Eating Italian
Learn Italian words: il menù in italiano!
Learn Italian words (and grammar): la colazione in Italia!
6 tips for discovering Rome without acting like a tourist
You might be in Rome for tourism but, as a general rule, being seen by locals as a tourist is something best avoided. That’s why we prepared this list of suggestions that will be helpful if you’re trying to enjoy Rome without being considered a tourist!
Learn Italian Words: al mercato – la frutta e la verdura
Infografica: parole in cucina!
Italian food haikus
This one is definitely a new one. When the idea was first suggested to me, I laughed my butt off until I realized that my editor was serious. He wanted me to write what? You read the title right folks; these are haikus about Italian food. I apologize to any of my readers who are poetry lovers, because I cannot claim to be even remotely good at poetry. My strength lies in storytelling, not poetry. But with that said, read on at your own risk. Please blame my editor for whatever damage these poems may do to your mind.
Olive taggiasche
Olives are a great snack food that I love getting from the fresh market. In Italy they come in these huge barrels and you just fish them out. They are extremely healthy for you. The oil they produce is a staple of Italian cooking, and is present in every Italian kitchen in large quantities. So here is a little poem for our ever-present friend, the olive!
“A great midday snack
Nature’s chewy vitamin
But beware the pit!”
Penne all’arrabbiata
Next up is my personal favorite, penne all’arrabbiata. This dish is akin to the ramen noodles of the Italian culture. Every college student knows how to make it and its relatively simple to make. I personally love this dish, and for those of you who don’t know what it is, its simply tomato sauce but with hot pepper flakes.
“Oh my god, my mouth!
I think I just ate the sun!
Waiter? Please bring more!”
Pizza Margherita
The next is Pizza Margherita. Now this is what I assume the Italian version of chicken nuggets are in America. If you have absolutely no idea what to get, or you are an extremely picky eater, this pizza is always a safe choice. Its pretty hard to screw up and its almost always amazing. This was the only thing I ate when I first came to Italy.
“It makes mouths water,
Eatable display of the flag,
a chefs masterpiece!”
Tiramisù
The last poem is about one of the most classic Italian desserts there is: Tiramisù. I love this dish, and though I have yet to perfect it in my own kitchen, I am not about to give up. In this great dish, the Italians have combined coffee, pastry, chocolate, and cream into one great mix of perfection. I applaud whoever came up with this dish.
“A sweet aroma,
And a delicate coffee taste.
Creamy perfection!”
Ok, now you don’t really have to comment the poems themselves, do you? Just post your thoughts on these fantastic dishes in the comment section! 😉
