How To Use An Italian Kitchen
One of the most delightful things about authentic Italian food is its simplicity. Dishes are rarely composed of more than a handful of ingredients, and the interventions and cooking techniques applied to those ingredients are minimal. Likewise, Italian kitchens themselves are generally simple, and small.
Guide to Renting a Property in Italy
So you've decided to take the plunge and make the move to Italy. Maybe it's for a three month extended holiday, or a year-long sabbatical? Or perhaps you're committed to staying for as long as it feels right? In any case, unless you have the amount of cash required to purchase a property outright, you will be in the market for a rental.
Driving in Italy
Driving in Italy requires two things. An abundance of courage, and a complete lack of shame. Without these, my polite and perplexed foreign motorist, nought but fear and chaos shall you endure.
A Guide to Aperitivo in Italy
Aperitivo literally translates to "to open" - as in, to open the stomach before a meal. In reality it refers to the practice of enjoying a drink prior to dinner, along with a selection of snacks, ostensibly designed to prepare your body for the meal ahead.
The Local Guide to a Perfect Day in Lucca
Of course, your first task will be to enjoy an Italian breakfast. There are many delightful bars throughout the town, but my favourite for the exceptional quality of the pastry and the terrifyingly stern efficiency of the barista is Pasticcieria Dianda. Another excellent option is Pinelli, however the ordering and payment fiasco there is not for the faint of heart.
Public Toilets in Italy
It might not be the most polite topic of conversation, but being caught short in Italy without a plan can be quite the ordeal for the uninitiated. Many of the emergency strategies that exist at home are not options here. And so to prevent any discomfort (or much worse in dire cases), here is my guide to public toileting in Italy.
Grocery Shopping in Italy
Walk slightly out of the main tourist area. And then walk into pretty much any greengrocer or delicatessen you see. The older and more dated the signage out front and decor within, the better. If you can see a flickering fluorescent tube light from the front window, you know you’ve hit the jackpot.
Ordering Coffee in Italy
It hardly needs saying that Italy is serious about coffee. While many other countries drink it, few other places on earth are as culturally inseparable from it. And it is this entanglement between a simple beverage and a national identity that results in the many unspoken rules governing how it should be enjoyed.