This was my first sit-down meal in Italy, and my friends and I even ordered in Italian! I was a little nervous but excited to have an actual meal.
The first bite was amazing! The chicken was juicy, the lemon cream was tangy, and the potatoes were crispy. Even though Italians don’t use a lot of spices, the food still had so much flavor because everything was so fresh. I loved it so much that I ate every single bite!
That night, I went out to eat with a few people from my program who I hadn’t spent much time with before. At first, I was a little shy, because it can feel scary sitting with new people in a new country! But as we talked, laughed, and shared our meals, I started to feel more comfortable. We all got different desserts so we could share and try as many as possible.
By the end of dinner, I had made two new friends and had a very full belly. I realized that food in Italy isn’t just delicious, it’s a way to make connections and memories.
In Italy, food is made fresh to order. Cooks use just a few fresh ingredients so the natural flavors stand out. They don’t use many spices because the food already tastes great! I was a little surprised, since Mexican food (which I usually eat back home) has a lot of spices and chilis. I learned that Italian food is all about simple and fresh flavors.
