Is The Food Really THAT Different In Italy?
Can you eat bread and pasta without consequence?
I’ve always heard people say they can eat everything in Italy without any of the symptoms bread, pasta, and gluten give them in the US. I’m not a carnivore because I don’t like other foods. I love food! It’s just that many things give me joint pain, a puffy face, and I simply feel better when I stick to animal foods. So how does a carnivore who loves food approach food in Italy? I completely went for it. You live once eh?
Last week I celebrated my 50th birthday with a friend I’ve had since I was 13. Her birthday was on the 3rd and mine on the 9th. Growing up we always celebrated our birthdays together. This year felt like we should do something big and we’ve always had a thing for Italy.
Our first 3 days we spent sightseeing and eating our way through Rome
I wanted to lust after the architecture in Italy and it definitely did not disappoint. Walking around (Roaming as we called it) we’d come across a beautiful statue, building, or church that was open and free to walk through.
Walking through the Vatican museums I actually began to tear up. Everything was incredibly beautiful. Today we have all of this technology but cost often dictates what we produce. We throw up bland rectangular buildings without any artistic inspiration. It’s sad that we’ve lost the fun in life. Can you imagine how much fun it would be to create something this beautiful? How excited you’d be about your work?
Back then they didn’t have the tools we have today but when they made something they put themselves into their work. Looking at all of these beautiful places and art you can really feel how someone put their self completely into a creation. In 2024 I felt touched by a complete stranger when I’d marvel at their creation.
Imagine leaving a lasting mark on the world with something you’ve created that can move a person to tears well into the future. The writer in me hopes someday to create something that profound.
Even The Wine Is Better In Italy
For years I’ve avoided red wine. Since the grapes and stems are left behind to produce red wine it typically has a higher histamine content than white wine. Even then I’ve noted that sulfites added to wine make me feel like rubbish before I've finished the first glass.
My friend also said she doesn’t drink wine because of the way it makes her feel. I get it. When you’re working on a headache and you haven’t finished the first glass it’s a great motivator to stay away from wine.
But when in Rome doing as the Romans do we split a 1/2 bottle of wine. Surprisingly we didn’t feel a headache coming on. Later that night at dinner we split a full bottle and once again we both felt perfectly ok. The next morning it didn’t feel like we’d had any alcohol at all.
This translated into each of us drinking a bottle of Italian wine a day! LOL!
Whenever I typically drink I make sure I hydrate with plenty of water, electrolytes, and vitamin C to help minimize any hangover feelings the next morning.
In Italy I learned that I could just go to bed without consequence the next day.
Discovering this magic wine I promptly went to the store when I got home and picked up a bottle. Look for a blue and white band around the neck of the bottle. ;)
The First Thing I Ate In Italy
Eating on a budget is pretty simple in Italy. The restaurants have their menu posted outside so you can see if you want to go in. A pasta dish like this one is roughly $12 in Rome but closer to $19 in Venice. Everything is more expensive in Venice which makes sense given it’s an Island.
I’ve made pasta carbonara at home in the past. I ordered it because the sauce is made with egg yolk so I knew I’d at least get some good nutrients.
If you’re ever making a cheese sauce but low on cheese, an egg yolk will help bulk up your sauce. IMHO it’s great for kids because you can add the nutrients in an egg yolk to whatever cheesy creation you’re making.
I spent the week eating pasta essentially everyday. I didn’t wake up with joint pain and surprisingly this pasta filled me up.
Here in the states a plate of pasta would last an hour and I’d feel hungry again. That wasn’t the case there.
My Favorite Morning Pastry
Life feels like it will never be the same because I don’t know where I’m going to find a croissant like this filled with pastry cream.
Pastries in Rome weren’t over the top American sweet. They were just sweet enough. I really don’t know why we put so much sugar in things here.
When we went to Florence things were slightly sweeter and when we reached Venice I encountered a few things that were over the top sweet.
On our flight to Rome we sat next to a gentleman who recommended this concoction and he was spot on with this recommendation.
I’m clearly going to have to import flour from Rome and learn how to make croissants and pastry cream. I call it pastry cream but if you’ve ever watched the Great British Baking Show you know there are many variations of cream fillings: bavoir, Chantilly, crème anglaise, Bavarian cream, mousseline, etc. I genuinely don’t know which kind of pastry cream it was I can only say it was delectable and not too sweet.
They had croissants, breads, and cereal on the continental breakfasts at our hotels in Florence and Venice, but they also had charcuterie and eggs.
The prosciutto in Italy is far better than anything I’ve bought in the US. I don’t know about you but prosciutto here can taste a bit gamey. In Italy the prosciutto was smoky with a hint of salt. I seriously couldn’t get enough of it.
In Venice we stopped for a Cicchetti (the venetian word for afternoon snack) and a Spritz. The prosciutto with melon was amazing! Our tour guide for our Murano and Burano tours recommended a Spritz. It’s a local drink you’re evidently supposed to have in Venice.
We tried the Spritz. My friend ordered the sweeter version and I went with the one that was middle of the road. Hers was too sweet for me but overall neither of us liked our Spritz. To be fair we also don’t know how authentic the restaurant was where we stopped.
Italian Ingredients Aren’t The Same
Even a simple tomato, basil, mozzarella caprese salad isn’t the same. Mozzarella in Italy doesn’t have the aftertaste it has in the US. It’s just creamy and fabulous.
My son asked me to recreate some of the dishes I had while in Italy but I immediately discovered we don’t have those ingredients here. I can buy tomatoes here but they’re not the same. The olives weren’t briny and vinegary instead they were just savory and good, and HUGE.
Prosciutto was fabulous, the pasta was real, nothing gave me a headache, joint pain, or bloating…
My conclusion is that we’re literally being poisoned in America.
Eating Beef In Italy
Walking through the touristy areas beef wasn’t that easy to come by. Most of the menus in Rome, Florence, and Venice were pasta and pizza. Occasionally you’d see a steak for roughly 30-40 euros which would have gotten expensive quickly.
I wanted a burger or something at least with ground beef but even the lasagna and pasta bolognese didn’t have much meat. Given the smart cars and scooters I can’t help but wonder if their lack of beef is due to some environmental concern.
However, our last night in Rome we stayed closer to the airport. We found this restaurant where they had a burger and french fries on the menu along with various steak dinners. This one was only 20 euros.
Honestly, I’d spend a few more euros each time I ate to have beef instead of pasta. I’m glad I ate all the pasta and tried pizza and bread in Italy but I genuinely have a taste for beef most of the time.
My Best Dining Experience In Italy
Besides all the pasta and wine I also made a point to order Tiramisu frequently.
THIS is how Tiramisu should always be served.
When it’s premade and left to sit before serving the coffee flavor gets lost. The coffee wasn’t lost in the flavor profile of this version.
We randomly stopped for lunch in Venice. I don’t know the name of this place but it’s likely in or near the San Marco portion of the island.
If you know the name or know of a place that makes Tiramisu table side I’d love to know. Tell me below.
This is so interesting! I'm really glad to read your first hand report on it. It's wild that our food is so bad! 😕