One of those pretentious things that you hear people say but that is actually rather true is that certain foods are never as good as the version available on their home ground. While you may be able to find very tasty examples elsewhere, the expertise, experience, and innate understanding of locals means that eating the real deal can be a totally different experience. Foodies who love Italian food, in particular, will find that it is truly hard to compare to Italian food in Italy. So, if you have booked a villa in Italy or you are coming to explore and move about the country, these are the foods that we think you need to ensure that you try while you are in Italy – but don’t blame us if nothing else ever quite compares...
The Tiramisu Experience
Why start with tiramisu of all things? Of course, tiramisu is a beloved dessert all around the world but out of all of the dishes in Italy – why this? Well, this author thinks that it is a perfect example of the scale of difference between Italian food in Italy and abroad. Steeped in peasant traditions of hearty, filling, comforting food that keeps you going and is made from ingredients available in a fertile landscape that yields incredible produce, Italian food, even when done less well is hard to really mess up but Italian food, when done perfectly, is an almost religious experience. In my case, I had never before liked tiramisu when I had eaten it at home but when I first went to Italy and had to eat some at a dinner party out of politeness, I was taken aback. I almost thought that it had to be something else entirely but, no, it was just tiramisu made in Italy and by Italians. To this day, I never eat tiramisu but if I’m back in Italy, well, I can’t say no. While tiramisu is now such a staple that you’ll find it on menus all over when you vacation in Italy, if you have booked a holiday rental in Veneto and are in its birthplace of Treviso, in particular, you’re bound to have the totally out-of-this-world experience that I did.
Pizza is Always A Good Idea
Pizza is another example of something that tastes pretty good even if it’s not the best version in the world – bread, cheese, tomato sauce, and toppings are hard to mess up – but, once again, the difference is striking. Even pizza from random little shops with no particular reputation as a hotspot in any given town in Italy is better than much of what you’ll experience elsewhere. Not only that but pizza is super inexpensive in Italy (you can usually get slices or small portions for only a couple of euros) and a perfect on-the-go snack. Not to mention that it’s going to taste even better while enjoyed on holiday, in the sun, maybe with a beer, at this low price-point. Really, what more could you ask for? Well, you could head to a vacation rental in Campania and experience the pizza on its home ground of Naples.
The Wine Hits Different Here
One thing I was told by several people in Italy was that they keep the best wine for themselves. “You’ll never get Italian wine as good as this anywhere else,” the smiling host told a college-aged me as he tried to include me in the conversation and poured a glass of red for me at the same dinner party where I had discovered the real tiramisu. “Just like Guinness is different in Ireland,” he added with a wink before I disappointed everyone by saying that I didn’t drink beer (at the time). I don’t know if this is universally true. Perhaps, sometimes you can get exported examples that are just as good. However, you’re likely going to have to pay a lot more for even less enjoyable examples. If you find a villa in Chianti or any of the other famous wine regions of Italy, then you can enjoy wine in the best possible setting – exploring charming vineyards on lazy days out, being guided through tastings to learn more, and picking up some bottles directly from the source at much cheaper price points to bring or ship home as perfect souvenirs!
No Truffle-ing Matter
Similarly, the culinary delicacies that are truffles can now be readily acquired abroad but if you book a vacation rental in Piedmont or a holiday rental in Umbria or a villa in Emilia-Romangna or any of the other truffle destinations in Italy, you will discover a whole new world. Not only will you also be able to find truffles and truffle-based products easily and at more competitive price points but often they will be of a higher-quality. Additionally, restaurants in these areas serve incredible truffle dishes that will inspire any hobbyist chefs for years to come.
So, while no one wants to be that annoying person acting as if no one else has ever been to a certain destination or that no one else understands a certain culture as they suddenly do, it is true that foodies who vacation in Italy are sure to find that it is an extraordinary and eye-opening culinary adventure!
