Italy and the United States have one thing in common. They both love to eat, but there is one tangible difference between the two. While America is a country that relies heavily on fast food, Italy takes the time to absorb a fresh and genuine meal. I have been in Italy for two weeks now, and have only seen three McDonald’s. When I popped my head into one, the only people to be seen were tourists. Back home, there are at least three McDonald’s within a 5 mile radius. It’s self-explanatory; Italians do not eat fast food.
Italy is a food heavy country strict on rules. Reservations are absolutely a necessity and be prepared to pay for a table. Yes, that’s right, most restaurants in Italy require people to pay for sitting at a table. When eating at a table, it is expected that the person who paid for it is going to take their time, and not immediately eat and leave. Waiters at restaurants do not bring the check either; they fear it is rude and do not want to rush your meal. Essentially, eating in Italy is looked as a time to relax and enjoy yourself. Unlike the U.S., filled with fast food chains and people in a hurry to eat and go, Italians like to take their time and enjoy what they eat.
Italians are very particular on the order and time of day they eat. It is simple, breakfast is served from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., lunch is from 1:00 p.m. to about 5:00 p.m. and dinner is 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Gelato is served all day.
Breakfast in Italy is not the typical eggs, bacon and pancakes ordeal. Breakfast is some sort of coffee: either a cappuccino (coffee with steamed milk), caffe latte (coffee with milk), or a shot of espresso and a pastry. Once 10:00 a.m. rolls around, the coffee shops are closed and good coffee comes hard to find in Florence. Many bakeries will remain open but are not usually authentic, plus it is hard to avoid the side-eye from natives when ordering coffee past noon.
Italy is not a place for vegetarians and vegans, and it is easy to tell when lunch and dinner starts. Restaurants are filled with porks and beefs all incorporated somehow into the menu. However, in the city of Florence where the food is fresh and rid of any pesticides, it’s hard to find anything truly bad to eat. Unless you are trying to find good Mexican food.
As an extremely broke college student, I have grown accustomed to compromising meals because I cannot afford two Italian cuisines in one day. So, I either choose one big lunch or one big dinner. For lunch, the go-to lunch spot is paninis at Pino’s or All’antico Vinaio, both are always crowded with smiling faces and mouths full of food. More often than not, the cheaper and run-down looking restaurants serve better quality food than the pretty, more put-together restaurants. Give the dingy looking restaurant a shot! You might be surprised.
Dinner in Italy is an extreme sport. If going to a pizzeria, you order your own entire pizza, and you finish it because to-go boxes are seen as unusual. If going to a trattoria, there are three courses served and only one stomach to fill. Wine and bread are served with three courses. The first course is an appetizer, usually bread with meat or bruschetta on top, and a small plate of pasta. The main course is a generous slice of meat, sometimes served with potatoes. The last course is usually salad, mozzarella, and fresh tomatoes. The dinner is ended with dessert (as if the three courses aren’t enough) and coffee. Dinner is not a quick bite to eat, it is an occasion. When going out to eat to dinner in Italy, the point is to stay longer and have a good time.
Basically, if you like to eat you will not have a hard time enjoying your stay in Italy. If Olive Garden is your favorite restaurant, just wait till you go to any trattoria in Florence. Maybe drive-thrus at Jack in the Box are not as great as I had originally thought. Convenient? Yes. Delicious? Good question. Basically, eating like an Italian for two weeks is a lesson to love what you eat and take your time loving it.
Ciao!
