I am Italian, ask me anything

[Lilylo]

Following the recent "ask me anything" thread frenzy, I thought I'd put this out there

What would you say is the overall mood among Italians you know about the Cinque Stelle/,La Liga coalition? Specifically, what do people think their impact on the economy is likely to be (bond issues running either in parallel to or even in opposition to the euro) and Salvini's policies on immigration?

What is happening with the Italian government? Am I correct in saying they have just elected a far right president?
Another absolute disgrace. They elected a populist government entirely staffed by uneducated, racist, inadequate politicians. I am frankly despairing.

Do you think things will improve in terms of their economy?
I very much doubt. The issues are complex and would be hard to resolve for experiences, competent politicians, let alone for this bunch of clowns.

*"How do you say 'blast off' in Italian? Asking for my son"

Esplodere as a verb, esplosione as a noun.*

Blast off in Italian is decollare.
As in

We're on the launch pad and ready to blast off.
Siamo sulla rampa di lancio, pronti a decollare.

🙄

*Have you been to the amalfi coast? If you have, would you recommend?

......I really want to go to positano!"

I have been, and I would honestly recommend Sicily, Apulia and Sardinia over the Amalfi Coast..*
Just back from Sicily and it was excellent, however we have a family house in Campania, the other side of the bay from Positano, and I found I prefer Campania. Sicily had too many extremes, some beautiful places, mixed in with some awful places. Where our house is, isn’t full on touristy, so kind of forgotten but still beautiful.
Have you seen Bienvenutu Al Sud? Our house is there (not Italian, just love the area, the people and the food).

*"How do you say 'blast off' in Italian? Asking for my son"

Esplodere as a verb, esplosione as a noun.*

Blast off in Italian is decollare.
As in

We're on the launch pad and ready to blast off.
Siamo sulla rampa di lancio, pronti a decollare.

🙄

Lol sorry, clearly my English is not quite there yet

Just to butt into your thread but I've found English/Italian men to be equally sexist but in different ways - gross generalisation ahead women in England are expected to do everything and have careers, whereas women in Italy are more likely to be housewives/mums but their husbands tend to be more grateful about their contributions.

Re mamma's boys - after yoyoing back and forth for a while DBro has finally moved out at 27. I'm currently persuading DH that me, him plus bambino should move in for a bit!

What way is parenting different between the Britain and Italy? I know Italian people in general just adore babies/children. Are parents quite strict with rules/routines?

As I said upthread, I find that family bonds in Italy tend to last for a lot longer. What I mean is that it is not that rate for adult children to still live with their parents or rely a lot on their parents. The idea is that as a family, you depends on each other. So for example adult children take care of their elderly parents, grandparents are usually very involved with DGC, and so.

I am not a parent myself, so I am not sure I can fully compare parenting styles. My impression is that many Italian parents "worry" more about their children (sometimes unnecessarily imho) and that British children are more independent from a young age, but then again I am not in a position to give a thorough picture!

I noticed you didn’t reply to my question at the start of your thread. :)

Do you have a good recipe for tomato pasta sauce, please? I love Italian food and culture!

Sorry I overlooked it! I don't really have a special recipe to be honest, I just fry garlic and dry chilly in olive oil until it is golden and then add tomato passata and turn the fire to low so it simmer for 8/10 mins. Pretty sure it is not a uniquely special recipe though....

Thanks. :)

Starlightjazz

If you can use a cast iron saucepan, or any pan with a lid.

Extra virgin olive oil,put your garlic in whole, fry it for 2 minutes, don't let it Brown as then it tastes the sauce of burnt garlic, put in your tomatoes, area and Tescos own brand are Italian and made in Campania, fill the empty can or bottle with to a third with cold water, shake or rinse to get the sauce stuck in the bottle/ tin, throw it in with the sauce, bring to a boil, cover, lower the heat and simmer for at least 20 minutes. Use only a wooden spoon to stir (metal brings out the acid in the tomatoes).
Put in fresh basil at the end (if using tried put it in form the last 5 minutes).
If adding meat (mince or other) the cooking time is at least 90 minutes on a low heat.

Amal thank you so much, I really appreciate it. I hate jar sauce, too sweet.

Starlight jazz,
It's full. Of sugar and low quality tomatoes. Just had a look and the sainsburys own brand tomatoes are also from here (the same factory only the label changes).

I bought a cast iron pot from Ikea and I use it only for sauce and for the price it's brilliant.

Thanks, I will look at the Ikea cast iron pots as I don’t have any cast iron. :)

Starlightjazz

Do, they cut down the acidity of the tomatoes and the sauce becomes dense and not watery like it does in alliunium ones. Well worth it especially for lasagne sauce (which I make with veal Mince, pork Mince. And sausage meat and cook for 4 hours. Heaven)

Starlight I went on a cookery course in Italy and Amalfi’s method was exactly how it was done. I was amazed at the simplicity of it all but it tasted delicious.

You have helped me so much, I wouldn’t have thought about using a wooden spoon and cast iron to cut down on acid. If not for you. I have found the Ikea senior pot and have reserved it. I also need a couple new wooden spoons. I love lasagna so much, it’s one of my favourite dishes!

ifyousee that must have been wonderful. I would absolutely love to do that. Yes it does seem very simple, to get that much flavour!

One of my very good friends is Italian.

I once asked her what the stereotypes of British people are in Italy. She said that Italians think that British people have dirty houses, especially because we have carpets.

I was quite surprised at that.

That is true. It was even in an Italian GCSE listening comprehension a couple of years ago; young people saying that English were dirty with their carpets!

These threads... how can one Italian possibly speak for an entire country?! I know many, many, many Italians who are just wild for the new government and are heartily pro-Italexit. And not all Italians love children, and these days there are fewer and fewer mamas standing stirring age-old traditional-recipe sauces for hours in the kitchen. And most urban Italians are far from friendly. You will find them generally much ruder than the English. Dither on a Milanese bus or tram? People will stampede straight over you!

Where the fuck are are your football team?

Have you extradited them to Tahiti?

What the Italian for Schadenfreude?

And most urban Italians are far from friendly. You will find them generally much ruder than the English. Dither on a Milanese bus or tram? People will stampede straight over you! Italians can do no wrong in my eyes. So even this is acceptable. I've been to only touristy places but over and over again.

Do Italians hate tourists?

Derxa

Some do.

We had a very unpleasant experience with Italian teens (male) hearing (and recognising) us speaking German with my elderly grandfather. Very loud talk about putting us in an oven was about the 'nicest' thing they said...

My mother flipped out in Italian and gave them a loud telling off.

(Context: we were on a lovely but not quite cheap island with a lot of German tourists.)

Italians are often very racist, too, to our ears. They say the sort of things people said here in the 70s. And disablist.

Italians in tourist spots like whoever is bringing in the money.

In general they do not like the British; if there’s a World Cup match they will be supporting the side that’s not England. And before anyone blames this on Brexit, most Italians would like to exit themselves, and this sentiment has been going on for decades. Why it is I don’t know.

I had an espresso poured over granita in Sicily a couple of years ago. I would probably kill to have it again, especially in this weather. What's your favourite Italian sweet thing?