In Canada I think everyone has it in his or her head on what Italian food is like. Well let me tell you that you are most likely wrong. The food here is nothing like the American version that is served to us in Canada or the U.S.. You might be surprised to know that there is no such thing as fettuccine alfredo. Or the fact that salads comes after your meal. Food in Italy is simple its more about what the ingredients taste like and bringing that out in a dish. Like if you order mushroom pasta expect to get pasta with mushrooms and a rich olive oil. Most dishes here are completely fresh and the menus are always changing depending on the season and what the farmers had to offer that day. Like if there was a lot of rain then mushrooms will be featured in almost every dish.
One would think that from the amount of carbohydrates that one eats when being in Italy that you would gain tons of weight but you don’t. The reason I believe is because carbohydrates and the easiest calorie to burn off. Living in a hill town you burn calories by the minute.
People here appreciate the actually act of eating here so much more then the average person in Canada or the U.S.. Food is not just something you shove in your mouth and move on with your day, food is an art. What wine should you eat with it? How long should you take to eat it? Who are you going to be eating with? There are lots of factors that go into a meal in Italy.
A typical meal would stat with going to the little local shops that sell the daily produce. You would go to the farmers store to get your vegetables and then to the dairy store to buy some cheese or creams or milk and then to the butcher or the bakery for fresh bread. It amazing the amount of care that goes into preparing a meal in Italy.
Eating out in Volterra is an adventure. It is like eating in someone’s living room full of chairs and tables. They are tiny spaces that have been converted from medieval dwellings to common restaurants. Italians know that people like to enjoy the company they are with so they take your drink and meal order and do not bother you until things are ready. This is great and all but you also have to find the waiter when it is time to get the check. Waiters will not come and just hand you the check they think it is rude. So if you go out in Italy expect to be treated nicely but remember you have to request the check people are ignoring you they are just trying to let you enjoy your meal and company.