ira

Hey Buzzy,

Don't listen to them.

There is nothing in Italian restaurants but pizza and pasta, with occasional meatball.

In France all you can get is frog legs and tripe. Cokes are very expensive.

The Irish eat only potatoes, the Brits have fish and chips. The Scots will try to get you to eat Haggis at every meal.

Germans eat schnitzel and noodles.

MyriamC

Ira, aren't those meals in Europe just horrible?

ira

Hi M,

Yup. That's why I stay home and have the "meat and 3" with dessert here at "The Old Colonial".

laclaire

I actually think this is a valid question. When I went to Morocco last summer, I ate cous cous and vegetables or meat tagine on a daily basis until I finally beat feet for the coast to get some good fish. I found Moroccan food to have very little variety (save at Yacoub where food is an art) and though not surprised, I wish someone had told me that, no really, it is all cous cous and tagine.

So here I am to confirm everyone else. Italian food is more than pizza and pasta and in 3 weeks if you want to make it a game of avoiding those dishes, you certainly can.

tcreath

Well, I for one love the pizzas in Italy and ate them just about once a day, but I am not a "foodie" and tend to be quite picky. That being said, I also had some truly wonderful meat dishes, and a couple of fantastic bowls of ribollita. It is easy to eat in Italy without touching pasta or pizza. I do admit that it can get old after awhile if that's all you eat. You can also get panninis for lunch.

Tracy

Mimar

However, Buzzy, pizza in Italy is not the same as in the US. It has a thin crust with a few light vegetable toppings. You may like it. And it's not perfectly round because somebody just made it. Usually one person gets a whole pizza -- but, as I say, they're light.

brando

I've been to italy twice and although i've had incredible pasta, pasta you can not find in the states I might add, my favorite meal is not pasta or pizza. It was in florance, my wife and I ate at a little restaurant off the arno with about 6 tables in the place. I had wild boar-incredible. A must have in my opinion. Actually, we've spent a total of 2 monthes in europe and it is a top 3 meal.

TheVagabondLady

Ok brando,,, I'll bite...

What and where were the other 2 of the top 3 meals in europe?

I agree with Ira...you must only eat pizza and pasta in Italy or they will know you are a tourist and they will hunt you down and put you in a room and feed you only pizza and pasta until you submit.

brando

well vagabond lady my top 3 meals in europe are in no particular order:

1. Wild boar in florence with a bottle of chianti classico (my favorite)
2. Sword fish in lagos portugual at a streetside restaurant. Great expereince with nuts for dessert and a shot for my wife and I, the waiter said one was strong and one was weak. He adivsed me that I should have the strong one before I see the bill. I agreed took that shot and looked at the bill 45 euro. I still laught about that. what a bargin.
3. It was in barcelona, at another street side cafe, a local place right before you get to a plaza, it was chicken and some type of pasta with fresch slices of cheese and a bottle of wine. A grat place went there 3 times in 2 days in barcelona- incredible.

Buzzy

Great replies. Thanks a lot. I do actually like pizza and pasta I just wanted some reassrance that there will be some other choices. We will be on a budget so I hope that we can get other choices in the more ordinary and not so grand restaurants. Most of the menus I have seen have been in Italian restarants in the UK which are very dominated by pizza and pasta.

artlover

Claire,
I'm jealous you were able to eat two deserts! I was practically full after the complimentary appetizers (of couse I didn't let that stop me from eating everything else we ordered!