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