So good and so true! When working in Italy, mornings are hard due to having had no real food until lunchtime. (Obviously lunch and dinner easily make up for this.) Ideal meal schedule from my peripatetic teaching life? Swedish breakfasts: smörgåsbord. Lunch: Ladakhi momos in soup. Dinner: Whatever my Italian hosts give me.
I LOVE scrambled eggs and my big American iced lattes with the flavor and almond/oat milk, yet I’d eat a cornetto al pistacchio and drink only lattes macchiato every day for the rest of my life (not really the sacrifice I’m trying to make it sound like) if it meant I could find a way to wake up in Italy every day.
Yes it’s pretty shocking the breakfast scene here in Sicily/Italy…. I am still trying to make sense of it after 4 years living here. But I also spend all my time in rural Sicily, and talking to any of my “old” neighbors, their breakfast today hasn’t changed since when they were kids, consisting of fresh/warm milk with bread from the day before broken into in. Not so bad in my opinion!! And of course, just ask the shepherd and they have most probably already eaten stewed meat and broth with a glass of wine by 6am… not bad either!!! 🥲
8 years of living in Italy and I still miss my big, savoury Brazilian breakfast every day. Coffee + pastry (and sometimes orange juice) is so not acid reflux friendly
That transition into a different stride of life is so real. The first couple days traveling, the first few days back on the lookout, the first day and night out backpacking…they’re all so uncomfortable, wondering what the hell I was thinking, jonesing for the sense of relief at having arrived in a way of being that feels true to me, and knowing that it’s coming, I just have to ride this out first…
Truly enjoyed this article, Trevor! I can relate...especially with the first time I set foot in small town, western Japan. And, all subsequent visits. The switching gears (and gut microbiome) takes me many days. But, there is something about the immediacy of those first few sleepless days that builds character and appreciation...both, for what I left behind and for what lay ahead.
Dang, now I have to go to my global entry appointment. It will be a challenge to skip a day of cheese making!! Thanks for traveling and keeping me wanting to adventure as well...
So good and so true! When working in Italy, mornings are hard due to having had no real food until lunchtime. (Obviously lunch and dinner easily make up for this.) Ideal meal schedule from my peripatetic teaching life? Swedish breakfasts: smörgåsbord. Lunch: Ladakhi momos in soup. Dinner: Whatever my Italian hosts give me.
Lovely
I LOVE scrambled eggs and my big American iced lattes with the flavor and almond/oat milk, yet I’d eat a cornetto al pistacchio and drink only lattes macchiato every day for the rest of my life (not really the sacrifice I’m trying to make it sound like) if it meant I could find a way to wake up in Italy every day.
That’s valid.
Yes it’s pretty shocking the breakfast scene here in Sicily/Italy…. I am still trying to make sense of it after 4 years living here. But I also spend all my time in rural Sicily, and talking to any of my “old” neighbors, their breakfast today hasn’t changed since when they were kids, consisting of fresh/warm milk with bread from the day before broken into in. Not so bad in my opinion!! And of course, just ask the shepherd and they have most probably already eaten stewed meat and broth with a glass of wine by 6am… not bad either!!! 🥲
Both of those breakfast are obviously up my alley. The milk and bread reminds me of zabbina, cheesemaker soup.
8 years of living in Italy and I still miss my big, savoury Brazilian breakfast every day. Coffee + pastry (and sometimes orange juice) is so not acid reflux friendly
Ha this was great, thanks for an entertaining read, very relateable. Safe travels.
Carmen
That transition into a different stride of life is so real. The first couple days traveling, the first few days back on the lookout, the first day and night out backpacking…they’re all so uncomfortable, wondering what the hell I was thinking, jonesing for the sense of relief at having arrived in a way of being that feels true to me, and knowing that it’s coming, I just have to ride this out first…
I loved reading this Trevor and it makes me want to visit Italy someday
I love how you're roasting Italy and yet, as an Italian, I couldn't agree more. Great piece!
Thing is, after being there for a few weeks, I was completely in love with Italy again.
I related so hard to this. The way you capture the intensity of food obsession and tangled feelings is so real. Can’t wait to read more!
Truly enjoyed this article, Trevor! I can relate...especially with the first time I set foot in small town, western Japan. And, all subsequent visits. The switching gears (and gut microbiome) takes me many days. But, there is something about the immediacy of those first few sleepless days that builds character and appreciation...both, for what I left behind and for what lay ahead.
Dang, now I have to go to my global entry appointment. It will be a challenge to skip a day of cheese making!! Thanks for traveling and keeping me wanting to adventure as well...