If you are planning a vacation in Italy, you may be wondering what to eat. These articles will help you learn about the Italian food that you will find in Italy. Keep in mind that in Italy, food varies by region, so be sure to explore regional specialties wherever you go.
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Eating out in Italy: how to dine
Italians take food very seriously and a good meal in a restaurant or trattoria is one of the joys of traveling in Italy. Here’s how to get the most out of your dining experience.
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Italia Food Books and Apps
Here are recommended books and mobile apps for foodies and those planning a trip to Italy. You’ll find books and apps about eating in Italy and places to eat and drink in Rome, Tuscany, and Venice.
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Italian regional cuisine
Each region of Italy has its own way of cooking and its own regional specialties. This regional cuisine guide, on the About.com Italian food site, includes a map of the regions and will help you learn what dishes to eat in the region you are visiting.
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Coffee drinks and how to order them
Finally, you probably want to go to a bar for coffee during the day. Here’s what you need to know about ordering to get the type of coffee drink you want. Please note that coffee is not served with food in Italian restaurants but it is customary to drink a caffe ‘( espresso ) at the end of the meal.
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What to drink before and after your meal – Apertivi and Digestivi
Find out what to drink during opening time before your meal at a bar and what Italian digestif and spirits to try at the restaurant after you’ve finished eating.
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Ice cream – Helado Italiano
No visit to Italy is complete without eating ice cream, one of the best Italian delicacies. Find out where to find gelato and how to order it.
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Fish gallery – the Galleria del Pesce
Italy is surrounded by water and you will find an incredible variety of fresh fish along the coast and some of them you have never seen before. If you like to fish, this guide will be helpful in helping you choose which fish to order. This fish gallery is one of my favorites on the Italian food site. My colleague Kyle Phillips took these photos at the Florence and Rimini fish markets and has included recipes. Strolling through a fish market can be fun and a good way to learn to recognize fish.
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Fruits and Vegetables – Frutta e Verdura
Italy has a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, but you will only find them when they are in season. This illustrated guide to fruits and vegetables, on the About.com Italian food site, will help you get the ones you want at a restaurant or market. You will also discover how each one is commonly prepared or used in Italian cuisine. The local fruit and vegetable markets are colorful and a visit to one will help you see what’s in season.
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Pasta shapes gallery
Italy has a surprising number of pasta shapes, some of which you may never have heard of, and pasta shapes vary by region. Each form of pasta is used for certain types of sauces. This illustrated pasta gallery on the Italian food site will help you recognize the pasta shapes you may see on a restaurant menu and give you ideas on the dishes you can make for each of the shapes.
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Pizza Gallery
Pizza in Italy may be different from what you are used to at home. For example, many Americans are surprised to find that a pepperoni pizza is a pizza with peppers (pepperoni is the Italian word for peppers). Kyle has illustrated a guide to types of pizza you may find that will help you get the type of pizza you want or could make you want to pack your bags and head to Italy!
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Salumi – Italian cold cuts
Salumi is the Italian word for cold cuts, which includes cold cuts such as salami (salami in English), ham, bacon, cured butter, sausage, mortadella. One thing you won’t see is pepperoni . In Italy what is called pepperoni in the US would be salami piccante, while pepperoni are peppers, so if you order pizza with pepperoni you may not get what you think. Kyle Phillips has a salumi gallery to help you identify what you want to buy at the deli or what is served as an antipasto at a restaurant.
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Learn to cook in Italy
If you want to learn more about Italian cuisine, you can take a half-day class or a longer course. This is what you should know about cooking classes in Italy.
