Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

I want to go everywhere I haven't been, and back to everywhere I have been.

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

10 Must-Eat Foods In Italy

(EVEN THOUGH YOU EAT THEM ALL THE TIME AT HOME)

10 Must-Eat Foods In Italy | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Does food play an important role in your vacation plans?

I'd put food right up there with sightseeing and shopping. 
I want it ALL...amazing scenery and iconic landmarks,
some memorable souvenirs, 
and in between, a luscious lunch and a delectable dinner.

10 Must-Eat Foods In Italy | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Putting together a short list of "must-eat foods" almost borders on the ridiculous, 
as Italy boasts some of the most amazing food the world has to offer.
Pretty much everything qualifies as a "must eat."

 So why would I put together a list of seemingly unexceptional
foods that you eat all the time at home,
and tell you not to miss them in Italy
Because, in Italy, basic foods go from ordinary to extraordinary. 

 Wherever you are in Italy
it's good to order foods that different regions are noted for, such as...
 
Bolognese sauce in Bologna  
Pizza in Naples
Lemons on the Amalfi coast 
Black truffles in Umbria
Parmesan cheese in Parma

The list goes on an on

And then, there are the foods that you shouldn't miss,  
no matter where you are in Italy.  

Grab a fork, and let's mangia! 
    
1. CHEESE (Formaggio)

10 Must-Eat Foods In Italy | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Oh my, the cheese! 
Fresh, creamy burrata, buffalo mozzarella, velvety ricotta.
I could live on bread and cheese alone -- cholesterol be damned! 

10 Must-Eat Foods In Italy | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes


2. PASTA 

10 Must-Eat Foods In Italy | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Pasta in Italy is perfetto --  al-dente; never over-cooked.
Sauces are matched to the appropriate shapes;
for example, a thicker sauce such as bolognese 
pairs up with a larger pasta shape, like rigatoni. 
No meat sauce on angel hair pasta in Italy, no señora. 

10 Must-Eat Foods In Italy | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

And, you will not find your pasta swimming in a bowl of sauce,
like so many restaurants here in the states serve it; 
 just a nice, light coating, so it doesn't drown out the pasta.

10 Must-Eat Foods In Italy | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes


3. TOMATOES (Pomodoro)

10 Must-Eat Foods In Italy | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Deep red, sweet, juicy...they just taste a heckuva lot better there than here.
Maybe it's because fruits and veggies are served only when they are in season;
unlike here in the US, where everything is available year-round
(pale, tasteless, hot-house tomatoes, anyone?).
Perhaps it's the volcanic soil, which makes everything more flavorful.
Whatever the reason, tomatoes are one of Italy's simple pleasures,
especially when served with a drizzle of olive oil and some fresh herbs.

10 Must-Eat Foods In Italy | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

10 Must-Eat Foods In Italy | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes


4. PIZZA

10 Must-Eat Foods In Italy | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Yes, I spent an entire afternoon researching the best pizza in Naples
(we went to Da Ettore, via S. Lucia 56).
That's as important to me as finding the perfect hotel. 
You can't go to Naples...or anywhere in Italy, for that matter,
 and not eat the pizza - it's where it was invented.
When you leave the country, proof of eating pizza is an exit requirement.
Not really, but it should be, if you ask me. 

10 Must-Eat Foods In Italy | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes


5. SALAMI AND OTHER CURED MEATS 

10 Must-Eat Foods In Italy | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

I really don't eat salami at home.
It's generally processed; surely not worth the calories, fat and sodium.
In Italy, I can eat it three times a day, and still not have enough.
Do you remember the salami story I told you?
It tastes so different, we shouldn't be allowed to call it salami here in the states.

So, try the salami, proscuitto, soppressata, mortadella...
it's delizioso! 

10 Must-Eat Foods In Italy | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes


6. STUFFED ZUCCHINI FLOWERS (Fiori di zucca ripieni)

10 Must-Eat Foods In Italy | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Okay, granted, this is not a staple in my house, and probably not yours,
but,
I had to include it on this list because when you have good zucchini flowers --
batter-dipped and stuffed with creamy ricotta cheese --
they are extraordinary.
I promise it will be one of your most memorable food experiences

On our last trip to Italy, I actually had them twice in one day.
Mr. Goo Shoes was skeptical about eating a flower,
but I convinced him, and we both ordered them whenever they were on the menu
Trust me on this one. 

10 Must-Eat Foods In Italy | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes



7. WINE (Vino)

10 Must-Eat Foods In Italy | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Italy is one place where you can confidently order the house wine, 
and it will be excellent
If you are lucky, you'll be able to take home the pitcher that it comes in.

10 Must-Eat Foods In Italy | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes


8. LEMONS (Limone)

10 Must-Eat Foods In Italy | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes


On the Amalfi Coast, Sorrento lemons reign supreme
showing up in anything and everything.
If there's a pasta sauce made with lemon, order it.
If there's a dessert baked with lemon, buy it.
My advice? Eat anything and everything made with lemon. 
Wash it down with lots of Limoncello.  
Salute!

10 Must-Eat Foods In Italy | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

10 Must-Eat Foods In Italy | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes


9. ICE CREAM (Gelato)

10 Must-Eat Foods In Italy | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

I double-dare you not to have gelato multiple times a day!
Yes, you will want it after lunch.
Yes, you will want it after dinner.
And it will take every ounce of willpower not to have it after breakfast
(okay, we did that only once).
 

How else will you be able to sample all of those delectable flavors?

10 Must-Eat Foods In Italy | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

10 Must-Eat Foods In Italy | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes


10. COFFEE (Caffé)

10 Must-Eat Foods In Italy | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Italian coffee is stronger than what we get here,
which is why it is so delicious! 
Recently, someone told me that she looks for McDonald's when she is in Italy, 
so she can get American-style coffee.
Oy! I may have to un-friend her.

Forget everything you learned at Starbucks...

 These are the two coffee rules you should know:
 1). Cappuccino is ordered only for breakfast, not after dinner.
2. After dinner, Italians drink espresso, which, is known as caffé
Capisce? 

10 Must-Eat Foods In Italy | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

10 Must-Eat Foods In Italy | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Geez, now look what I've done
I've worked up an appetite, and there is nowhere around here  
that will come close to meeting my Italian taste-bud expectations.
I'll just have to be content with my memories...
until my next trip to Italy.

Hmmmm...I think I'll go check on the airfares.    

 

25 comments:

  1. You are truly killing me Amy. AGAIN!

    Just about everything you described is on my list of fav things to eat.

    Prosciutto? Check

    Lemons? Check

    Al dente pasta? Check.

    The only thing I wasn't a fan of in Italy was the coffee. Too strong for me. Does that mean you'll unfriend me too? :(

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  2. You are truly killing me Amy. AGAIN!

    Just about everything you described is on my list of fav things to eat.

    Prosciutto? Check

    Lemons? Check

    Al dente pasta? Check.

    The only thing I wasn't a fan of in Italy was the coffee. Too strong for me. Does that mean you'll unfriend me too? :(

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  3. Hey Amy all of that food looks amazing and is making me drool. Italian food is my favorite and I love Italy.

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  4. Oh my gosh---my mouth is watering. I've always wanted to go to Italy and this is reason enough! The zucchini flowers look so interesting--I have to Google a few recipes. Thank you so much!

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  5. When my husband and daughter traveled to Italy, Switzerland and Germany a few years ago, they commented on how wonderful the food in all those places were. Flavors bursting off your taste buds and nothing of the likes here in the US. Oh, and they said the cheese here in the US can't compare to Switzerland and Italy. I think it's because we process ours so much we process the fresh taste right out of it. Great article!!

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  6. Wow. And Italian food was already my favorite :-)
    Amalia
    xo

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  7. Amy, provoked my taste buds :-) I love Italian flavors. I would add more to the list pasta with pesto.
    I greet warmly

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  8. Half way through your post I thought, "OMG, this is killing me!" and then laughed at the first comment - obviously I am not the only one. Great post, great photos and now great yearning to be eating in Italy!

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  9. This is the perfect post to pin and keep to refer back to for my next trip to Italy! We ate what was put before us through the tour, so we didn't know any better. Now, because of your post, I know way better! And yes, I remember all of the food I ate was delicious!

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  10. Oh my have you made me hungry! I prefer my pasta not drowned also my salad lightly dressed and my wine glass poured with a heavy hand!!! Fun post Amy.
    xoxo,
    Vera

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  11. What a gorgeous post...and oh, my waistline! I spent a summer in Denmark, food was awesome...and had strawberries and real cream just about everyday. Enjoying the local foods---avoiding Americanized food is the real experience. Why can they eat such great food without the weight gain...walking and small portions of meats, processed foods and like Oprah says, "bread at every meal." Thanks for the tour of Italy.

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  12. Yes, yes, and yes! I will have all of the above, please! I gained weight when I was Italy. Totally worth it.

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  13. I do remember the food being amazing when we were there! Looking at your post, I want to go back just to eat!! LOL

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  14. I got to visit Italy as a teenager, and I fell in love with spaghetti carbonara...I think I ordered it everywhere we went! My girls are getting to go this summer (with the same aunt who took me), and I can't wait to show them your list. It's perfect! Thanks so much!

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  16. Yes, I agree with everything on this list. And any fruit, fresh fish and sea food, so fresh it was probably swimming before it went into the kitchen. Zucchini blossoms are a fave and were a staple during the summer when I was a kid. Used to be sooooo cheap! Now they are a delicacy.

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  17. I'd love to go to Italy and enjoy all of these!

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  18. Wow ... just mouth-wateringly delicious ...

    All the best Jan

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  19. I loved this!
    I had no trouble providing proof of eating pizza on leaving Italy - one only had to look at me to know 'this woman has been eating pizza too often!'

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  20. Oh my goodness ... you are making me so hungry right now! Pinning and hoping to put to good use one day. :)

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  21. Oh my word! That foods looks so good! Thanks for joining Home Sweet Home!

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  22. Italy here I come! All so tempting!

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