An Authentic Italian Dinner

Last night, some girls on the program and I were invited to our friend Giacomo's house for dinner. He and his friends offered to cook us dinner in exchange for our teaching them some American drinking games. Good deal, no? I am never one to turn down free food as my money continues to be siphoned out of my account by Ryanair.

Anyway, the books cooked us pasta with panchetta sauce and bacon. So delicious. They also had a plate of mozzarella di bufala and some meat and bread. I took a piece of meat without thinking of it, rolled it up in some bread, and ate it. Turns out- it was the equina I was hoping to try! It tasted very sweet and a little peppery and I definitely want to try and cook something with it myself.





Although the dinner was delicious, the best part by far was sitting around the table getting to know our friends better. I think I learned more during that one meal than I have all semester so far! They told us that it is normal to cook dinner for someone after meeting them only once or twice. This is a tradition I would love to see picked up in the States.

What made even more of an impression on me is how important eating with one's friends is here in Italy. Sure, the delicious food and better wine make for a good reason to go out to dinner, but it is the conversation and laughs that are truly treasured here. More important than stuffing one's face is leaving the dinner table satisfied with the company you keep. I hope that I was as welcome an addition to their dinner as they made me feel, and that this treat continues on for the rest of the semester.

Til next time-
Sarah

Eating Like a Man in Germany

This past weekend, some girls on the trip and I went to Berlin for some history lessons and good brats and beer. After some great walking tours and museum visits, we sat down to some very delicious meals. The first dinner we had was in a very authentic and old-fashioned German restaurant, where the women dressed in plaid dresses and an English menu was non-existent. After pondering the selections and choosing the one that was the most foreign sounding, I ended up getting a pretty tame meal, in terms of exoticness.



Pork, creamed mushrooms, and mashed potatoes

Washed down with a frizzy lemonade drink, I was happy with my first German meal but wanted something that isn't so readily available in the states. We decided to go with a place that was recommended in our travel guide, and it definitely didn't disappoint. Not only was the food amazing, but it the presentation and atmosphere were also excellent. The restaurant was small and dimly light with small tables to create a feeling of intimacy. There were boar and moose heads on the wall and it had its on microbrewery. After some delicious potato schnitzel and brussel sprouts, we had dessert, which was pineapple ravioli with white chocolate inside and apple strudel.





All of this food, paired with the occasional currywurst or donor kebab from a street vendor made for a great trip, gastronomically speaking!

Danke,
Sarah