Italian food is often known as one of the most popular and delicious cuisines in the world. It’s hard to find people who don’t appreciate a great bowl or pasta or a perfect piece of pizza. It might seem like you know everything there is to know about Italian food, but unless you’ve spent a lot of time in Italy, chances are good that you only know the American version of things. There are many differences between Italian and American diets, in the way that we eat, shop for meals, and even the way we think about food.
Americans are used to doing food shopping at giant grocery stores where they can buy basically anything they might need. Finding a large grocery store in Italy is really hard though. Italians do their food shopping at daily food markets that are filled with vendors selling meats, produce, cheese, and fresh pasta that all come straight from the producer. Because everything is so fresh, they don’t stock up on a ton of food at once, instead they head to the market on a fairly regular basis to buy what’s needed for meals.
Italian pasta is the most common meal in the daily routine of every Italian person. It is celebrated for its simplicity and the use of fresh and good quality ingredients. While American pasta may not match the diversity of Italian shapes, it offers a range of classic options, from spaghetti to macaroni. The variety reflects the regional touch.
The most surprising thing for every American is that in Italy they don’t have pre-made pasta but for every meal people actually cook.
The biggest difference between the two cuisines is about the famous dish spaghetti with meatballs. The first mistake that every American makes about spaghetti is breaking them. Italian spaghetti are supposed to be mixed with a really good quality tomato sauce and on the plate they come with three or four meatballs that make the dish unique for their flavor.
The most important thing to know about authentic Italian food is that they take it very seriously. Food is like a religion in Italy, and meals are treated as sacred moments. There is no such thing as grabbing dinner to go and eating it in front of the television. People in Italy don’t rush, they enjoy their meals and want to spend a good time at the restaurant or simply just at their dinner table with their family.
