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