Pizza in the historic centre of Naples
Italians talk a lot. And often. And loudly. But the one thing they talk about most reliably is food. All the time. When shopping, driving, at the hairdresser - and yes, even when eating. You could say that in Italy, food is not just eaten, but commented on like a football match. Live, emotional, with passion - and usually from several sides at the same time.
The standard question that starts every conversation is not "How are you?" but: "Hai mangiato?" Have you eaten? It sounds simple, but it's much more than just small talk. It's care, interest, sometimes even a silent warning: if you haven't eaten yet, you should do so urgently - before someone takes control of your diet.
Eating is a serious matter
Because in Italy, food is not a side note. It is an action, an attitude and an origin. It is so important that people talk about dinner even at lunch. And while dinner is being planned, the question of what to eat the next day is asked - and why Nonna Carolina does it all better anyway.
It's never just about the "what". It's about the "how". Who cooked it? With which oil? Where was the cheese from? And was the bread fresh enough or would it have needed five minutes less? It sounds exhausting - but it's pure poetry when you sit in the middle of it. Because you realise: these conversations have soul. And often spicy too.
Food is art in Italy
In southern Italy, the whole thing is still an art form. A sauce is discussed there with the same passion as coalition agreements elsewhere. Onion in the amatriciana? Pure drama. Pasta al dente or a little longer? Families can split over this. But don't worry - they'll make up for dessert. Probably with tiramisu.
Food is identity here. Every region, every village, every street has its own recipe - and defends it with fervour. The best mozzarella? From the region, of course. Exactly which one depends on who you ask. In any case, the other person is always wrong.
Food is a memory in Italy
Food is never just now - it's always in the past too. The first spoonful reminds you of your last holiday, your childhood, your grandmother's cooking. Food is the common denominator of an entire country. A memory to bite into. In Italy, we eat while we eat. And talk. And argue. And laughed. And talk again. Mostly about what you're eating at the moment - sometimes about what you'll be eating tomorrow. And if you want to have a say, you need to have eaten properly.
