Ciao, Italia: Eating in Italy

by Kristi Rolf

I’ve often written articles for the Brackety-Ack while sipping a latte from Rooney’s Brews or Mill Mountain in Salem. Today, I’m writing after having a classic Italian breakfast of a cappuccino and a cornetto. For less than $3, I can start my day with delicious espresso and a flaky pastry similar to a croissant. This meal has quickly become my favorite Italian treat but it has tough competition in a country famous for its cuisine. This semester, I’m happy as a clam living on a diet of pasta, wine, pizza and espresso.

Pasta has always been one of my favorite foods. The only thing that could improve pasta a la carte night in Commons would be the addition of a wine menu. So, it’s no surprise that pasta is my go-to order in the country that invented it. A dish I keep returning to is the classic cacio e pepe, pasta in a simple creamy sauce made with black pepper and pecorino cheese. I don’t have a sophisticated culinary vocabulary to adequately describe this spectacular food, but my first thought when I tasted authentic Italian pasta for the first time was “this plate just changed my life.” Somehow despite this dramatic reaction, every pasta dish I’ve eaten since then has been better than the last.

I usually order wine with my pasta. But another famous Italian drink that I am consuming religiously is espresso. Like in most of Europe, Italian coffee-culture is very different from that of the U.S. You won’t find fancy syrups or lattes the size of your head here. Italians like their daily espresso simple and strong. On a weekday morning, popular bars will be bustling with patrons ordering a coffee at the bar and standing there just long enough to drain the cup during a quick conversation before heading off to work. This is called drinking al banco and is the equivalent of ordering a coffee to-go. If you have more time to linger, you can sit at a table to sip slowly.

   I’ve talked about two stereotypical examples of Italian food, but they are famous for a reason, they are delicious! I was given two pieces of advice about eating out in Italy that I’ve put into practice while in Perugia. Always order the house wine with your meal, it is affordable and uniquely delicious. When getting coffee, don’t order a cappuccino after 11am! Italian tradition dictates that milky coffee is only for the morning so stick to straight espresso or perhaps a macchiato in the afternoon. Here’s to many more cappuccinos and glasses of wine before the semester is up!