In Italy...

[PeaGreene]

Do they eat Italian food all the time?

Cos last year, when I was in Tuscany for a fortnight, the food in the supermarkets was fantastic, especially the fresh veg. Tomatoes and red peppers to die for.

BUT, DH, after 10 days or so, was craving what he called "variety" and basically meant different flavours, like Chinese, or Indian etc. Can you get anything like that in the supermarkets? Is it good / not good?

Would like some general advice on avoiding 14 days of pasta.

Or are our tastebuds just not sophisticated enough to value the different flavours in italian food?

So, any suggestions for excellent holiday cooking? Bearing in mind I'll be cooking in a caravan...

DH is italian.

We lived in Tuscany for 3 years and had a restaurant.

DH is a chef.

We could not BELIEVE what a bunch of narrow minded ignorant people they were.

They ONLY eat Italian food.

Mum had to bring Indian spices out to us inc poppadums and mango chutney etc

Occasionally we made it out to a rotten Chinese!

Unbelievable.

DH's aunty will not even try things like cottage pie or yorkshire pudding or Mexican food or Curry or anything.

We left Italy.

We like England.

It's really curious isn't it. OK, italian food has a better reputation than British cooking, so why should they branch out so much. We had to, we were desperate! But I think in terms of variety we've come out of it better.

In terms of local quality though, I think they're still winning. The fresh produce in the supermarket really was amazing.

Actually this is something that really annoys me. Italians (and many French too) often have tunnel vision when it comes to other cuisines.
i mean the arrogance of rubbishing all the other flavours and tastes of the plant bonkers imo.

but the beauty of italy is that you can go to the markets and buy fab fresh tomatoes that taste like tomatoes and put them with some mozzarella and basil and olive oil and fresh bread and that is all you will need.

And cheese boards with olives and bread.

And delicious pizza.

risotto is a favourite of ours and so easy to cook in a caravan!

and lots of salad.

Oh I am not denying the quality of italian cuisine, it is amazing and i love it, it is just that I have come across a very narrow attitude towards food from other nationalities.

I think that's the thing, that we got fed up with cheese, tomotoes and basil. And whichever carbohydrate it was being served with.

If I was a better cook, I'm sure I'd be able to do something more varied.

I guess I want to know what I can cook which does't involve mozzarella, tomatoes, pasta or risotto.

And I think I'll pack one small jar of curry paste

mmm.....we go to Italy because of the food!! and to see family of course.

Rich beef stew with polenta?

Chicken and salad?

Just eat what you would eat at home and take the spices with you.

we have a friend that lives in Lucca,
when we visit we love italian foord but he wants us to take international ingredients with us.
Italians tend to belive that their food is THE BEST so why on earth would they try anything else.