Culture Shock: Food Edition

Dear SOON(ER) to be traveler,

Italy is well known for its food, and the first thing people make sure to tell you when you announce your plans to study abroad in Italy is how good and different the food is. I have heard those statements repeated over and over again, but what people don’t know or tell you is precisely how Italian cuisine differs.

From using olive oil as the main form of dressing to the popularity of raw meat and the lack of vegetables, Italian food customs are very different from America’s. These three differences surprised me the most and took a while to get used to.

The difference in dressings

Coming from someone who loves dressings and sauces on everything I eat, it was eye-opening for me to learn that Italy doesn’t serve ranch or even know what it is. The main form of dressing is olive oil. Italians put it on everything, and you can always find a bottle sitting on any dining table. In the U.S., it's rare to come across dishes drenched in olive oil and only at American Italian restaurants can you have it readily available without asking. Italians take pride in the diverse flavors olive oil can produce and the amount of fat it provides. It helps make Italian food… well, Italian. After learning about the importance of olive oil and the difference it can make in a meal, I've learned to love the simplicity of Italian dressing. Although, I still miss ranch.

The popularity of raw meat

Italian cuisine is often defined by its freshness, yet I didn’t know exactly what that meant until I walked into a local Arezzo sandwich shop full of raw meat. In the U.S., the word “raw”, especially pertaining to meat, has a negative connotation and rarely ever are you asked if you want your meat raw. However, in Italy, they don’t think anything of it and eat it on the regular. Italian farmers take pride in raising healthy, happy animals in order to produce fresh, good meat that's safe to eat. While this difference shocked me the most, it’s an interesting and defining aspect of Italian cuisine that is important to experience (once you get over the mental hurdle of knowing it's raw).

The lack of vegetables

Never would I think that I’d miss vegetables, yet here I am. The first few days of eating in Italy are full of pasta, wine and more pasta. While it sounds amazing, it got old quickly. In the U.S. I feel like vegetables are included in every meal, and if you aren't eating your greens you're not seen as ‘healthy,’ yet in Italy, most meals only include pasta and meat. This difference between cuisines made me better appreciate having a balanced diet. While it's fun to only eat pasta, it's also fun to explore different places in order to find a good salad.

Having a slight understanding of the differences between American and Italian cuisine along with knowing what makes Italian cuisine unique will help make your transition into authentic Italian eating smoother.

And that's the inside scoop to navigating your way around Italian cuisine, until next time!

Boomer,

Sandra