Breakfast in Italia… One of the first things that you learn when you move to Italy concerns the differences in food culture. It can sometimes be difficult to let go of the conventions which you\u2019ve always taken as absolute. But when it comes to eating, you\u2019ll quickly learn to question everything that you thought you knew in your previous life. So no matter what your mother told you or what you\u2019ve read in the latest fad diet book on nutrition, do yourself a favor: ignore it all and just follow the example of the Italians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s look at breakfast for instance. In the US, we are often lectured about the importance of a substantial breakfast. \u201cIt\u2019s the most important meal of the day,\u201d or so the mantra goes. Even if bacon and eggs are no longer our standard fare, we still manage to horse down a sizeable portion of sugar and calories with our bagels and cream cheese and Frappuccino Macchiato with an extra pump of caramel sauce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Walk into any bar in Rome between the hours of 7:30 and 9:30 and just observe what people are eating. When you first look at the simple cornetto<\/a> and the diminutive shot of espresso, it may not strike you as something immediately appealing. But go ahead, be brave. If you can\u2019t speak Italian, just say it in English with an Italian accent. They\u2019ll know what you want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First, savor it with your sense of smell.\u00a0 The cornetto evokes the comforts of grandma\u2019s kitchen.\u00a0 It relaxes you, makes you feel warm and cozy.\u00a0 Now have a whiff of the espresso.\u00a0 Your eyes open a little wider and you\u2019re suddenly more alert, more engaged than you were only seconds ago.\u00a0 And you haven\u2019t even put anything in your mouth yet.<\/p>\n\n\n![\"typical](\"https:\/\/rickzullo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/venezia-bar.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t