My husband is Italian, he moved here when he was 26, we met soon after. I never really appreciated food they way Italians do. He can take the simplest of ingredients and, without a recipe, turn it into something magical. In fact our children are most displeased when I cook dinner. We have been back to Italy a couple of times. What absolutely delightful experiences they were. I soon learnt why he complained so much about food here. Never take an Italian to an Italian restaurant run by non Italians!!
I wish we had the same love of fresh and beautiful food. Unfortunately I think our duopoly of supermarkets has put an end to that. In Italy there are still so many artisan butchers, bakers, little grocers that are well supported. It is such a shame we prefer cheap and easy over seasonal produce. Also, how good are Autogrills?! Beats out servos hands down!
I can still taste the oranges from Sicily! They were remarkable - like tasting the sun.
There are pockets of good food here as well - like our 3rd generation grocer in Seddon who has been buying pears from the same guy for 20 years, or the Vic market where you can learn where your bacon or cheese is grown and made.......and chat to the Iranian lady who makes Turkish Boreks. It's the supermarkets who sell food that tastes like nothing - it's best not to shop in supermarkets for too long or one might surely forget what good food tastes like!
An Italian work colleague went shopping in Eataly in London on Tuesday. Paid £5 for a ‘Bull’s Heart’ tomato from Italy, served it to me with torn strips of Mozzarella di Bufala and a dash of olive oil, salt and pepper. My most satisfying lunch of the week.
Australia does grow great produce, but you have to get out of the big supermarkets. Their quality criteria have nothing to do with flavour. But, you will pay for it - this is where Italy and Spain are truly remarkable. Although as we know Iberico is now deservedly pricey
Food and travel go together don't they. There is nothing nicer than visiting people in their home and eating their normal food. It doesn't have to be a national or signature dish either, it's the atmosphere and the environment. I love Japanese food and a typical way of cooking your own food items on a hot plate, taking a leisurely time in someone's home, enjoying the company as much as the food.
I know what your Italian acquaintance meant too, it is rare to find food of the same quality outside of the country it comes from. Good imitations, sure, but it's a combination of so many things, as you said, from the garden to the plate.
Thank you - your writing has put words to my feelings about food.
Dad was a master gardener - out of necessity in his youth because of the impact of WWII - and as an adult for all kinds of reasons. I grow food and the taste is delicious - the sharing with friends and family gives me joy like no other.
Dear Ryan, now you know what real mozzarella tastes like, please make sure you try the Burraduc Buffalo Dairy mozzarella when you return to Oz. Burraduc run a compassionate dairy model and produce a farmhouse product that is easily as good as anything you'd get in Italy. In fact, I'd go so far as saying that it's superior to a lot of what's produced in Italy because of the Burraduc farming model which, for me, affects how I feel about the eating experience. It's certainly the best mozzarella in Australia.
yeah know the thoughts and emotions of your writing only too well. we need to put some of our "sports passion" into the food trolly....You will be coming back to very expensive living, especially food items...cost of living through the roof ..growing your own oroduce will ease your pain and grow your passion for food. Cook and share with friends, family and like minded souls, holiday regularly in Spain and Italy to ignite your food passions, that will carry you back downunder to start another chapter of your beloved Italian cook book..safe travels..🍄
My husband is Italian, he moved here when he was 26, we met soon after. I never really appreciated food they way Italians do. He can take the simplest of ingredients and, without a recipe, turn it into something magical. In fact our children are most displeased when I cook dinner. We have been back to Italy a couple of times. What absolutely delightful experiences they were. I soon learnt why he complained so much about food here. Never take an Italian to an Italian restaurant run by non Italians!!
I wish we had the same love of fresh and beautiful food. Unfortunately I think our duopoly of supermarkets has put an end to that. In Italy there are still so many artisan butchers, bakers, little grocers that are well supported. It is such a shame we prefer cheap and easy over seasonal produce. Also, how good are Autogrills?! Beats out servos hands down!
Okay, you’ve convinced me to buy the nice Italian canned tomatoes for making my pasta sauce.
I can still taste the oranges from Sicily! They were remarkable - like tasting the sun.
There are pockets of good food here as well - like our 3rd generation grocer in Seddon who has been buying pears from the same guy for 20 years, or the Vic market where you can learn where your bacon or cheese is grown and made.......and chat to the Iranian lady who makes Turkish Boreks. It's the supermarkets who sell food that tastes like nothing - it's best not to shop in supermarkets for too long or one might surely forget what good food tastes like!
An Italian work colleague went shopping in Eataly in London on Tuesday. Paid £5 for a ‘Bull’s Heart’ tomato from Italy, served it to me with torn strips of Mozzarella di Bufala and a dash of olive oil, salt and pepper. My most satisfying lunch of the week.
Australia does grow great produce, but you have to get out of the big supermarkets. Their quality criteria have nothing to do with flavour. But, you will pay for it - this is where Italy and Spain are truly remarkable. Although as we know Iberico is now deservedly pricey
Food and travel go together don't they. There is nothing nicer than visiting people in their home and eating their normal food. It doesn't have to be a national or signature dish either, it's the atmosphere and the environment. I love Japanese food and a typical way of cooking your own food items on a hot plate, taking a leisurely time in someone's home, enjoying the company as much as the food.
I know what your Italian acquaintance meant too, it is rare to find food of the same quality outside of the country it comes from. Good imitations, sure, but it's a combination of so many things, as you said, from the garden to the plate.
Thank you - your writing has put words to my feelings about food.
Dad was a master gardener - out of necessity in his youth because of the impact of WWII - and as an adult for all kinds of reasons. I grow food and the taste is delicious - the sharing with friends and family gives me joy like no other.
Delicious!
Dear Ryan, now you know what real mozzarella tastes like, please make sure you try the Burraduc Buffalo Dairy mozzarella when you return to Oz. Burraduc run a compassionate dairy model and produce a farmhouse product that is easily as good as anything you'd get in Italy. In fact, I'd go so far as saying that it's superior to a lot of what's produced in Italy because of the Burraduc farming model which, for me, affects how I feel about the eating experience. It's certainly the best mozzarella in Australia.
yeah know the thoughts and emotions of your writing only too well. we need to put some of our "sports passion" into the food trolly....You will be coming back to very expensive living, especially food items...cost of living through the roof ..growing your own oroduce will ease your pain and grow your passion for food. Cook and share with friends, family and like minded souls, holiday regularly in Spain and Italy to ignite your food passions, that will carry you back downunder to start another chapter of your beloved Italian cook book..safe travels..🍄