I used Montalcino as a comparable to Rhinebeck, but most Italian towns are the same. Where my family is from, Spotorno in Liguria, there are 16 restaurants and 14 are Italian, with one burger and one Mexican. I get that Italians are very proud of their food heritage and Italian food is very good. You say that I am looking for American culture in Italy, but I am actually looking for Thai, Japanese, Mexican, etc. Go to a small town in Spain, Denmark, England, or any other European country and you will see many different types of restaurants. Only Italy holds to the exclusivity of its food culture. It obviously doesn't bother you, or most likely most Italians. However for me, someone who dines out frequently and is looking to relocate to Europe, I don't like the restaurant scene in Italy and this article points out why.
2 factors that in my opinion differentiate the restaurant scenes in Italy and the US of A,
1 - when the local food is week , not excellent , other cultures cut through and make their space in the scene. Anglo-Saxon countries . I go to spain often but I haven’t seen what you describe as an eclectic restaurant display. We go because it feels just like being in Italy.
In the us we are very fortunate and wealthy, we go out to eat a lot more than they do in italy. Eating out was a family event for me, maybe 3-4 times a year. Not including the occasional pizza with friends on the weekends.
So if you go to Thailand ( there’s not much other than local food) same in Mexico, I have actually seen some Italian restaurants in Puebla. The Netherlands? Of course they have restaurants from elsewhere. The food isn’t the strongest point. Bakers yes, food? No thank you.
London, same, wealthy , food sux and it always did! that’s why there are a million restaurants representing every culture in the world.
Anyway .
The point is that you go to Italy to experience Italy . and the mixed rest is in new York .
Is like going to cina and say yo! Only cinese food here??? Of course ! It aint a melting pot it’s the real deal heritage culture, that is how you experience the reality of something different.
I conclude saying I can’t stand when people come back from Italy and tell me “ they don’t put ice in my drink! “
Of all the things you could’ve expected you got lost in a glass of water.
I have been to markets in Italy and am always impressed with the bountiful seasonal vegetables. But what I'm taking about is the restaurants in Italy, especially in small towns. For example, in Montalcino there are 14 restaurants inside the commune and all are Italian restaurants. Most have a very similar menu and that menu has only caprese salad as a salad choice. You say the lack of variety is in New York, and that couldn't be further from the truth. Bolognese and meatballs might be common in red sauce Italian restaurants in the US, but that is only a small fraction of the restaurant options here. I have a restaurant in the small Upstate town of Rhinebeck, population 5000 people about the same as Montalcino and a similar tourist destination as well. In Rhinebeck there are 22 restaurants in the Village including 2 pizza, 1 Thai, 2 Japanese, 1 Indian, 1 Diner, 1 Falafel, 1 French, 1 Irish, 1 Puerto Rican, 1 Falafel, 1 BBQ, 2 Italian (both without meatballs), 2 old school American, 3 New American (including my own), 1 Burger, 1 Mexican, 1 Bagel and one bakery. I am sorry I offended you Andrea, but my criticism of the lack of diversity in restaurants in Italy is fair.
Josh, not offended at all. This is just a discussion among fellow Chefs.
What you are looking for is your American culture in Italy. And that you’ll find it only here. This is the American heritage. In italy there a different heritage brought in by Arabs , french , germanic , greeks and of course local traditions. All that made italian food . That’s our identity. Here we have a different history of immigration and heritage.
I reside 1 hour from Rhinebeck, and the food bere is as sad as it gets. Anyway Montalcino is a place were you go for the Brunello, Rhinebeck for xmas shopping and tonescape the city. Different place different heritages.
You know I agree completely here. We eat pasta once a week and I get full just talking about it. Italians are like the NY Yankees of culinary countries. No facial hair, no salad, no thank you. Daddy needs tacos and asian food. And the Dodgers:)
I see what you are saying but I have to disagree in variety of foods and vegetables. What you see in Italy is a melting pot of about 2500 years. We made couscous before we made Pizza, the variety is within. The lack of variety is actually here in NY where you find bolognese in every menu along with meatballs . As an Italian born and a 30 year chef I suggest exploring deeper the regional variety that Italy offers. As per the vegetables we do eat seasonally and that is the reason why you won’t find artichokes in February in Roma. So please dive deeper with more curiosity.
I used Montalcino as a comparable to Rhinebeck, but most Italian towns are the same. Where my family is from, Spotorno in Liguria, there are 16 restaurants and 14 are Italian, with one burger and one Mexican. I get that Italians are very proud of their food heritage and Italian food is very good. You say that I am looking for American culture in Italy, but I am actually looking for Thai, Japanese, Mexican, etc. Go to a small town in Spain, Denmark, England, or any other European country and you will see many different types of restaurants. Only Italy holds to the exclusivity of its food culture. It obviously doesn't bother you, or most likely most Italians. However for me, someone who dines out frequently and is looking to relocate to Europe, I don't like the restaurant scene in Italy and this article points out why.
2 factors that in my opinion differentiate the restaurant scenes in Italy and the US of A,
1 - when the local food is week , not excellent , other cultures cut through and make their space in the scene. Anglo-Saxon countries . I go to spain often but I haven’t seen what you describe as an eclectic restaurant display. We go because it feels just like being in Italy.
In the us we are very fortunate and wealthy, we go out to eat a lot more than they do in italy. Eating out was a family event for me, maybe 3-4 times a year. Not including the occasional pizza with friends on the weekends.
So if you go to Thailand ( there’s not much other than local food) same in Mexico, I have actually seen some Italian restaurants in Puebla. The Netherlands? Of course they have restaurants from elsewhere. The food isn’t the strongest point. Bakers yes, food? No thank you.
London, same, wealthy , food sux and it always did! that’s why there are a million restaurants representing every culture in the world.
Anyway .
The point is that you go to Italy to experience Italy . and the mixed rest is in new York .
Is like going to cina and say yo! Only cinese food here??? Of course ! It aint a melting pot it’s the real deal heritage culture, that is how you experience the reality of something different.
I conclude saying I can’t stand when people come back from Italy and tell me “ they don’t put ice in my drink! “
Of all the things you could’ve expected you got lost in a glass of water.
I have been to markets in Italy and am always impressed with the bountiful seasonal vegetables. But what I'm taking about is the restaurants in Italy, especially in small towns. For example, in Montalcino there are 14 restaurants inside the commune and all are Italian restaurants. Most have a very similar menu and that menu has only caprese salad as a salad choice. You say the lack of variety is in New York, and that couldn't be further from the truth. Bolognese and meatballs might be common in red sauce Italian restaurants in the US, but that is only a small fraction of the restaurant options here. I have a restaurant in the small Upstate town of Rhinebeck, population 5000 people about the same as Montalcino and a similar tourist destination as well. In Rhinebeck there are 22 restaurants in the Village including 2 pizza, 1 Thai, 2 Japanese, 1 Indian, 1 Diner, 1 Falafel, 1 French, 1 Irish, 1 Puerto Rican, 1 Falafel, 1 BBQ, 2 Italian (both without meatballs), 2 old school American, 3 New American (including my own), 1 Burger, 1 Mexican, 1 Bagel and one bakery. I am sorry I offended you Andrea, but my criticism of the lack of diversity in restaurants in Italy is fair.
Josh, not offended at all. This is just a discussion among fellow Chefs.
What you are looking for is your American culture in Italy. And that you’ll find it only here. This is the American heritage. In italy there a different heritage brought in by Arabs , french , germanic , greeks and of course local traditions. All that made italian food . That’s our identity. Here we have a different history of immigration and heritage.
I reside 1 hour from Rhinebeck, and the food bere is as sad as it gets. Anyway Montalcino is a place were you go for the Brunello, Rhinebeck for xmas shopping and tonescape the city. Different place different heritages.
You know I agree completely here. We eat pasta once a week and I get full just talking about it. Italians are like the NY Yankees of culinary countries. No facial hair, no salad, no thank you. Daddy needs tacos and asian food. And the Dodgers:)
I see what you are saying but I have to disagree in variety of foods and vegetables. What you see in Italy is a melting pot of about 2500 years. We made couscous before we made Pizza, the variety is within. The lack of variety is actually here in NY where you find bolognese in every menu along with meatballs . As an Italian born and a 30 year chef I suggest exploring deeper the regional variety that Italy offers. As per the vegetables we do eat seasonally and that is the reason why you won’t find artichokes in February in Roma. So please dive deeper with more curiosity.
Andrea Ghersi