Italian Food

It is the goal of almost everyone who travels to a foreign country to blend in and not look like a tourist. The odds are that they are spotted almost immediately the first time they try to ask for directions, or place an order in a restaurant. When visiting Italy, there are some basic food rules for American travelers that may help you navigate the ins and outs of the local ristorantes and trattorias and perhaps keep you from being an obvious tourist. Ordering your first breakfast in Italy? Don’t be such an American. Italians do not eat eggs and […]

If you have never traveled to Italy and are planning your first trip, there are so many sights, sounds and flavors to include on your itinerary. While your passion for the Americanized versions of Italian foods may be one of the driving forces in your desire to travel to Italy, hold on to your hat! The food in Italy will absolutely blow you away! The following is a list of what may very well be considered the foods that you cannot afford to miss while traveling this beautiful, diverse and exciting country. Pizza– Yes, pizza. You will be amazed at […]

Mangia! (Pronounced: man-djyah) Eat! It’s probably one of the most recognizable Italian phrases in the world. Why? Because almost everyone loves to eat Italian food! However, many people never take the time to learn how to pronounce it correctly or more often; a family’s pronunciation of words and phrases has been changed as they have been passed down through the generations. Let’s take a look at a few of the most common mistakes made when trying to “speak Italian food”: Panini – (pah-nee-nee) Well, it is indeed an Italian word. It means sandwiches. If you are truly ordering more than […]

My maternal grandfather owned a fruit and vegetable store in the Bronx during the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. I can vividly remember the baskets that overflowed with the freshest, highest quality produce available in the city. There was the most amazing broccoli, carrots, potatoes, celery, brussel sprouts, asparagus; too many to mention. In all of my 56 years I have found very few places that could compete with the selection of ripe and luscious fruits on display. Pop-Pop was very careful to sell only the freshest of seasonal selections. As a result, I am a produce snob, and proud of […]

Americans have enjoyed Italian food for over a hundred years, thanks to immigrants that brought recipes with them from their native land. Spaghetti sauce, for example, has been so thoroughly adopted by the American palate that it appears, not just in Italian restaurants, but bars, grills and everything in between. The last few years, however, have seen the rise of the “foodie,” someone looking to explore traditional dishes in exciting new ways, resulting in several trends in Italian food. Splurging on a good meal. For the past several years, Americans ate out sparingly, choosing to eat at home to save […]