I have spent most of my adult life abroad. However, after twenty years outside of Italy and life in 6 different countries, there are still food oddities that get under my skin. Here’s a collection of those things that no Italian will get past without scratching their heads.
Translation mishaps
One of the first things that hit you as you set foot outside of Italy is translations that make no sense at all.
The pepperoni mystery
The first time I entered a Tesco supermarket in the UK, I stared at a pizza box saying “pepperoni pizza” and wondered: “where’s the peperoni”? What I saw was a pizza with some kind of spicy salami. What I expected was a pizza with sweet bell peppers (peperoni, with one “p”).
Orzo or pastina?
Another very confusing translation is for “orzo”. In English-speaking countries, “orzo” is a type of elongated small pasta that is cooked in a creamy soup or bowl compositions. In Italian, that would be what we call a type of “pastina”, a smaller type for pasta used in soups like minestrina or minestrone. Orzo, in Italian, means barley.
Throwing confetti? That’s rude!
As an Italian, when you hear people talk about “throwing confetti” at someone it sounds really bizarre. In Italy, confetti aren’t small bits of colored paper (we call those “coriandoli”). Confetti is a bite-sized candy with a hard coating of sugar and a soft interior (sometimes with almonds). We give confetti to guests at parties in special occasions, such as a wedding, a baptism, or a college graduation.
Not Italian food
Every country will try to adapt foreign food to their local taste. There’s that, and there’s food that’s just not Italian at all. So many people attach Italian names to dishes that would make any nonna throw her wooden spoon at you. Here’s some of the most common.
Spaghetti and meatballs
Yeah. It might be cute in Lily and the Tramp, but that’s not an Italian thing. We don’t put meatballs in our spaghetti, nor (shame on you Sheldon Cooper!) wursts (Vienna sausages). The closest thing to that is a Neapolitan timballo, which is not an everyday dish.
Alfredo sauce
Who is Alfredo and why did he invent such a bland sauce? Sorry, Alfredo, your nonna didn’t do a very good job teaching you how to cook. If you’re on an Italian vacation and see a restaurant offering anything Alfredo on their menu, stay away.
Anything-chicken pasta or parmigiana
Don’t ask me why. No Italian dish will mix chicken and pasta. It might be delicious, but that’s just not an Italian thing. The same goes with parmigiana, which has no chicken whatsoever in it.
Tuscany marry-me soup
This must be one of the most mistreated, misunderstood Italian recipes in the world. I’ve seen all sort of soups branded as “Tuscany” soup, some with gnocchi (not a Tuscany thing), some with heavy creams and odd ingredients. Tuscany has some amazing soups, but that’s not what you find at a Olive Garden’s.
Garlic bread
Garlic bread? Not a thing. Try bruschetta.
Misprononciations and that Uh?-moment
So you’re in a conversation with some locals and they want to please you. They start talking about Italian food but you have no idea what they’re talking about. Those moments come down to mispronunciations that are so widespread that you might be the only one not understanding what’s going on.
The Gnocchi horror
This one is probably the worst. In Italian, “gn” is pronounced as one sound (like a soft “n” or Spanish “ñ”) and “ch” is pronounced like “k”. The double “c” makes for a slightly longer/stronger sound. Try with “ñokki”.
Bru-what?
You’re at an Italian restaurant. They offer you broo-sh-etta. Moment of panic. Your brain goes wild because that sounds really hilarious to an Italian ear. As mentioned above, “ch” in Italian is pronounced like a “k”. Try with “Bruce-k-etta”.
The fun of learning
Some of these misunderstandings made for very funny, hilarious, and unforgettable moments. Did you know any of these? Tell us your food oddity stories in the comments below!
