For those who have been to Italy: Is the Italian food in Italy as divine as I think it would be?

[Tommy_Carcetti]

I enjoy Americanized Italian food, but I just have it in my mind that actual Italian food in Italy is a heavenly experience beyond all comparisons. I would like to check it out for myself sometime in the next ten years, but in the meantime I was wondering if those who experienced it first hand would agree.

[Drum]

1. I agree wholeheartedly that YES it is as divine as one thinks it would be.

I've been to Italy three times, brief trips where I got to extend a few days of work into 10 days of thank-goodness-I-did leisure travel.

What I found was that city or country, upscale-nice or rural-plain, the food and those meal experiences--not rushed, savored--were truly amazing to me.

I'd love to go back sometime, somehow.

I'd urge you to try....

[wryter2000]

2. Yes!

OMG, yes.

Every little restaurant makes the most amazing food. I've only been to Tuscany, but I understand the food is excellent everywhere you go.

I always went for pasta fatto a mano or fatto in casa when it was offered.

[iamateacher]

3. Yes, better than you can imagine

It is worth a visit

[OrlandoDem2]

4. I loved Italy both times I went. The food is awesome but by the time

I returned home I was happy to have meat. Haha.

Lots and lots and lotsa pasta and other carbs! Not much protein.

[Karadeniz]

5. More.

[wishstar]

6. Yes the food is high quality and healthy causing me to lose weight without trying

I have visited all around italy several times and enjoyed the food everywhere. By contrast i found the food in Greece to be heavier, richer and greasier and not as delectable.

[FakeNoose]

7. I've only been to northern Italy, in the Alps

... and the food there is awesome. However their entire culture in northern Italy is different, more like you would see in Austria and southern Germany. There are historic reasons for that, and it's a good reason to visit all around the country if you have the chance.

[FightingIrish]

8. I've traveled to Italy ten times and lived there in 1972.

I’ve had the pleasure of trying the food all over Italy. There are so many different cuisines that it makes little sense to talk about “Italian food”.

Most of my time has been spent in Piemonte, specifically the city of Alba. Since my first visit, it has become a foodies destination. Local entrepreneur Oscar Farinetti built the highly successful Eataly brand on the food of Alba and the surrounding Langhe.

You can dine at Alba’s Michelin three star restaurant Piazza Duomo, if you’re lucky enough to get a table. It’s one of Italy’s best. Even simpler establishments feature the area’s unique cuisine which is largely based upon the food that historically sustained the poor farmers living in the hills around Alba. Agnolotti, polenta, bagna cauda, carne cruda and vitello tonnato are among my favorites.

Serendipitously, Alba and it’s surrounds are home to some of Italy’s best wines and the amazing white truffle of Alba. Barolo, Barbaresco, Dolcetto d’Alba and Barbera add to the dining experience. Truffles turn simple foods into symphonies.

And, if the food and wine alone were not enough, the settings for dining are unparalleled, be it a renovated castle or a countryside villa.

[bif]

9. For the most part.

I had one of the worst pieces of pizza I've ever had in my life in Florence. It was actually microwaved! But if you stay away from the touristy areas, it's great.

[Adsos Letter]

10. It sure can be.

Before we went to Rome last year we were cautioned to avoid the heavily touristy areas if we wanted the best food. We took that advice and had one of the best meals I've ever eaten, at a small restaurant off of the beaten path.

[sinkingfeeling]

11. Yes!

[DFW]

12. Although you can't walk into just anywhere and expect a 5 star meal for six euros..

The food IS pretty spectacular if you stick to recommended places. You don't have to stick to €100 a meal and up places, either.

Now, I don't go down there much, but I do speak the language, and we DID ask local people where to go. We were never disappointed. Siena, Firenze, a few small towns, just not the airports. We never went to any of the main destinations like Venice or Rome (no time), but one day we'll get around to them, since we're a 90 minute flight from Venice and 2 hours from Rome. The ice cream is pretty memorable, too. Again stay away from touristy-looking places. I hate to engage in stereotypes, but if an ice cream stand is run on or near a popular tourist street with South Asian proprietors being pushy in excellent English, say grazie, ma no grazie. Their stuff tends to be diluted and lacks flavor. The real stuff is to die for.

Two things to keep in mind: in the USA it seems to have become popular to translate Italian names for certain foods and use them to designate something special. I have seen "shrimp scampi" to designate a certain way of preparing shrimp. Since "scampi" is the Italian word for "shrimp," it comes across as rather weird to them. Also, the Italian word for ice cream is "gelato." In the USA, I have seen "gelato" as some kind of gourmet frozen dessert costing twice as much as ice cream. This is like charging someone $2.50 for a glass of wine, but $5 for a glass of "vino."

[dhill926]

13. heading there in September, and can't wait...

my cousin who is widely traveled, said it was the best food in the world...

[Solly Mack]

14. I enjoyed it.

[Sneederbunk]

15. Italian Olive Gardens are a notch above.

[elleng]

16. ABSOLUTELY!

(Was when we were there for our honeymoon, JUST 35 years ago; was heading to Rome from Sicily 'today.')

We had NOT ONE bad meal, and of course it's different all over the country; regional specialties vary.

[smirkymonkey]

17. Yes, as long as you stay away from the touristy places.

Also, it varies greatly from region to region, and every province has it's own specialties that it it famous for. You aren't going to find a lot of red sauce pasta dishes in the north, nor will you find a lot of risotto or polenta in the south. If you do go, it would definitely be worth doing a little research on what each region specializes in, so you can order "the real deal" in each part of the country you are in.

Are you planning to go anytime soon? I like Rick Steves travel books and videos. He tends to go off the beaten track and steers you toward the most authentic experiences, including food.

[mainer]

18. But don't expect spaghetti and meatballs

That’s Sicilian-American.

[akraven]

19. Haven't been but was taught to cook some things

by a retired Italian chef of my dad's circle of "around the world" and NO ONE beats my carbonara! Tony, have a ball going and believe me, "Uncle" Vincento could COOK!!!

[yuiyoshida]

20. Its absolutely Yummy!

I just adored visiting Napoli... and the food was grand!