ (How disgusting!) Likewise, spaghetti is not served with meatballs. In Naples, you’ll find miniature ones on other types of pasta. Everywhere else, pasta al ragù (with meat sauce) is a common first course, and “polpette” (meatballs), are a typical – separate – second course. If you’re way ahead of me and already thinking, “I’ll just ask for both those things and mix them together,” you can certainly do that. But…reread the title of this article first.

2. Only drink wine or water with a meal

In Scotland, my friends used to open up the fridge come dinnertime and list every drinkable thing inside: “Ok, we’ve got ginger ale, milk, coke, lemonade, bacardi breezers…what do you want?” This would never happen in Italy. The table is usually set with a bottle of sparkling or still water, and a bottle of wine. Cocktails and liquors are reserved for: aperitivi (before-dinner drinks) and digestivi (after dinner drinks). Italians take enjoying the flavor of food very seriously; and you have to admit, drinking peach ice tea with rosemary lamb chops has to mess with your taste buds. One exception is pizza, to which Coke and beer are acceptable compliments – but a single glass; no refills.

3. Don’t eat eggs in the morning

The quintessential Italian breakfast is a strong espresso and a sweet pastry. Mix up some scrambled eggs to start your day, and your Italian roommates will watch as if you’re building a spaceship on their stovetop. In Italy, eggs are usually eaten hard-boiled on a lunchtime salad or sandwich, or as a frittata (open-faced omelet) for dinner. If you’re dying for a salty breakfast, try a ham and cheese toast (you guessed it, a toasted sandwich) at a local bar (in Italy, a café is called a “caffè“ or “bar”).

4. Do drink cappuccino in the morning

…with your (non-egg) breakfast, and not as an accompaniment or finish to other meals. A sure-fire way to be immediately labeled “foreign” is ordering up a pizza and a cappuccino. If you want to fit in, wean yourself off frothy milk and get used to black espresso, which Italians drink after eating, all day long. Or, feed your cappuccino habit with one of the giant, almost bowl-sized ones at Moyo Bar in the morning, and ride the high for the rest of the day.

5. Know what a “peperoni pizza” is

Duh! Little red meat circles on a pizza! …Right? In some countries, yes. But in Italy, “peperoni” (one “p”) is Italian for the plural of bell pepper. So if it’s “pepperoni” (double “p”) you want and not strips of red or yellow vegetables, check the menu for “pizza al salamino,” “pizza diavola,” or “pizza calabrese” – just be prepared for some spiciness.

6. Peel your fruits and vegetables

Italians peel fruits and vegetables normally enjoyed with the skin on in othe countries: apples, pears, sometimes peaches, carrots, cucumbers, potatoes. “It’shealthier,”. “The pesticides will make you sick if you don’t,” and “It tastes better, ” but I think it’s mostly tradition. And why peelers are sold in Italy, Italians prefer good old-fashioned knives. If you eat unpeeled produce in front of them, they might just take it out of your hand, remove the skin in one perfect spiral, and slice it into uniform wedges with the speed and dexterity of a sushi chef.

7. Don’t ask for salad dressing

If you want to be pointed in the direction of the salad dressing aisle at the grocery store, you’ll get blank looks (because there isn’t one). Some tourist restaurants have “ranch” and “french dressing,” which taste like anything but ranch and french dressing. It’s best to begin an amateur mixologist career, finding the perfect balance of oil and vinegar for your palette. Sound a little boring? You probably haven’t tasted authentic Italian olio e aceto (oil and vinegar); the varieties are endless and the flavors intense. Opt for a cloudy, green oil and pay a little extra for an aged, balsamic vinegar, and you might just write off other (less healthy) dressings for life.Oil

8. Use condiments sparingly

Olive oil is the only real Italian condiment. All the rest came from some other place and show up at grocery stores on the same shelf as exotic food. But “exotic” will not be the word Italians use to describe you putting ranch dressing on your pizza, ketchup on your potatoes, and mayonnaise on your sandwich, to their friends. People in Italy like to enjoy the exceptional flavor of what they’re eating (which is usually handmade, or picked that day), and not mask it with other toppings. If they’re eating chicken,  they want to taste chicken, not barbecue sauce. A condiment (read: olive oil) should enhance flavors, never cover them up.

9. Take time to enjoy your food

Eating is not a race, and a bowl of cereal in front of late-night TV is not a dinner. It’s not uncommon for Italians to spend an hour preparing a meal and even more time savoring every bite(Especially in the South Italy, for instance, Sicily.). And when eating out: service is slow, courses are many, and it’s highly unlikely that a waiter will ever tell you they “need your table.” Block off large chunks of time in your agenda for eating. Italian food is unbelievably good and so worthy of “wasting” a few hours; sitting at a table is so much nicer that running around town with a sandwich in your hand. Relax! You’re in Italy! You can mail that letter and drop off your laundry…tomorrow 

10. Wait to eat plain bread with your meal

Can’t wait to show Italy how Italian you are by sitting down at your first ristorante, pouring some olive oil and vinegar on your plate, sprinkling it with Parmesan cheese and dipping your bread inside? Save it for the Olive Garden, because, like that restaurant, it’s actually not Italian at all. Visitors to Florence often complain about the flavor of plain Tuscan bread, as it’s made without salt( No in the Sud italy, they have bread with salt). But that’s just because they don’t know that in Italy, table bread is more of a utensil than an eat-alone food. It’s often used as the main tool to fare la scarpetta (do the little shoe): the action of mopping up any delicious-ness left on your plate after a meal, or whatever your fork can’t pick up during one.
*Interesting fact: Fare la scarpetta , BE CAREFUL, I want  to warn you that while the scarpetta is 100% welcome at home, it’s arguably not the most polite demonstration at nice restaurants or in front of people you care about impressing.

9 Italian Slang Expressions You Can’t Live Without

Whether you’ve been studying Italian for years or are currently mastering the art of “my name is,” these 10 expressions are an essential addition to any vocabulary. You won’t find them in Italian books, but you’ll hear them all over the streets. Understanding them will give you a huge boost in comprehension. Using them will make you much more fun to talk to.

1. Che palle!

Translated word for word as, “What balls!” it’s the short and sweet equivalent to “What a pain in the ass!” Tack it onto the end of any annoying activity for added emphasis: “We have to climb all those stairs? Che palle!” or mumble it under your breath when someone causes you general agitation: “Put a scarf on or you’ll get pneumonia!” Che palle.

2. Che figata

An adventure in Italy done right will leave you with plenty of chances to use and hear, “What a cool thing!” I met an Italian soccer player today! “Che figata!”  We learned how to make handmade pasta! “Che figata!” “It’s official. BBC wants to hire me!” “Che figata!”

3. Figurati!

“Don’t worry about it!” or “It’s nothing!” Just like in English, you can use it when you really mean it: “Thank you so much for the great meal!” “Figurati!”

4. Fa cagare!

Italians take expressing discontent to a whole new level with the descriptive “It makes me poop,” (HA) leaving us English speakers in the dust with our 1 million times less dramatic and funny, “It’s awful.” “That restaurant?  fa cagare!” “His tight shirt? fa cagare!” “American coffee? fa cagare!”

5. Che schifo!

“How disgusting!” Here are some likely scenarios you will encounter in Italy, just waiting for a “che schifo.” The people sitting next to you on the bench think they’re in their bedroom: “Che schifo!” A pigeon poops on your head: “Che schifo!” You see a 70 year-old man hitting on a 19 year-old girl: “Che schifo!”

6. Dai!

With a pronunciation not unlike a drawn out English “die,” it may sound initially off-putting as you hear it shouted between sweet Italian children and little old ladies. But “dai” just means “Come on!” as in, “Please, oblige me.” Use it when someone refuses: “Let’s go to Milan.” “No.” “Dai!” Or to push someone to do something: “One more shot of limoncello, dai!” It can also be similar to “stop it!” Someone’s stealing bites of your gelato? Knock them in line with a “dai!”

7. Meno Male!

Its translation means “less bad,” but it’s used like, “Thank God!” So you can say: “Inter won? Meno male!” “I passed the test? Meno male!” You can also literally say “Thank God!” which is “Grazie a Dio!” (GRAHT-see-eh ah DEE-oh!). Just make sure you get the “a” in there. Even though it feels more natural to say “Grazie a Dio,” that leaves you speaking directly to God: “Thanks, God!”

8. Magari!

The Italian counterpart to “I wish!” “Let’s hope!” or “Maybe!” When someone asks you if you plan on coming back to Italy, marrying an Italian and living in a villa in the Tuscan countryside, you can respond with “Magari!” (because of course you do). “Magari” is also great for playing it cool with the opposite sex: “Will we ever see each other again?” “Magari!”

9. Basta!

“Enough!” “That’s it!” Use it to stop the fruit vendor from filling your bag with 20 extra oranges: Basta, basta! Add it to the end of your order: “Una pizza e basta” Or shout it to the people singing songs at 4 a.m. outside your apartment window: “BASTA!”