Italian Food

The food in Italy has all been really good. We have been amazed at the difference in what and how they eat here in Italy. Let me describe dinner. The table is set with a pasta bowl on top of a plate. Dinner begins with primo, which is the first course. Primo usually consists of some type of pasta and bread. After you finish the bowls are collected and your hosts are usually getting the secundo (second course) ready. This is when you have your meat, salad or vegetable. During this meal no one leaves the table and you visit and talk to the family. After the secundo the plates are collected and dessert is served. Several times dessert has consisted of a dough with a cream topping with fresh fruit on top. The pasta is different too. First of all the noodles are a bit different and they are served with the sauce mixed in, overloaded, but just enough. The sauce is made with fresh ingredients, and is very flavorful. We have rarely reached for the salt and pepper while we have been here.