Raising the bar

Most Italians go to the bar early in the morning but for a different kind of strong drink than you may be thinking - coffee!

The usual caffe' is what we might call an espresso.  It is a small cup of very strong coffee topped with a caramel-colored foam called "crema."  However, decafinated coffee also is available known as caffe' hag.  This can be ordered as "decafinato" or as Hag which is from the name of the largest producer of Italian decaf coffee.  In fact, that is what most bar menu boards will have displayed.

Straight coffee can be ordered any time of day throughout Italy, but after about 11a.m., only the tourists are seen indulging themselves with a "cappuccini."

Several options are offered to modify the coffee just like anywhere else.  Some popular choices are:

• Caffè con panna - An espresso with sweet whipped cream 

• Caffè con zucchero - espresso with sugar. Usually, one adds sugar from a container at the bar, but in some places, (especially in the south around Naples) the coffee comes with sugar. To order it, say "sensa zucchero" or without sugar if you don't like it sweet.

• Caffè macchiato - coffee "stained" with milk, usually just a bit of foam on top of the espresso.

• Caffè latte - This is an espresso with hot milk, a cappuccino without the foam usually served in a glass.  It might be called a "latte" in the U.S., but in Italy, outside of tourist places, you run the risk of getting what you asked for - milk, or worse yet, steamed milk. 

• Latte macchiato (Lah-te mahk-YAH-to) - Steamed milk "stained" with espresso, served in a glass.

• Cappuccino - a shot of espresso in a large(er) cup with steamed milk and foam.

Other specialty coffees include:

• Bicerìn - Traditional drink of Piemonte around Torino, consisting of dense hot cocoa, espresso and cream, artfully layered in a small glass. Not usually found outside of the Piemonte region.

•  Caffè freddo - Iced, or at least cold, coffee

•  Caffè Shakerato - This is one of the latest crazes in Italy, especially in the summer.  In its most simple form, a caffe shakerato is made by combining freshly made espresso, a bit of sugar, and lots of ice, shaking the whole drink vigorously until a froth forms when poured. It also can have some chocolate syrup added.

So if asked to go get a drink a bar with someone in Italy, remember it has quite a different connotation with the phrase.

Italian Dressing

I'm not referring to what is poured on a delicious salad at Olive Garden. Italy is about fashion! Dressing everyday is taken very seriously.  When the police uniforms are designed by Armani, you know this is crucial.

The legend of Italian fashion began on Feb. 25, 1951, when Count Giorgini staged a fashion show for an international audience in Florence. Dress says a lot about one's self-assertion in society and opens doors to conversations among individuals.  It has been called the "language of desire." Much thought goes into the entire outfit involving what one wants to say about themselves through their overall presentation.

The idea of Italian fashion is to blend in by standing out.  Wearing the best kind of attire to accentuate your own best features is key. The Italians have a spectacular way of choosing clothes that flatter their figures in the greatest way.

To avoid sticking out as a major tourist, ball caps and hats should be put away.  Nails also should not be painted as Italians only use nail polish for very specail occasions.  Shoes can make or break an outfit, (and unfortunately comfort usually is not factored into this equation).  One is expected to keep up with the latest trends and designs that will look best on each person individually.

Ultimately, dress is about social redemption. Fashion is the confirmation of classes or social statuses in Italy. Having a kind heart is great, but the outward appearance is cherished by Italians.  Fashion is a national passion, and it all comes down to ATTITUDE!  So when in Rome, strut with confidence and sophistication.

Getting around in Italy

The list of glorious sites everyone longs to see in Italy is endless, but how does one get to all these amazing places?  A website called Italy Heaven gave some insightful information on traveling around the extraordinary country.

Driving allows one to explore the rural, countryside areas and take detours if one wants to have a picnic along the way on a hillside or go into a castle.  However, if the hectic driving scenes from the movies "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" or "The Italian Job" did not make it clear enough, driving in Italy is not for the faint-hearted.  Yes, those are Hollywood dramatized movies, but there is no arguing, driving in Italy can be challenging.

Trains, on the other hand, are cheap and efficient for traveling through Italy.  There are many options available, such as slower trains being cheaper and return tickets being the same price as two singles.  This comes down to personal preferences and requires checking on specific train details early.

Then there are local transport systems for most Italian cities that include buses, metros, trains, trams, funiculars (moutain railways with counterbalanced cable cars on parallel sets of rails) and lifts.  For these, one usually can buy tickets in advance and have them validated when boarding the vehicle.

Of course the best way to view the unique and beautiful country of Italy is to approach by sea.  Seeing it from a ferry, for examply, is said to be breathtaking. 

In my opinion, seeing Italy in whatever way possible sounds exciting!

Fine dining

One thing everyone mentions when talking about a trip to Italy is the experience through the food and meals .  This is something that simply cannot be duplicated, and once time is spent enjoying the culture, no one's taste buds are ever the same.  Many Italians' pleasure is centered around the table - and with good reason.  I definitely am looking forward to experiencing this!

Full meals are huge ordeals.  The diet ultimately is pasta-based, but a great variety is offered regionally.  In the mountainous north, meals are heavy, while the center regions and the south focuses on a light, oily Mediterranean diet.

Complete meals may range through three to six courses.  Appetizers usually are not numbered in this extensive banquet though they could be a feast in and of themselves.

Breakfast is simple, but lunch is the most important repast of the day and usually late in the afternoon.  Then supper or cena is a lighter late meal.  Lunch is especially important as mentioned in a previous post because it is about quality time spent with the family.

Famous northern dishes include speghetti Bolognese, lasagna and tortellini.  Outstanding vegetable and pasta dishes are featured just as predominantly as seafood and exotic meats - from frog risotto to a donkey steak!
Popular desserts from Sicily include:
cassata (a layered sponge cake of ricotta cheese, marzipan and candied peel),

rich chocolate gelato (very much like ice-cream)

and zabaglione (a "caudle" similar to a custard made of egg yolks, sugar and Marsala wine).

With delicious foods like these, it's no wonder meals and the art of cooking are so important to Italians.