Eating in Italy is bound to be a fully pleasurable experience as long as you do not expect to find dishes comparable to the ones you would get at an Italian restaurant somewhere else outside the country.
Despite the exotic names of various dishes, Italian cuisine is really simple. “Elaborated/complicated” dishes are few and far between. The strength of italian cuisine is in its simplicity and in the use of fresh ingredients, whether vegetables, tomatoes, cheeses, herbs or bread....
There are many, many books with Italian recipes. They may all help you prepare great meals. But, the one that we believe most accurately reflects Italian lifestyle and meals is David Rocco’s Dolce Vita. Before heading to Italy, if you have the opportunity to do so, have a look at the book so to know what to expect. Recently we have discovered on the Web a great blog on italian food Notes From a Culinary Wasteland that we recommend as one of the most genuine accounts on the Internet of food/life in Italy. The blog is written by Michael Tucker, a well known actor (many remember him and his wife playing two lawyers on the TV series "LA Law") and writer. Michael, with his wife actress Jill Eikenberry, divides his time between New York and Italy, where they have a house in Umbria. Michael is also a writer and has written three books, all of which have food and drink prominently involved. Check out our bookstore at Amazon.com
About restaurants, trattorie, osterie and pizzerie
In Italy, there are many establishments where you can have a good meal. In the past, a clear distinction could be made between restaurants, trattorie and osterie, not so much in food quality, rather in ambience and service. However, now the distinction tends to be blurred. In general:
- Restaurants tend to be more expensive, particularly those that cater to tourists, usually near popular sites. These restaurant tend to have a white linen cloth on tables and more formally dressed waiters. If a restaurant is what you are looking for, look for one off the beaten track. These restaurants tend to be smaller and frequented by the locals as well.
- A "trattoria" is a restaurant-like establishment where one can have just as good of a meal (if not better), at a significantly lower cost. Frequently they are family run, the menu selection may be smaller (but NOT necessarily so) and they are commonly used by locals. They tend to be inconspicuous to tourists as their entrance may not be highly marked, nor will there be a waiter standing on the curb inviting people in.
- An "Osteria" is an establishment further "down" in the scale of price, but, again, not necessarily so in quality. Family run, they cater to locals. Particularly in large cities (Rome, Florence, Milan, etc.), look for a trattoria. While the waiters may not speak english, you may have a more "italian experience" with a home made meal at a relatively low cost.
- A "pizzeria" specializes in ... making pizzas! However, a name is just a name. There are many premises that are called "Ristorante-Pizzeria". That indicates they can make pizza, but also have a more regular menu.
A Primer on Italian meals