Meagan's Food Review
In American culture, we often become comfortable in our habits, such as our ways of eating. Traveling to new places allows us to stretch our taste buds in ways that we never knew they could go. From bitter to sweet, the experiences of trying new foods are always a beneficial experience, whether or not we like what we are eating. It’s only through the experience of trying new foods that we are able to learn to trust our senses and learn more about who we are as individuals. The foods in Italy vary from the location and the proximity the location has to local food sources. Areas near a water source focus a great deal of effort on fresh seafood, like clams and mussels, while places near countryside focus on harvest produce, such as wine products and fresh vegetables. The essence of the people’s livelihood is reflected in their food, and as a visitor to their culture, the best way to experience who the people are is through the food that is passionately created. However, there is a distinct difference in the way the food is prepared depending on the type of establishment that the food comes from.
Larger restaurants food reflects a lack of quality as they are attempting to provide for a larger amount of people in one instance, versus a local bakery, that creates new types of sweets to keep appealing to their customers. Local business thrive on keeping their bakery stocked with novel and beloved items for their customers to choose from, whether they are buying a pastry, candy, or gelato. The restaurants focus their food on filling their customers, while appealing to their taste buds. While traveling, it is easy to gravitate towards the known, especially when it comes to food, but if the traveler does not take the initiative to try the local food, then they lose the essence of the culture they are meant to be interacting with and learning from.