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melbalalala
Little Lady
Member since 5/07 5014 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Favorite foods in Italy??
Heading to Italy in a few weeks and already crash dieting (don't tell the girls on the diet&fitness board!) to make room for all of the goodies over there.
What are your favorite foods that you MUST get when you are in Italy?
Dinners, sweets, snacks, baked goods, etc. etc.
Not looking for specific restaurants, just talk to me about food in general 
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Posted 8/13/09 9:23 AM  |
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Long Island Weddings
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Re: Favorite foods in Italy??
Well, for one thing definitely gelato. Where in Italy will you be? Different regions have certain dishes considered a specialty of that region. For instance, when we were in Milano we had lots of rissotto. Rome is known for its pasta with romano cheese and fresh black pepper, a simple dish that is very good. I also had the best arrabiatta (sp?) sauce in a tiny restaurant in Trestevere. I also had the best pesto of my life in Rome! Definitely have a caprese salad - you've never tasted tomatoes the way they are in Italy. Also, be sure to have Limoncello while you're there. It's all good there!
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| Posted 8/13/09 10:26 AM |
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melbalalala
Little Lady
Member since 5/07 5014 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Re: Favorite foods in Italy??
Posted by Squiggy
Well, for one thing definitely gelato. Where in Italy will you be? Different regions have certain dishes considered a specialty of that region. For instance, when we were in Milano we had lots of rissotto. Rome is known for its pasta with romano cheese and fresh black pepper, a simple dish that is very good. I also had the best arrabiatta (sp?) sauce in a tiny restaurant in Trestevere. I also had the best pesto of my life in Rome! Definitely have a caprese salad - you've never tasted tomatoes the way they are in Italy. Also, be sure to have Limoncello while you're there. It's all good there!
We are going to Rome and Florence.
I've been dying to try Limoncello... do they just drink it on the rocks?
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| Posted 8/13/09 11:20 AM |
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Re: Favorite foods in Italy??
It is usually served just chilled. There is also a cream version, but I think the regular is much better. Be sure to bring some back with you! You can get it here in the States but for some reason it is not as good as what we had in Italy. In Florence you must have the Florentine steak! Yum! Just be aware the waiters will bug out if you order your steak cooked more well done - they will tell you that is not the way it is supposed to be - LOL! They will try to insist it can't be done. Alas, in most places its true!
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| Posted 8/13/09 11:56 AM |
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DMT
LIF Adult
Member since 6/05 2277 total posts
Name:
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Re: Favorite foods in Italy??
Totally agree with Lemoncello.
the Caprese salad with tomota and fresh Buffalo motz, so good!
Gelato of course
and the "black pasta" which is died from squid ink
Enjoy!!!!
oh and the coffee!!! I hated it at first but by the 2nd day I was in love with it :)
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| Posted 8/13/09 12:29 PM |
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Re: Favorite foods in Italy??
Posted by DMT
Totally agree with Lemoncello.
the Caprese salad with tomota and fresh Buffalo motz, so good!
Gelato of course
and the "black pasta" which is died from squid ink
Enjoy!!!!
oh and the coffee!!! I hated it at first but by the 2nd day I was in love with it :)
Yes! The coffee - I still remember the divine smell of the coffee! One of our favorite things to do was wander down to the local gelateria in the morning for coffee and pastries! One of the best things I had in the morning was a warm whole wheat croissant filled with honey - O M G!
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| Posted 8/13/09 12:45 PM |
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mrsdukes
LIF Adult
Member since 1/09 943 total posts
Name:
Liz
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Re: Favorite foods in Italy??
As others have said, you definitely need to have gelato. It was so delicious!! We had it for lunch almost every day. We also had bruschetta alot and it was interesting to see all the different ways it was made at different restaurants. Also, you have to have wine - especially chianti - so good! Another favorite was boccatini amatriciana - delicious and a bit spicy sauce. Really enjoyed all the food, and didn't gain any weight because we walked so much. Enjoy!
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| Posted 8/13/09 5:25 PM |
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strongisland
All you need is love
Member since 8/07 2474 total posts
Name:
T
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Re: Favorite foods in Italy??
limoncello, bellini, and try different italian wines
gelato is a must and if u can get it in a crepe with nutella---the best!! there is a square in florence that has a bunch of restaurants with places to sit outside...that was where i got my crepe....they had a lot of vendors in this square....a lot of them painted with their fingernails which was pretty cool...we bought a painted glass piece....i wish i could remember the name of this particular area..... i will try to look through my stuff to give you a location....i want to say it was near the duomo (not the duomo's square..like down the street....)
eat cannolis, cassatta cake, and tiramisu
also wanted to add...they always ask u if u want aqua frizzante (like seltzer water)..."with gas or no gas"
Message edited 8/13/2009 8:38:44 PM.
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| Posted 8/13/09 8:36 PM |
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JenBenMen
party of five
Member since 9/06 11343 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: Favorite foods in Italy??
While you are in Florence you HAVE to go to a great place we LOVED for lunch called
Cantinetta del Verrazzano
I still dream of the foccacia there
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| Posted 8/13/09 9:01 PM |
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DMT
LIF Adult
Member since 6/05 2277 total posts
Name:
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Re: Favorite foods in Italy??
Posted by Squiggy
Posted by DMT
Totally agree with Lemoncello.
the Caprese salad with tomota and fresh Buffalo motz, so good!
Gelato of course
and the "black pasta" which is died from squid ink
Enjoy!!!!
oh and the coffee!!! I hated it at first but by the 2nd day I was in love with it :)
Yes! The coffee - I still remember the divine smell of the coffee! One of our favorite things to do was wander down to the local gelateria in the morning for coffee and pastries! One of the best things I had in the morning was a warm whole wheat croissant filled with honey - O M G!
I just want to go back now LOL
The coffee ruined me when I came back here. I use to have one cup a day, but when I got back from Italy I was up to 3 cups a day for the same result. I had to wean myself off like it was liquid crack  I then went to 2 cups a day and now I am back to my one cup a day, but it took me 2 months LOL
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| Posted 8/13/09 9:16 PM |
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Eireann
Two ladies and a gentleman!
Member since 5/05 12165 total posts
Name:
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Re: Favorite foods in Italy??
Oooohh...fried zucchini flowers. I'd never had them before (or since) that trip and mmmmmmmmmm!
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| Posted 8/13/09 11:10 PM |
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Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)
Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
Name:
remember, when Gulliver traveled....
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Re: Favorite foods in Italy??
there are a few things I cannot NOT have while I am over there. they are
the ubiquitous gelato (stracciatella, nocella, ciocolato, bacio are my favs)
risotto
cappucino
nutella on toast
cured meat (prosciutto, speck, salami)
CHEESE!!!
tagliatelle or pappardelle with mushrooms
quattro stagione pizza
if I am coastal, I always order more seafood (fritto misto is heaven). I am not sure I would bother that much in Rome or Florence.
I HAVE had bad food in Rome, so be warned.
but really, stick to the fresh stuff. you can't beat the produce...simple salads, simply dressed etc.
HAVE A GREAT TIME!! 
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| Posted 8/14/09 2:04 PM |
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Re: Favorite foods in Italy??
tagliatelle or pappardelle with mushrooms
with the brown butter???? MMM-MMM-MMM!!! One the THE best pasta dishes we had in Bellaggio  .
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| Posted 8/14/09 3:27 PM |
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donegal419
St. Gerard, pray for us.
Member since 7/07 7650 total posts
Name:
K
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Re: Favorite foods in Italy??
focaccia, focaccia, focaccia! it is sooo godo there. you will never eat what they call focaccia here because it's dog crap compared to the focaccia over there. LOVE it!
gelato... must get the hazelnut flavor.
pasta of course....
pizza... it's different from our pizza, but DELISH!
also, prosciutto--- it is to DIE for... nothing is better and they will not cook it over there... that ruins it. also, if you like pork, salami, copa, etc. is amazing and nothing like the crap they try to pass as salami over here.
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| Posted 8/14/09 3:38 PM |
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JP826
=)
Member since 9/06 10903 total posts
Name:
Me!! All about ME!
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Re: Favorite foods in Italy??
Panelle
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| Posted 8/14/09 4:10 PM |
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JP826
=)
Member since 9/06 10903 total posts
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Me!! All about ME!
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Re: Favorite foods in Italy??
Posted by Ophelia
there are a few things I cannot NOT have while I am over there. they are
the ubiquitous gelato (stracciatella, nocella, ciocolato, bacio are my favs)
risotto
cappucino
nutella on toast
cured meat (prosciutto, speck, salami)
CHEESE!!!
tagliatelle or pappardelle with mushrooms
quattro stagione pizza
if I am coastal, I always order more seafood (fritto misto is heaven). I am not sure I would bother that much in Rome or Florence.
I HAVE had bad food in Rome, so be warned.
but really, stick to the fresh stuff. you can't beat the produce...simple salads, simply dressed etc.
HAVE A GREAT TIME!!
I'm swallowing my saliva right now thanks to you.
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| Posted 8/14/09 4:13 PM |
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Jenn627
Laaaaaaaambert!
Member since 5/08 9818 total posts
Name:
Jenn
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Re: Favorite foods in Italy??
GELATO!!!!!! God - DH and I dream of gelato as least 4 times per week.
Nutella - had it every morning for breakfast. 
This is random - but I had the best spaghetti carbonara over there.
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| Posted 8/14/09 4:44 PM |
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Ma-n-Pa2008
Mommy's Big Boy
Member since 3/09 2584 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Re: Favorite foods in Italy??
this was a great question. i've had people telling me what to eat for the last week or so, but you ladies gave a lot more suggestions for me to try!! i can't wait!
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| Posted 8/15/09 8:18 PM |
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BriBri2u
L'amore vince sempre
Member since 5/05 9320 total posts
Name:
Mrs. B
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Re: Favorite foods in Italy??
Where do I start?!
I have fresh foccacia EVERY morning with my caffe latte, usually with some nutella on it - ok ALWAYS with nutella on it
IMO the salumi in Italy are a must. REGARDLESS of how "italian" your deli is here at home, the salumi are different. It is so fresh in Italy. We always enjoy prosciutto, coppa, pancetta, sopressata.
Panini are delish.
I think I am one of the few Italians who does NOT like the pizza in Italy. I don't know why - I have just never eaten any that has wowed me. My mother makes THE best IMO...lol 
Cheese, cheese & more cheese. When we go to my moms town we always buy "nostrano" cheese from there (which means "our own") its a cheese that you can only buy from that particular town. Try & taste nostranno cheese from various towns if possible.
One of my favorite things to do in Italy is going to the "montagna" (countryside) with fresh bread, salumi, cheese, wine & fruit. Doesn't get more Italian than that - we did this on the rocks of Monterosso in Cinque Terre so DH could experience it.
Pasta - gnocci with pesto, spinach ravioli with butter & sage, risotto - any kind, any pasta with mushroom sauce etc.
Sweets I LOVE Ricciarelli - typical almond cookies from the Tuscany region...I'm pretty sure you can find them in other parts of the country.
Also from the Tuscany region - Spongata. A cake made of nuts & tons of spices along with honey.
Go into a cafe that sells Italian candies by the pound & pick up some...I always bring a pound of it back for my family.
Of course the gelato - my favorite is frutta di bosco (made of blackberries. raspberries, currents)...and the nocciola, and the fragole, the rustica...ok I really don't think there is a BAD one per say
Biscotti are delicious as well.
The coffee -I don't drink espresso too much here. When I'm there, I'm all about the espresso.
The BEST part about all of these suggestions on this thread is that you can eat ALL of it and STILL lose weight. I always lose weight when I come back from there - so enjoy it all!!!!
I could keep going, but I'm making myself sad thinking about all of this.
Message edited 8/18/2009 4:23:02 PM.
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| Posted 8/18/09 2:39 PM |
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melbalalala
Little Lady
Member since 5/07 5014 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Re: Favorite foods in Italy??
Posted by Beaver2be
The BEST part about all of these suggestions on this thread is that you can eat ALL of it and STILL lose weight. I always lose weight when I come back from there - so enjoy it all!!!!
You can't say something like this and not explain!!!!! 
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| Posted 8/18/09 3:45 PM |
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Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)
Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
Name:
remember, when Gulliver traveled....
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Re: Favorite foods in Italy??
Posted by melbalalala
Posted by Beaver2be
The BEST part about all of these suggestions on this thread is that you can eat ALL of it and STILL lose weight. I always lose weight when I come back from there - so enjoy it all!!!!
You can't say something like this and not explain!!!!!
this is an absolute truth.
the portion sizes are smaller. they are normal.
you can have an appetizer, a first and second plate, AND A gelato every night and burn it off walking around and site seeing the next day.
I have NEVER come back from Italy heavier than I left. Even PREGNANT
and if I were being honest, I eat gelato at least twice a day there.
typically I'll have some kind of appetizer (usualy cheese and salumi) and a pasta or risotto. dh almost always has that and a second plate of meat or fish with veggies. then gelato.
I also agree with the almond cookies.
you have to experience it to believe it...but it's true. as long as you keep moving, keep seeing those sites in between meals, the only way you will know what you ate once you got back is in your memory.  
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| Posted 8/18/09 4:08 PM |
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EricaAlt
LIF Adult
Member since 7/08 22665 total posts
Name:
Erica
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Re: Favorite foods in Italy??
You HAVE to go to Vivaldi (I think that's how you spell it) in Florence. The gellato is AMAZING! Best I ever had. DH and I had to get it there every day.
DH and I went a year ago for our 1 yeart anniv and went to Rome, Florence and Venice. The best restaurants are there. I can FM you later the restaurants we went to if you'd like. I don't have the info with me at work
Soooo good!
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| Posted 8/18/09 4:09 PM |
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BriBri2u
L'amore vince sempre
Member since 5/05 9320 total posts
Name:
Mrs. B
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Re: Favorite foods in Italy??
Posted by melbalalala
Posted by Beaver2be
The BEST part about all of these suggestions on this thread is that you can eat ALL of it and STILL lose weight. I always lose weight when I come back from there - so enjoy it all!!!!
You can't say something like this and not explain!!!!!
LOL - It's true
My nonna says its the "air" but really its because you sit down & enjoy your food.
You don't "rush" while eating your meal or get anything "to go" - the ONE thing DH hated about Italy - he wanted his coffee to go...lol
Plus you do ALOT of walking, I never walked so much like I did this last trip in June. We walked almost 3 hours along the coast of Liguria from Rapallo to Portofino - ONE way
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| Posted 8/18/09 4:17 PM |
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BriBri2u
L'amore vince sempre
Member since 5/05 9320 total posts
Name:
Mrs. B
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Re: Favorite foods in Italy??
Posted by Ophelia
and if I were being honest, I eat gelato at least twice a day there.
You HAVE to have gelato at least TWICE a day (afternoon snack & after dinner stroll)...otherwise, you'll never try all the flavors....lololol
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| Posted 8/18/09 4:19 PM |
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BriBri2u
L'amore vince sempre
Member since 5/05 9320 total posts
Name:
Mrs. B
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Re: Favorite foods in Italy??
.
Message edited 8/18/2009 4:22:03 PM.
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| Posted 8/18/09 4:21 PM |
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