Of course she was hungry. She was in Italy, wasn’t she? – from “Love on the Rocks: A Positano Tale”

Italy. Food. Italian food in Italy. Yes.

The country that produced the Colosseum, Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Valentino, can also claim to have given the world some pretty darn good things to eat. It just can’t be disputed. Well, I guess it can, but I won’t listen to any arguments. Therefore, if you are traveling to Italy, prepare to surrender yourself (and any sort of possible diet) to the food, and more importantly, to enjoy yourself in the process of eating.

Pizza, Gelato, Nutella-Oh My!
Italy has typically been stereotyped as a country synonymous with pizza, gelato, and Nutella, and with good reason. The first thin crust pizza margherita was made in Naples to honor the visit of Prince Umberto and Queen Margherita of Italy. Little did the creator, Raffaele Esposito, know how popular his masterpiece would become, and how it would (literally) expand around the globe (think American thick crust versions). Although it’s rooted in Sicily, in the 1920-30s, the first gelato cart was developed in the northern Italian city of Varese. And then there’s Nutella– a category in and unto itself. The popular chocolate hazelnut spread  by Ferraro can be found in candies, pastries, and various gelato flavors. But there’s so much more to Italian cuisine than these well-known favorites.  Arancini (fried and stuffed rice balls), traditional Roman amatriciana, Venetian black squid ink pasta, hearty Tuscan panzanella and ribolita.… and don’t forget about the fresh fruit and produce being sold in the local piazzas. There’s much to choose from, and even the the pickiest non-foodie will be spoiled with the endless culinary choices. So, by all means, enjoy that pizza, gelato, and Nutella (spread on just about anything), but remember to give the local dishes a chance.

Snacks? Yes, I Think So.
Is there ever a wrong time to snack while on vacation (and in Italy, no less)? I think not. First of all, your stomach will most likely still be in a different time zone for half your trip, causing you to feel hungry all the time. And second, you are in Italy. Don’t fight it. If a coppa of creamy stracciatella is calling to you as you walk by a gelateria, listen to it. If you are trudging up Via San Marco in Positano (in the 90 degree+ heat) and you feel it necessary, in fact, imperative, that you stop for a thirst-quenching rossini and some salty pistachios to help you make it up the rest of the hill or stairs, then do what you gotta do. Some of my finest travel memories in Italy involve my friends and me snacking away in various places and the laughs we had (some of it induced by how many adult beverages we’d consumed, but nonetheless classic fun). So, repeat after me: snacking = necessary time to rest, recharge, and get ready for another round.

You’re Worried About What?
Food is good and exceptionally good food is even better. Keep this in mind as you travel in Italy or for that matter, anywhere. I’ve wasted many vacations anxiously fretting about my calorie consumption and how I was possibly going to burn it all off. It did not make for an enjoyable trip for me or my friends who had to invariably listen to me complain. I’ve since gotten over that and learned to appreciate one of Italy’s finest souvenirs – its food.

P.S. If you’re in Positano or any other hill town – make use of the stairs as an “easy” workout. You’ll thank (or curse) me later.

You’re welcome.
About the author
Catie Costa has traveled all over Western Europe, with repeated trips to Ireland and Italy. She currently lives in the San Francisco Bay area. She recently published a new fiction novel, “Love on the Rocks: A Positano Tale,” a story of two best friends, Kit and Bridget, who flee their humdrum lives in the States to spend an adventurous summer in Positano, Italy, where Prosecco, Nutella and romance abound. For more about the book, as well as Catie’s blog, visit http://www.positanotale.com.