Food culture in Italy drastically differs from the United States. One of my first “wow” or “aha” moments happened during my first week when I bought a package of cherry tomatoes from the grocery store without thinking much of it. They were the best tomatoes I had ever tasted. I like tomatoes in general, but I could eat this package like candy. Italy puts a large emphasis on quality and clean ingredients. All the produce sold in supermarkets or fruit stands is grown in Italy. During my time in Florence, I enjoyed some of the best fruits and vegetables I had ever eaten in my life. There was a local fruit stand on the corner by my apartment where I would purchase the majority of my produce. Italians do not use preservatives in their food. Although this makes food spoil faster, the freshness of ingredients is unmatched.

Italians favor simplicity and quality of ingredients in their meals. Foods like pasta, pizza, and gelato are considered healthy in Italy due to clean ingredients and a limited amount of them. In the United States, many refer to these as “junk foods.” Similarly, Americans tend to fear oil or consider using an excess amount of oil in cooking to be unhealthy. In Italy, the people put olive oil on everything. There is an absence of processed food and the “diet culture” prevalent in the United States. During my time abroad, I have become a part in the food culture by trying authentic recipes at restaurants and learning to cook on my own with local ingredients. Unlike in the United States, it remains inexpensive to eat a quality diet with fresh meats, fruits, and vegetables. The grocery stores are much smaller and are within walking distance from my apartment. Because foods tend to spoil faster, Italians buy ingredients for each meal the same day they cook.

Breakfast in Italy is light and sweet, such a croissant or pastry with a side of coffee. Italians also eat dinner later in the evening than Americans. A typical dinner time is between 8pm and 9pm, which I learned to enjoy. People here favor a slow dinner with family-oriented values. If you go out to a restaurant to eat, it may take a few hours. The waiters do not rush you to turn over the table like in the United States. You could stay at the table for however long you wish since the waiter will not bring out the check until you ask for it. The traditional Italian meal features an antipasto or appetizer, primo or first course, secondo or second course, contorno or side dish, and finally dolce or dessert. A primo usually includes a pasta or rice while the secondo is typically some kind of meat. The portions are smaller than in the United States, where restaurants give you mounds of pasta. It is also interesting how different areas maintain different culinary traditions and are known for different recipes. Because Florence lies in the Tuscany region, I became extremely equated with Tuscan foods. While traveling to different parts of the country, I had the opportunity to try diverse regional cuisines. No matter where one travels, Italians maintain deep culinary traditions throughout the country where families pass down recipes to future generations.

In my opinion, food can be a magnifying glass into cultures, backgrounds, and values. Through cuisine, Italians emphasize their importance of family values, simplicity, and quality of ingredients. It was a truly interesting experience to learn about Italy through authentic meals and local foods.