| So you've booked a self-catering holiday in Italy on a | | | | other indignities. May brings strawberries and cherries |
| farm in Tuscany or by a beach in Liguria? Enjoy | | | | piled high and bright. Peaches and nectarines follow |
| exploring the flavours of Italy with this basic guide to | | | | with melons of all varieties. By the time you reach |
| help you enjoy food shopping as part of your holiday | | | | autumn these have been succeeded by heaps of |
| experience. | | | | glistening grapes, luscious figs and juicy pears. Watch |
| Traditionally Italians shop every day for what they | | | | the local signoras carefully selecting their fruit and veg |
| want to eat that day, as freshness is a big concern | | | | and you will get an idea of what is at its best and |
| to them. You won't find huge fridges in most Italian | | | | what should be left another week until it is truly in |
| kitchens, so decide every day as you shop, what | | | | season, ripe and delicious. |
| you want to eat that day, according to what looks | | | | The alimentari now- the general grocers store. You |
| freshest and most appetising in the shops. The shop | | | | will probably be following the same group of signoras |
| keepers are quite used to selling just two slices of | | | | from shop to shop as they do their morning round. |
| perfectly sliced prosciutto, or a small piece of | | | | Everything is here, from tins piled high, to packets of |
| pecorino cheese. You can of course just head to a | | | | pasta, with a counter of cheeses and salamis to be |
| supermarket and fill your trolley for the week, but | | | | sliced to your requirements. You can ask for two |
| shopping the traditional way in all the little shops is an | | | | slices of prosciutto crudo - cured ham, thinly sliced or |
| experience not to be missed and you will gain more | | | | buy sliced meats and cheeses by the etto - a |
| cultural understanding this way, than any amount of | | | | generally used term for 100g (about 3oz). If you |
| museum visiting will provide. | | | | want to have a taste before you decide to |
| Follow your nose first to the Forno, for crusty white | | | | purchase, just ask and a sliver of cheese will be |
| bread, rolls and salty focaccia, a soft olive oil pizza | | | | passed over the counter for you to pronounce |
| bread cut into squares, that the school children often | | | | judgement on. There will also be containers of herby |
| stop by for as a morning snack. Pane integrale is | | | | olives and sundried tomatoes to buy by weight. |
| wholewheat bread and becoming more easily | | | | Bottles of mineral water and wine will rub shoulders in |
| available. If you don't acquire the taste for the | | | | a corner. |
| traditional, unsalted bread you can ask for pane salata | | | | For a treat stop by the pasticceria for a tray of |
| - salted bread, which is sometimes available as a | | | | delicious creamy pastries, which will be wrapped in |
| speciality bread. | | | | paper and ribbon until they are worthy of the |
| Next drop by the fruttaverdura - the greengrocers. | | | | Christmas tree. |
| Italy has a wonderful variety of fruits and vegetables | | | | Now head off for a picnic lunch in an olive grove with |
| and you will find whatever is in season and at its | | | | your spoils, or treat yourself to a long lunch in a |
| best. Italians are distrustful of imported food, the | | | | restaurant and keep your shopping for a delicious, |
| more locally grown the better, so most of what is on | | | | no-cooking, light supper on the terrace of your |
| offer won't have been subjected to cold storage and | | | | apartment. |