1. Coffee, in all its variations, from the simple morning caffe’ (otherwise known as espresso outside of Italy) to the latte macchiato, a glass of hot or cold milk with a shot of espresso (what Starbucks would call a latte or possibly a macchiato if you added caramel syrup).
A macchiato means a drop of something. So if you order a macchiato at a bar in Italy, you will get an “espresso” with a dollop of milk foam. If you want the Starbucks version, milk with a little coffee, you would order a latte macchiato. If you just order a “latte”, you will receive a glass of milk!
2. Gelato, the real thing, made with milk, sugar and all natural ingredients- not like ice cream which has a higher fat content, additives and thickeners like guar gum and air whipped into it. And it’s served with a dollop of unsweetened whipped cream (panna) and a biscuit-like crunchy cookie.
3. Pizza, especially in the Neapolitan style, with a very thin crust, a small amount (by American standards) of toppings, baked in a 900 degree Fahrenheit wood-fired oven for 90 seconds.
No weird toppings like pineapple or pierogis and the pizza is eaten for dinner with a knife and fork. And you drink beer with pizza, not wine!
Now Roman style pizza is quite different, with a slightly thicker and crunchy crust, usually sold by the slice (square or rectangular in shape), but equally delicious and not overwhelmed by a plethora of toppings.
4. Pasta in all its forms, cooked al dente, with just the right amount of sauce, served in appropriate amount, and most definitely not served with meatballs!
5. Pastries, not as elaborate,sweet, or artistic as the French variety, but quite lovely when paired with a cappuccino.
6. The Passeggiata- an early evening stroll just before dinner, meeting and greeting friends and presenting “la bella figura”, i.e. not dressed in sweatpants, droopy jeans, or pajama bottoms!
7. Importance of family – parents pushing strollers or walking with young children, adult children with their elderly parents, couples arm-in-arm, the bonds between family members are quite evident. 
8. The piazza (town square), a gathering place where the people gather to interact and gossip and the overall social interaction not seen in the USA because of our tendency to close ourselves off into our little bubbles.
9. The abundance of outdoor cafes, a great place for a coffee, aperitif, or quick snack and a great place to chat with friends.
10. The concern for our environment – energy is especially expensive in Italy; ergo the small cars, strict recycling requirements, and stress on renewable energy.
Stay tuned for Part 2 and for a blog on some things Italy doesn’t do very well.
Camino Musings 