Before this semester food wasn’t something I thought of often. In Madison I buy the same things each week at Trader Joe’s, and eat the same meals almost daily. Studying abroad has changed this, and changed my typical meals since we have been eating out more often. Due to this I have been branching out and trying more foods outside of my comfort zone, especially at aperitivos when the buffets have so many options. Since being in foodways, I have made a more conscious effort to pay more attention to the foods I am eating and how they are prepared.

There are a few obvious differences between Italian and American cuisine. One of the most obvious differences I immediately noticed was the portion size. This was a change I expected, but still enjoy. Sometimes when I go to dinner and am starving I’m almost disappointed when a small dish comes out. However the serving sizes are always perfect and never leave me feeling like I need more. Back home, I continue to eat even after I’m full just because there is so much food left in front of me. This of course leaves me feeling stuffed and heavy, whereas here I leave satisfied but not too full which is a nice change.

Another difference I’ve noticed is in the freshness of the products. Servers and restaurant menus often describe the regions in Italy where their products come from, which is not often the case back home. Meals are even based on what is fresh and in season, which is different from the wide selection of readily available products year round in America. This difference can be seen in shopping too as most grocery shopping is done in smaller markets here whereas back home we stock up on food at large grocery stores.

There are many small differences in the food as well. I’ve noticed that many dishes have very few ingredients. Italians seem to focus more on the quality of the ingredients rather than the quantity. Less truly does seem to be more here. Even dishes in Italy that are similar to dishes in the US are still slightly different because in the states they would be drenched in much more oil and salt than they are here. Even staples such as salad are different because they use olive oil and balsamic vinegar as dressing for almost every salad, which is very different when compared to salads in the US that each have a different, often richer dressing.

One of the most obvious differences is in the way dinners are structured. In the US, meals are quick and only sometimes follow an appetizer. Servers check on you frequently and bring the check as soon as you’re done with your meal. In Italy, meals are set up in rounds of aperitivo, antipasta, primi, secondi and even dessert if you’re up for it. Meals take hours, and tables often stay seated for the entire evening. The entire dining experience is more relaxed, and you rarely see your waiter. Another big difference is that if you don’t finish your meal, you don’t take it home. However the biggest, and my least favorite, difference is having to pay for water!

Overall, I have been very pleased with the change in cuisine. There are a few differences, both small and large, but it has not been a difficult adjustment to make. The food in Italy has been delicious, and leaves me feeling much better than restaurants in America do.