Things Italian that I really Love

Lisa and me (far right) with dear friends Adda, Edith, and MammaGina, in Frontone, on a fantastic fun June evening ... that had been arranged the day before.

The other morning in my journal, at Jolly Caffe’, I entertained myself silly listing things, in Italian, that I really love about my experience here so far.

There is naturally a culture, a lifestyle, and quirks, that I’m learning don’t resonate with every new citizen ;). Having had the privilege of much time in France recently (where of course the lifestyle is similar), and significant time in Italy in years past, I feel like my new life is quite easy to get used to.  I actually never feel like I live in a foreign country.

Here are a few things that I find really easy to love.

Pizza and coca with ice, at Ristorante Ballestra in Gubbio's medieval center.

You get your own pizza.

I rarely eat pizza, and not because I don’t love it. It’s like crack for me, so I don’t indulge often. When I crave it, however, it’s non-negotiable - I have to have it. Here the protocol is that everyone gets their own pizza. It comes whole, with a fork and knife, you don’t share. For me, a whole pizza to myself is a splendid thing!! I find authentic Italian pizza to be perfectly light on crust and toppings, so eating one all by myself is really OK with me. I love it.

Whole-grain croissants with honey.

In Italy and in Spain too, there are whole-grain croissants that are different from classic French. I’m guessing they are made with olive oil because they’re not buttery but they are really delicious. I’ve discovered one here that is filled with honey, and it’s sublime. We all know how I feel about croissants, and gratefully here in Italy they are really good, and by the way, are sometimes known as a pasta or brioche. And they cost less than 2 euros.

Sometimes you pay on the honours system.

Here in this region – and I’m guessing this may not be the case in the center of big cities – you pay for your meal or coffee or gelato, after you finish, at the counter. No check is brought to the table. Sometimes you just tell them what you had, sometimes they have your order in front of them. Once I forgot to pay, so I went back the next day and they just laughed and happily accepted my money.

Sometimes you can pay later.

This may not actually be a thing, but it happened to me three times in Cagli. Once I forgot to pay, as I mentioned above. One day I’d temporarily lost my credit card, and she told me to just pay next week when I would be there again. One time the electricity/register was out in Nicoletta’s boutique where I bought an expensive swimsuit, and she told me to just come another day and pay her. So I did.

People love spontaneous invitations.

Maybe, possibly ... Italians never got the memo to invite each other for gatherings, sooner than 24-48 hours in advance. And now I can promise you that some of the most fun I’ve had in my entire life, were the invitations that I received the day before. Good thing I don’t have much of a life, yet. I’m always available for this kind of thing ;).

Taralli.

Lisa and I called these little olive oil donuts. I am addicted to them, and must have them in stock at all times. They are best purchased at boutique shops in town. They’re particularly excellent with exquisite cheese, wine, and olives.

And my true favorite ...

Customers are never rushed.

25 years ago in Italy I was amazed that I could order an espresso and sit there all day if I wanted to; they were actually disappointed when I left. Nothing has changed. Coffee time, aperitivo, meal time ... all sacred. Pay when you leave, or when you’ve closed the place.

If you remember.