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Original poster

What IS it about italian food?

125 replies

ptumbi · 09/05/2019 15:31

I've just read another article from a well-known chef who is spouting one of the wonders of the known world that is Italian food. I get it, it's (supposed to be) healthy and lovely and full of sunshine and goodness...

BUT - is it? I Low-carb, and don't eat pasta, bread, pizza. In fact, when cooking for my young kids, I realised that pasta is generally flour and water pap. Mixed with oil, or cream, or meat sauces. It is that 'golden' ratio of carbs and fat that our bodies look for (hence doughnuts, cheese sandwiches etc being so delicious) but it's not actually very good for you!

This Chef was invited (of course) to an authentic 3-course lunch at an authentic rural family's smallholding, and fed in the sunshine surrounded by screaming happy children running about. Idyllic, yes? Hmm And of course there was the obligatory 'nonna' sitting next to her, smiling and making 'mmmm' noises.

I went to Naples last year, looking forward to the food (I don't low-carb on holiday). I had an 'authentic' Neapolitan Pizza which was basically a hard base, covered in watery tomato goop, and with a few Basil leaves chucked on top. Yummy. Not.

Everywhere we ate, the food was bog-standard - in fact we get better 'Italian' in the UK.

'Italian' food is vastly overrated. IMHO.

OP posts:
DulcieRay · 09/05/2019 17:51

The salads, the antipasti, the cheeses, the stuffed pasta and gnocchi, bruschetta, the meat dishes, the fish, the ice cream, panna cotta and coffee.

I feel like spaghetti aglio e olio or magherita pizza aren't the half of it really

feelingverylazytoday · 09/05/2019 18:08

Pasta tastes shit and is nutritionally poor
Wrong. Pasta is actually a good source of protein (as is bread), as for tasting shit suppose it depends on who cooks it and what it's served with.

peachgreen · 09/05/2019 18:11

Italian food cooked well by Italians is absolutely incredible. Italian food cooked poorly by Brits is terrible. There are various degrees of quality in the middle.

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AgnesNaismith · 09/05/2019 18:13

Yeah, Italian food isn’t just pasta and pizza.

Calamari and lemon, prawns in wine, burrata, lovely salads & veal in breadcrumbs are some of my absolute favourites!

iklboo · 09/05/2019 18:20

Not liking Italian food isn't racist!

TheCrowFromBelow · 09/05/2019 18:20

Well, There’s Bella Italia/ Ask type Italian, and then there’s proper Italian which isn’t just the stereotypes of pasta and pizza with a sea bass thrown in for “authenticity”.
There is (or was) a little Italian in Peckham rye near the station which was fantastic.

NameChangeNugget · 09/05/2019 18:22

Food of the Gods.

Ces6 · 09/05/2019 18:25

If you don't like Italian food, you just haven't found the right dish yet! There is so much variety but done well it is always full of taste. We eat Italian 90% of the time.

camelfinger · 09/05/2019 18:29

I spent some time staying with an Italian family. The main day to day cuisine was freshly caught fish with vegetables or salad. A small starter of pasta and good bread. Pizza was a rare treat. I love pizza and pasta and was expecting loads of cheesy pizzas and creamy sauces but most of the time, it was basic healthy food on offer. So mich healthier than I expected.

managedmis · 09/05/2019 18:29

Pasta tastes shit and is nutritionally poor

Wrong. Pasta is actually a good source of protein (as is bread), as for tasting shit suppose it depends on who cooks it and what it's served with.

^^
Good source of protein? Not in my book :

Pasta - protein per 100g = 5.15g
Red lentils - protein per 100g= 25.8g

whohaa · 09/05/2019 18:31

I had the same experience in Naples. Went to the very restaurant that the margarita was invented. Real Italian pizza is bland and boring, no matter what topping it has. Everything else is delicious though!

Haworthia · 09/05/2019 18:34

Can you actually cook pasta? Sounds like your doing it wrong to be honest. Pasta is only pap if one boils it too long.....

No Pink, the OP was saying that pasta is basically comprised of flour and water... which it is.

I know what you mean OP. I try to eat low carb, and Italian is a nightmare.

Bluntness100 · 09/05/2019 18:39

Italian is not a night mare for low carb it's one of the best cuisines for it actually. As it's all meat, fish, salads, vegetables, sea food.

Pasta and pizza are really not all there is to italian cuisine and I say that as someone who low carbs.

TakeAChanseyOnMe · 09/05/2019 18:39

A lot of it is not the food specifically, but the attitude to food.

Italian food is based on good quality ingredients cooked simply. Supermarket tomatoes here aren’t even comparable to ones grown in Italy. There’s also more of a focus on family meals and home cooked food.

Haworthia · 09/05/2019 18:45

Italian is not a night mare for low carb it's one of the best cuisines for it actually. As it's all meat, fish, salads, vegetables, sea food

Yes, but I invariably WANT pizza, pasta and risotto because they’re delicious Grin

neveradullmoment99 · 09/05/2019 18:56

I love Italian food. Its the best! YABU

Low carbing i could never do as i love pasta, rice, deli meat, olives etc..

BlueCornishPixie · 09/05/2019 18:57

This thread is making me hungry!

The best pizzas I've had we're in Italy, delicious tomatoey sauce, soft bread. Absolute heaven.

Also not totally true in Italy pasta isnt a maincourse, went to a restaurant that did just pasta. Again it was absolute heaven

Italian can be really healthy - pasta with tomato and veg, fish etc. Risotto can be pretty healthy

It's also one of the best for low carb as lots of fish, lots of meats and salads. It's so easy to eat low carb for Italian.

neveradullmoment99 · 09/05/2019 18:58

Oh and yes to the veg in Italy. The tomatoes are nothing like here as are most veg/fruit. I was staying with family that have an olive grove in Tuscany. The olive oil they gave me was the best i have ever tasted. Freshly pressed. sad i am now coming to the end of it.

TakemedowntoPotatoCity · 09/05/2019 19:01

I agree op, I wouldn't go to an Italian restaurant as a special occasion as it's too run of the mill to me.

CalmaChamelion · 09/05/2019 19:01

I wish I loved pasta. Can’t enjoy it as I feel so full really quickly and it just seems like a waste

Picklypickles · 09/05/2019 19:02

Nicest pizza I've ever had was from a little authentic Italian Restaurant in the southwest, it was 20 years ago and I still remember it! My oh used to work in an Italian Restaurant too and their pizzas were lovely too, freshly made dough every day, lovely thin crispy bases and homemade tomato sauce - just the right amount and with pretty simple toppings.

Deadringer · 09/05/2019 19:06

Italian food is based on good quality ingredients cooked simply that's it in a nutshell. I am not a fan of pasta, but I loved just about everything I ate in Italy, I have been there several times. I love the cuisine in France too, I think they have a similar food philosophy.

GetUpAgain · 09/05/2019 19:09

I've been to a couple of Italian cities, loved the food in both. Especially the gelato. Also coffee. Also limoncello. And wine. And pizza. And panini. And stews. Omg just all of it.

QueenOfTheTofuTree · 09/05/2019 19:10

Meh, I tried a low carb diet once and I felt like utter shit. I was constantly hungry and tired no matter how much I ate.*

I now follow a high carb low fat diet and I have never felt better tbh.

I don't think carbs are this huge evil which they are made out to be.

*It wasn't really a diet as I have never been overweight but just wanted to eat better in general. Not sure if that was a factor in how shit I felt?

QueenOfTheTofuTree · 09/05/2019 19:12

Oh and Italian food is probably one of the best cuisines.

This thread is making me want pizza Grin