🇮🇹 This One's For The Foodies 🍝 Nom Nom!
🇮🇹 This One's For The Foodies 🍝 Nom Nom!
First, we try to avoid culture shock, then dig in to talking about authentic Italian food (& fakes!), the different restaurants of Italy... & we ask if Italians say "Boo!" today ➕ more!
Italian Culture Shock Is Real! Let’s Talk About How To Handle It
It’s often eye-opening for non-Italians, and especially English-first language speakers, how… different…you may feel among Italians. Take their fashion, for example: Even when they’re seemingly “slumming it,” Italians have a knack for looking impeccable while doing so. When they really dress up, you might feel like you’re a background actor in a movie.
And their language! When Italians are speaking a mile a minute to each other, it can be a beautiful, melodic exchange. Then we walk in to order a coffee and say BON-JOR-NO and they smile and nod… and switch to English immediately. It can really be a downer to not fit in.
Integrating into Italian culture can be difficult. Even someone who has visited often and is an intermediate Italian language speaker can still feel like an outsider – even while feeling very at home in Italy. Let’s take a quick look at some other areas:
Time: You’re sure to find differences in Italy that are healthier than the ways at home. One of those is the American way of always being in a hurry. Italy runs on its own clock, and that clock runs sloooooowwwww! That can extend to everything from what you think should be a simple transaction at a bank, to the bureaucracy that may cause delays in your citizenship application. At least they don’t let this attitude carry over to their mostly reliable train service, which we discussed last week.
Meals: Speaking of time, it’s best to go with the flow, and not force expectations of how long a meal should take or when it should start (much later than in North America). It’s also important to know Italians take a lot of pride in preparing your meal, and they have certain expectations when it comes to HOW you enjoy your meal. That might include holding off on personal preferences when eating. (“Grated cheese on fish? Out of my restaurant!” …. “A cappuccino at this hour? Bah!”)
Work to live, not live to work: Another difference is the belief that work is not the be-all, end-all of existence. Personal and family time is paramount — if you’re surprised that most businesses close midday for a long break, you shouldn’t be. Lunch is a time to spend time with family, eat a nice meal, or take a walk — or a nap!
There are many differences between Italian and North American culture and the idea is to celebrate them! Don’t forget that an Italian walking around New York probably thinks New Yorkers are an alien life form, with their “funny” accents and fast-walking, everything-must-be-done-this-minute ways! It’s okay to love a place, a culture and a people without feeling like you are one of them. Understanding where the differences are and always will be no matter how well you speak Italian or how well you dress can help you feel more comfortable.
So the next time you find yourself thinking “I’ll never completely fit in here,” say then to yourself, “that’s perfectly fine!” Because “feeling at home” and “fitting in” are not the same, and the former is why we return to Italy again and again – or never leave!
Podcast Corner 🎙️ Food News You Can Use! 🍕
We mentioned restaurants above and now we’re hungry. So let’s dive into the incredible world of Italian cuisine with the founder of the popular Instagram account “Stop Italian Sounding,” Robert Campana, on our latest episode. We explore why it’s so important to recognize authentic Italian food versus the many imitations you see outside of Italy.
Robert shares his journey as an Italian-American and how living in Italy inspired him to educate others about genuine Italian products. We bust some common misconceptions about Italian cuisine – because let’s be honest, it’s so much more than just pizza and pasta! The regional specialties across Italy are a reflection of its deep and diverse cultural heritage.
Robert also gives us some great practical tips for identifying authentic Italian ingredients, like what to look for when buying olive oil and understanding the importance of D.O.P. (Denominazione di Origine Protetta) products. Plus, we talk about how dining at local trattorias, osterias and ristorantes can offer some of the most authentic culinary experiences when you’re in Italy (more on that below).
By the end of this episode, you’ll feel more confident in recognizing and appreciating true Italian cuisine – wherever you are in the world.
So, join us for this delicious journey into the heart of Italian food culture: Listen here!
Shall We Trot To A Trattoria, Run To A Ristorante, Or Order At An Osteria?
Dining shouldn’t be confusing. So we’re here to help break down and understand the Italian restaurants mentioned above in the podcast. First, let’s keep in mind there will always be exceptions to the rule. Any restaurant’s proprietor can name their place whatever they want or style it however they please. But in general, the three primary restaurant names you’ll find in Italy are ristorante, osteria and trattoria.
Ristorante: Expect an elevated dining experience here. Top chefs often go with this moniker for their restaurants, and invite the finer dining crowd. More elegant atmospheres, intricate dishes, fine wine lists and, oh, higher prices, await you. But if you want a splurge night, this is the way.
Osteria: Generally osterias are the “tweeners” of the bunch. You can find Michelin-star osterias and ones that hew closer to their simpler historic origins. Osterias often take classic dishes and give them a little twist. You’ll still find top chefs in the kitchen at many, but you’re also probably not going to break the bank.
Trattoria: Sit down and let nonna feed you. These are meant to deliver the atmosphere of a Sunday family dinner. Recipes shall not be veered from their roots. Order the house wines – they might have made it themselves. Hearty, cozy, authentic. That’s the aim of trattorias.
There are plenty of other types of eating establishments – too many to go into here. But this Travel + Leisure piece is a good primer on the rest – buon appetito!
Hey, Look At The Calendar! Do Italians Say ‘Boo!’ 👻 on Halloween?
Since this issue of Per Te comes out on Halloween 🎃 we thought it would be fun to talk about what the holiday looks like in Italy.
Since this issue of Per Te comes out on Halloween 🎃 we thought it would be fun to talk about what the holiday looks like in Italy.
Some Italians, especially those with young kids looking to trick or treat (dolcetto o scherzetto) will dress up in their scary best. Like in North America, you can find decorations, haunted houses, and parties if you know where to look, but they are certainly not as prevalent.
Witches hold a special place in Italy this time of year. Triora, a village in Liguria, is known as “the town of witches,” and Corinaldo, in Marche, hosts a Festa delle Streghe (Festival of the Witches).
Il giorno di Ognissanti (All Saints’ Day) on November 1 (a Catholic feast day and a national holiday), and the Commemorazione dei Defunti (All Souls’ Day) on November 2, however, are far more important than Halloween in Italy.
But certainly, no one will look at you funny (or … say “boo?”) if you find yourself in Italy on October 31 and decide to wear your witches hat out to the market!
Lake Life 🚣♀️ Lago Campotosto
We return today to our occasional series on Lake Life. As we’ve said before, while much attention is paid to ski resorts and seaside towns (especially as vacation destinations), Italians treasure their lakes just as much.
Today we explore a fake with real appeal – Campotosto is an artificial lake, the largest of them in Abruzzo. It is located in the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park. Once peat bog, Campotosto was created more than 75 years ago by damming the Fucino River to create a reservoir that could be used to generate hydroelectric power. Fishing, boating, birdwatching are all on offer here, as is cross country skiing it’s surrounding trail in winter, when the lake completely freezes over most years.
Keep it in mind if you’ll be in the L'Aquila region. It might float your boat 🛥️.
Location Spotlight📍Lago Trasimeno
Speaking of lakes, Lago Trasimeno is Italy’s fourth-largest, and we wrote about it in June:
Here you can escape to the sound of lapping waves and chirping birds while still being well-connected to bigger towns like Perugia, Arezzo, and Siena.
Hey, that doesn’t sound half bad – let’s find a place to live there!
Here’s one, in this week’s Vendita. This partially renovated farmhouse is nestled in the hills about 10 minutes from Marsciano and less than half an hour from Lake Trasimeno. Spacious at more than 3,500 square feet, the first floor is renovated and the ground floor is unfinished and waiting for your vision. Includes more than four acres of land – talk about your own private lake estate!
Want more? Subscribe to Vendita and get 30 property picks sent to you every Sunday. To subscribe via email, click here or join our Telegram channel.
And if you’re thinking about buying a property in Italy, you don’t have to do it alone! Book a free 10-minute property purchase discovery call here.
PerTe è finito for this week. But don’t forget — we always have lots more to share. Follow us on Facebook & Instagram and consider joining A New Life in Italy today!
As always, thanks for being a part of the Smart Move Italy famiglia. A presto! 👋