skubikky
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Post by skubikky on Apr 30, 2013 8:38:40 GMT -5
I didn't like the pizzas I had in Italy. Few toppings, very thin crusts, and some ready odd topping choices (hard boiled eggs? One long string of prosciutto? Really?) I guess I'm too used to American pizza. It is actually a pretty common opinion. There are quite a few americans that I know of that don't like the food in italy. Many people go, expecting to get our americanized versions of italian dishes and when presented with authentic dishes, they don't like it. You can go to a place that caters more to tourists, and they will have more americanized dishes, like fettucini alfredo. And the cuisine really varies by region. Not that you can't get southern italian food in northern italy... you can. Just like you can get fried chicken in NY. but in general the cuisine varies just like it does here in the US. Not only does it vary by region but by family. Our family prepares dishes differently even among themselves. Each meal was great but different.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Apr 30, 2013 9:34:47 GMT -5
Isn't that true in America, too? I've rarely been to a friend's house and have their homemade food taste just like my homemade food. And regionally? What idiot told the Midwest that Enchiladas has a can of cream of chicken soup and a can of black olives? ![](http://images.proboards.com/new/angry.png)
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sarcasticgirl
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Post by sarcasticgirl on Apr 30, 2013 9:37:33 GMT -5
It is actually a pretty common opinion. There are quite a few americans that I know of that don't like the food in italy. Many people go, expecting to get our americanized versions of italian dishes and when presented with authentic dishes, they don't like it. You can go to a place that caters more to tourists, and they will have more americanized dishes, like fettucini alfredo. And the cuisine really varies by region. Not that you can't get southern italian food in northern italy... you can. Just like you can get fried chicken in NY. but in general the cuisine varies just like it does here in the US. Yes it is a very common opinion. I know a lot of Americans here that were complaining that the food didn't taste like Olive Garden. ![](http://images.proboards.com/new/shocked.gif) In Italy, fettucini alfredo doesn't actually exist. That is totally an Americanized dish. There are similar type dishes at places that cater to American tourist, but it isn't exactly the same. I prefer the real Italian food. I like the simplicity of it, the fact that they don't use a lot of salt in their cooking, and they cook based on what is in season. When I ate at Olive Garden in the states I would always swell up like a puffer fish because of all the sodium in the food. It is funny because they have Italianized versions of Amercian food here. Hamburgers, hot dogs, etc. you can actually find fettucini alfredo in italy, but like i mentioned it is at places that cater to tourists. Usually right in the vicinity of landmarks. I've seen it on menus and decided to move along to another restaurant for authentic food. Which, I agree is amazing in its simplicity. Fresh and wonderful and a exponentially better than the Olive Garden! Some of the best meals of my life were in Italy. I am certainly overdue to return!
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Apr 30, 2013 9:40:04 GMT -5
PB&J is exponentially better than Olive Garden.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Apr 30, 2013 9:43:35 GMT -5
I know a lot of Americans here that were complaining that the food didn't taste like Olive Garden
![](http://syonidv.hodginsmedia.com/vsmileys/rofl.gif)
And that's how you separate the tourists from the travelers. What idiot told the Midwest that Enchiladas has a can of cream of chicken soup and a can of black olives
No clue but I want to shoot whoever it is that introduced cream of chicken, cream of celery and cream of mushroom soup to this area of the country. Damn soups are in EVERYTHING! ![](http://images.proboards.com/new/angry.png)
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Rocky Mtn Saver
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Post by Rocky Mtn Saver on Apr 30, 2013 9:44:00 GMT -5
I like to eat authentic meals when I'm traveling, but it was just confusing to realize that my understanding about Italian food and what I was finding were so different! I mean, I expected some variation from our version, but I didn't expect to find that I'd been lied to my whole darn life about what "Italian food" was! The thing we completely fell in love with in Italy was the gelato. Can't find it quite like that here in the States, sadly. It was probably the best part of our days in Rome. ![](http://images.proboards.com/new/grin.png)
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2013 23:57:20 GMT -5
sarcasticgirl you seriously saw fettucine alfredo on menus? Where? I have honestly never seen it and I have been here a year. Of course I do not live in a tourist area, but there are a lot of Americans here. I have seen pasta with various cheese sauces, but nothing called fettucine alfredo.
thyme4change I have never had enchiladas with cream of chicken soup. I think I would run screaming from the restaurant.
Yes, food in America differs from region to region, from restaurant to restaurant...from family to family. I mentioned it about Italy because it just seems like for some reason that many Americans think all Italian food is the same and that it tastes like what you get from our American- Italian chain restaurants.
Now I want Pizza for breakfast.
Gelato-I love the gelato. My favorite so far is this place downtown called La Classica. They have a mint, rosemary, and lavender. It is amazing. I took some friends to get it the other day because they always tease me about eating potpourri and they agreed it was amazing.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2013 7:00:21 GMT -5
I loved the food when we were in Rome. Oh the risotto, and the gelato...
I don't eat gluten, and it was so easy to eat gfree in Italy. But, it did require me seeking out some off the path places... Maybe that helped.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on May 1, 2013 7:33:42 GMT -5
Yes, food in America differs from region to region, from restaurant to restaurant...from family to family. I mentioned it about Italy because it just seems like for some reason that many Americans think all Italian food is the same and that it tastes like what you get from our American- Italian chain restaurants.
I think we have well established that American's are idiots.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on May 1, 2013 10:00:43 GMT -5
(the irony that I made Americans possessive... ![](http://syonidv.hodginsmedia.com/vsmileys/shucks2.png) )
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sarcasticgirl
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Post by sarcasticgirl on May 1, 2013 16:02:17 GMT -5
sarcasticgirl you seriously saw fettucine alfredo on menus? Where? I have honestly never seen it and I have been here a year. Of course I do not live in a tourist area, but there are a lot of Americans here. I have seen pasta with various cheese sauces, but nothing called fettucine alfredo.
Yup. In a ristorante in Piazza Navona and at a place across the street from the colloseum - both in Rome obviously. and in a place right on the grand canal in venice. I even have a photo of it on a menu somewhere. those are the only three i can remember off the top of my head. after a week or so there, i stopped even attempting to find food anywhere in the vicinity of anything vaguely interesting to tourists. For travelers, places right around a big tourist attraction are normally 1. highly priced and 2. cater to tourists. I personally love to find the whole in the wall places where nearly no one speaks english and there's hardly even a sign. those places are the best! ![](http://syonidv.hodginsmedia.com/vsmileys/drool.gif)
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sarcasticgirl
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Post by sarcasticgirl on May 1, 2013 16:03:56 GMT -5
PB&J is exponentially better than Olive Garden. true... and i don't even like J. however. I will say- i do enjoy the breadsticks at the olive garden. though there is nothing remotely italian about them.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2013 23:59:59 GMT -5
Nothing about Olive Garden is authentic. Well...they have pasta and wine. ![](http://images.proboards.com/new/smiley.png)
I do like their soup/salad/breadsticks, but it does make me swell up. That is the only thing I would eat there.
sarcasticgirl I am a lot like you. I avoid the places that my fellow Americans recommend because it usually means the food isn't fresh or authentic. Some of my friends are like me and I will take their recommendations, but....most I don't. When we go to touristy places we usually wander away from the main attraction to a hole in the wall place. When we went to Portofino we had an amazing meal for a fraction of what the rest of our tour group paid. It was still pricey, but not nearly as much as what others paid.
Our favorite place is this little family owned trattoria a block from our house. The food is amazing and we have only seen 1 American there one time.
Disclaimer: I am not against Americans. I just don't like eating at places that cater to them or tourist. IMHO when they start doing that the food quality goes down.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on May 2, 2013 13:58:50 GMT -5
Disclaimer: I am not against Americans. I just don't like eating at places that cater to them or tourist. IMHO when they start doing that the food quality goes down.
I don't even trust Americans to pick good American food in America. Why the heck would they be good at identifying the best food anywhere else in the world?! Seriously, most people are so loaded up with salt, sugar and fake ingredients, and complaining that they don't "like vegetables" in some whiny voice. They wouldn't know a quality meal if it was served on a silver platter.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2013 14:25:46 GMT -5
I just went to the little Trattoria by my house fo date night with Goose...and I ate so much I nearly split my spanx. It is owned by this adorable family. When we first moved here, it is the place I that I noticed my diamond missing out of my engagement ring in my wedding set. The entire staff stopped what they were doing and looked for my diamond. They even walked up and down the street looking for it, the daughter followed the path I walked to the trattoria hoping to find it. We did not find it, but the mamma prayed for my lost diamond. I thought it was sweet. When I finally got it fixed and we went back, the mamma came out of the kitchen to look at my ring and hug me.
Anyway, places like this is why I love Italy. The food was absolutely amazing, fresh, and the owners are just wonderful to us.
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