Why is Italian food in Italy so disappointing?

Question

For about the same price as I've had elsewhere (Europe, Far East) the food has always been indifferent (badly cooked, lack of choice ect., and this is all over the country). I really love Italy for every other aspect but if I wanted a cheap and cheerful pasta or pizza meal I wouldn't choose Italy.

Answer 1

I think that CaymanSunrise gave an excellent answer, but I have to add that it is very possible that you had the misfortune of dining at some really bad tourist restaurants.

Italy's tourism industry is huge. They have developed their system of supplying to tourists over a long period of time. It is very difficult to weed through the tourist restaurants when they are in all of the prominent tourist areas. If you are forming an opinion about food in Italy based upon eating at a restaurant in Venice or one of the large piazzas in Rome, Piazza Navona for instance, you have unfortunately missed out on some of the most amazing culinary experiences that you can even imagine. Even some of the smaller tourist towns have their tourist restaurants. Yes it is disappointing, but this happens all of the time. It is comparable to someone from another country coming to the US and basing their opinion on eating at a tourist restaurant here.

I am sorry that you did not have a positive eating experience in Italy, but next time prepare well ahead.

For another answers info; pizza is actually Italian. Try eating it in an amazing pizzeria with wood fired ovens, Mozzarella di Bufala and fresh off the vine tomatoes and basil. My son will not eat pizza here, only in Italy.

When in Liguria, go to a foccaceria for the fresh focaccia. Also try La Farinata. There are also many "Cucina Casalinga" translation: home cooking. Funky places where you will get a basic menu but very traditional regional dishes. Genova actually has some of my favorite food, partly because that city does not have as much tourism so it is easier to find authentic, well prepared food.

Answer 2

I'm sorry you are having a bad experience with the cuisine in Italy.  I bet it is because you aren't getting recommendations on restaurants and because you haven't eaten in the homes of Italians.  To get the best Italian food, you have to visit Mamma's kitchen, which is always open by the way.

Have you been to the markets?  Market day is so special--you can find every kind of pasta, bread, olives, cheese, and wonderful Italian fruit and vegetables.  

It's too bad you missed out on this.  Next time, read up on the best restaurants, learn a little Italian, and find out where and when the street markets are.  A beautiful book to read is by Jamie Oliver http://www.jamieoliver.com/ with his documentary on Italy.

Answer 3

WU-fan

FYI - On June 19, 1889, a pizza maker known as Raffaele Esposito  (Naples) invented the pizza as it is known today, by adding cheese an basil to the standard dough and tomatoes and named it Pizza Margherita in honor of Queen Margharita of Savoy.

Answer 4

Real Italian food seems to do this to people. The thing is, here in America the Italian food is so Americanized, and just called Italian because of the 'Italian' seasonings in the dish.

Also i don't know what part of Italy you went to, or where you ate. But chances are if you were eating in a tourist section then chances are you wern't really getting the real food.

Northern Italy's cuisine is different than southern Italy.

Answer 5

That is probably because you are not used to real Italian food, but what others outside of Italy think it should taste like. IMO

Answer 6

It's not.  Authentic is almost always better.

Answer 7

well thats how the real Italians cook it

Answer 8

Maybe because you're used to the Americanized version of Italian, like the Olive Garden.  Same thing with people saying they like Mexican food, but only from Chi-Chi's which is Tex-Mex and not authentic.

Answer 9

who said so?

the food u try there is the real italian food

maybe u hav heard something else bout italian food

or maybe u r not used 2 tat food

Answer 10

That's because pizza is really not Italian, much like tostadas are not really Mexican. Their cuisine uses real cheeses and fresh herbs unlike here in the U.S. -every thing ids pretty much processed. If I want pizza I'll go to N.Y or Chicago- not Italy. But I'll try it at least, this way you can say you've tried real Italian food.