Shop Kit
How To Shop For Food On Holiday In Italy
So you've booked a self-catering holiday in Italy on a farm in Tuscany or by a beach in Liguria? Enjoy exploring the flavours of Italy with this basic guide to help you enjoy food shopping as part of your holiday experience.
Traditionally Italians shop every day for what they want to eat that day, as freshness is a big concern to them. You won't find huge fridges in most Italian kitchens, so decide every day as you shop, what you want to eat that day, according to what looks freshest and most appetising in the shops. The shop keepers are quite used to selling just two slices of perfectly sliced prosciutto, or a small piece of pecorino cheese. You can of course just head to a supermarket and fill your trolley for the week, but shopping the traditional way in all the little shops is an experience not to be missed and you will gain more cultural understanding this way, than any amount of museum visiting will provide.
Follow your nose first to the Forno, for crusty white bread, rolls and salty focaccia, a soft olive oil pizza bread cut into squares, that the school children often stop by for as a morning snack. Pane integrale is wholewheat bread and becoming more easily available. If you don't acquire the taste for the traditional, unsalted bread you can ask for pane salata - salted bread, which is sometimes available as a speciality bread.
Next drop by the fruttaverdura - the greengrocers. Italy has a wonderful variety of fruits and vegetables and you will find whatever is in season and at its best. Italians are distrustful of imported food, the more locally grown the better, so most of what is on offer won't have been subjected to cold storage and other indignities. May brings strawberries and cherries piled high and bright. Peaches and nectarines follow with melons of all varieties. By the time you reach autumn these have been succeeded by heaps of glistening grapes, luscious figs and juicy pears. Watch the local signoras carefully selecting their fruit and veg and you will get an idea of what is at its best and what should be left another week until it is truly in season, ripe and delicious.
The alimentari now- the general grocers store. You will probably be following the same group of signoras from shop to shop as they do their morning round. Everything is here, from tins piled high, to packets of pasta, with a counter of cheeses and salamis to be sliced to your requirements. You can ask for two slices of prosciutto crudo - cured ham, thinly sliced or buy sliced meats and cheeses by the etto - a generally used term for 100g (about 3oz). If you want to have a taste before you decide to purchase, just ask and a sliver of cheese will be passed over the counter for you to pronounce judgement on. There will also be containers of herby olives and sundried tomatoes to buy by weight. Bottles of mineral water and wine will rub shoulders in a corner.
For a treat stop by the pasticceria for a tray of delicious creamy pastries, which will be wrapped in paper and ribbon until they are worthy of the Christmas tree.
Now head off for a picnic lunch in an olive grove with your spoils, or treat yourself to a long lunch in a restaurant and keep your shopping for a delicious, no-cooking, light supper on the terrace of your apartment.
Copyright 2007 Kit Heathcock
About the Author
Kit Heathcock has worked and travelled in Italy for many years, is passionate about food and is now lucky enough to work from home and still have time to cook and write. She is currently writing and copyediting for a major new travel website
Just the Planet
Shop Kit
 |
 POLA G 331703 Hammersmith’s shop with drive KIT MIB  US $569.99
|
 POLA G 331703 Operating Blacksmith Shop Kit US $569.99
|
 BLACKSMITH SHOP F G Large Scale Model Railroad Structure Laser Wood Kit BM8125 US $146.95
|
 PIKO MELs FIX IT SHOP G Scale Building Kit New in Box US $134.99
|
 PIKO G 62103 BAIT AND TACKLE SHOP KIT MINT IN BOX US $127.99
|
 PIKO G 62078 MELS FIX IT SHOP KIT G SCALE MIB US $127.99
|
 PIKO BILLS AUTO BODY SHOP G Scale Building Kit New in Box 62208 US $104.99
|
 PIKO G 62219 David`s Barber Shop KIT MINT IN BOX US $99.99
|
 PIKO G 62258 Dora`s Bakery Shop KIT MINT IN BOX US $99.99
|
 PIKO G 62208 Bill`s Body Shop KIT MINT IN BOX US $99.99
|
 PIKO G 62208 BILLS BODY SHOP KITMINT IN BOX US $99.99
|
 PIKO DAVIDS BARBER SHOP STORE G Scale Building Kit New in Box US $99.95
|
 PIKO G 62064 Gramss Baker`s Shop KIT MINT IN BOX US $69.99
|
 PIKO G 62065 Bauer`s Florist Shop KIT MINT IN BOX US $69.99
|
 PIKO G 62070 Pet Shop KIT MINT IN BOX US $69.99
|
 PIKO G 62063 Lederer Butcher`s Shop KIT MINT IN BOX US $69.99
|
 PIKO G 62115 LGB TRAIN SHOP KIT MINT IN BOX US $63.99
|
 PIKO G 62721 Qwik Kit Music Shop MINT IN BOX US $56.99
|
 PIKO G 62723 Qwik KitBook Worm Book Shop MIB US $56.99
|
 PIKO G 62256 Gingerbread Series Craft Shop KIT MIB US $56.99
|
 PIKO G 62118 SAUSAGE SHOP KIT G SCALE MIB US $55.99
|
 PIKO G 62119 CHEESE SHOP KIT G SCALE MIB US $55.99
|
 PIKO G 62201 ROBINS TOY SHOP KITMINT IN BOX US $55.99
|
 PIKO BOOK WORM BOOK SHOP STORE G Scale Building Qwik Kit 62724 New in box US $52.99
|
 PIKO COFFEE HOUSE SHOP STORE G Scale Building Qwik Kit 62723 New in box US $52.99
|
 PIKO MUSIC SHOP STORE G Scale Building Qwik Kit 62721 New in box US $52.99
|
i want to get a front end rebuild kit for a 1957 Ford Ranch wagon. should i do it myself or take it to a shop?
I have a 1957 Ford Ranchwagon and the front end pops when i turn or hit a bump. i want to get a total front end rebiuld kit. what is a good price for one and should i do it myself or take it to a shop?
if you price all the parts individually you may be able to rebuild the front end for cheaper than the kit but a kit will have all necessary hardware and instructions. and I would say do it your self it's actually pretty easy on the old cars and will probably take you about two weekends to get the job done.