Italy from the Inside

What’s that small tray near the cash register?


Many people are surprised when, after paying for coffee or whatever you had at a bar, the cashier puts the change on a small plate next to the register instead of giving it directly to you.
The plate creates a kind of “transition area” for the money going from you to the cashier and, as in the case of your change, from the cashier back to you. This “plate rule” actually applies to most stores.
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Italian food misconceptions


This is a brief chapter that will clarify some typical mistakes and misinterpretations of Italian cuisine all around the world.
– We’re skipping the famous Pasta Alfredo as we covered it previously.
– The Italian soda is definitely something that has been made up in the States.
– The American “Italian dressing” is another myth to bust. The original Italian dressing is simply extra-virgin olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper. You’ll find all of these ingredients on the tables of every Italian restaurant, so that anybody can make his/her own dressing.
– In Italy peperoni (yes, with one ‘p’) means peppers, while salame piccante means pepperoni.
– Italians do not use lots of garlic (especially garlic powder on the pizza) as is commonly thought in the USA. Italians do use garlic alright, but in reasonable proportions.
– Last but not least: you won’t find macaroni and cheese anywhere in Italy. What you’ll find is maccheroni which is one of the hundreds of types of (short) pasta.

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Ferragosto

If you happened to visit Italy during August, you may have noticed that many businesses are closed for the traditional summer vacation and many Italians have already headed to the beach. August is the month when most of the country shuts down, including the big manufacturing industries.

The pinnancle of the summer in Italy is August 15th and is called Ferragosto. This day is also a national holiday celebrated by the Catholic Church. For tourists, Ferragosto can be a good moment to visit the big cities, unusually empty, even if some museums and services may be closed too. Local festivals (called sagre) and bigger events abound all across the country. The Italy for Visitors guide on About.com has compiled a nice list of key events happening this summer.