| If you've rented a villa or apartment in | | | | - Olio di Uliva (olive oil) |
| Italy, no doubt you'll be trying to sample | | | | |
| all the foods of Italy you can-- dining out | | | | - Limoni (lemons) |
| and eating in. Here's a quick and easy guide | | | | |
| for getting food in Italy, whether you're | | | | - Pomodori (tomatoes) |
| ordering your first Italian meal at that | | | | |
| sumptuous restaurant down the street or | | | | - Capperi (capers) |
| buying produce at the local market to create | | | | |
| your own authentic Italian food. Shopping for | | | | - Porcini (mushrooms) |
| Italian Food | | | | |
| | | | - Other vegetables: potatoes, onions, |
| One of the great delights of renting an | | | | carrots, green beans, peppers, cucumbers, |
| Italian villa or apartment is shopping for | | | | lettuce, and everything else! |
| produce at an outdoor market. Virtually all | | | | |
| towns in Italy have an outdoor market, | | | | - Tonno (canned tuna) |
| usually once a week (ask around to find out | | | | |
| which day). But regardless of whether you're | | | | - Uova (eggs) |
| at a market, a small grocery, or a | | | | |
| supermarket, there is just one rule to | | | | - Frutta (fruit) |
| remember when shopping for food in Italy: DO | | | | |
| NOT TOUCH THE PRODUCE. We're quite used to | | | | - Pollo (chicken) |
| handling our apples and oranges in the US, | | | | |
| but in Italy it is considered very rude! In | | | | - Vino (wine)Italian Cooking - Recipes |
| an outdoor market, you should indicate which | | | | |
| fruits or vegetables you need, and the seller | | | | What could be better than cooking in Italy |
| will pick out the best specimens for you. | | | | with all those delicious fresh ingredients? |
| Don't try to indicate that you don't, for | | | | Here are a few simple Italian food recipes |
| example, want that slightly green lemon-- | | | | you can make at your rental. If these |
| picking out produce is a point of honor for | | | | tried-and-true favorites get old, eat out and |
| sellers, and rejecting his/her choice is an | | | | then experiment to see if you can duplicate |
| insult! Another thing to note about open | | | | the recipe.1. Tortellini in Brodo con Petti |
| markets in Italy is that there is no | | | | di Pollo: Make a broth using bullion and add |
| bargaining. In Italy, a price is a price.In a | | | | tortellini, chopped chicken, and veggies. |
| small grocery, you still can't touch the | | | | Serve with local parmigiano cheese, mixed |
| produce (no matter how much you want to)! | | | | salad, and local bread. |
| Instead, wait until an employee comes to help | | | | |
| you. Indicate you choices and the employee | | | | 2. Pasta al Pomodor: Otherwise known as |
| will pick the produce and put it in a bag. If | | | | spaghetti, this is delicious with fresh |
| you really need control over your produce | | | | Italian ingredients! Buy fresh pasta at the |
| selection, try a large supermarket: here you | | | | market, heat sauce (or make your own), mix in |
| will be provided with plastic gloves so that | | | | garlic and basil, and add: a can of drained |
| you can pick your own fruits and vegetables! | | | | tuna, olives, or artichoke hearts. Serve with |
| Weigh each bag and punch a button for that | | | | parmesan, insalata mista (mixed salad), and |
| particular item, whereupon a machine will | | | | bread. |
| dispense a sticker that you should put on the | | | | |
| bag before taking it to the checkout line. | | | | 3. Minestrone: Saute onions and garlic in |
| Another great place to pick up some | | | | oil. Add broth, bring to a boil, and add |
| traditional Italian food is a deli. There are | | | | vegetables (carrots, zucchini, peppers, |
| no special rules here (although you might | | | | etc.). Just before the vegetables are cooked, |
| have to "take a number" or wait in line). | | | | add pasta and spinach. Season with your herbs |
| Pick up delicious marinated meats, prepared | | | | of choice. Italian Dining Customs |
| olives, artichoke salads, roasted peppers, | | | | |
| fresh mozzarella, and everything else you | | | | When you go dining in Italy, remember this: |
| might find at a full-service American deli-- | | | | Italy is a food culture! If you're looking |
| only better!Here's a list of some delicious | | | | for fine Italian foods, it's not going to be |
| common foods in Italy:- Pane (bread: get it | | | | fast. Meals are a social event to be enjoyed, |
| fresh in the morning!) | | | | one delicious course at a time. Let's begin |
| | | | with the courses, in order:1. Primi - A pasta |
| - Aceto (vinegar: balsamic or wine) | | | | dish2. Secondo - The main course: meat or |
| | | | fish. This course may also include the |
| - Aglio (garlic) | | | | contorno, or side dishes, which are usually |
| | | | vegetables.3. Fromaggio - Cheeses4. Frutta - |
| - Basilico (basil) | | | | Fruit5. Dolce - A sweet6. |
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