Two human birds in Rome!
A few summers ago, I was working in Italy and my friend met me in Rome.
We are as bad as each other when it comes to eating meals. We struggle to finish a main course, so we order one between us. This is very unusual in Italy as Italians eat numerous courses. Traditional Italian menus have five sections. Usually, a meal consists of an appetizer, first course and a second course with a side dish. Italians order at least two courses. Italian meals may last one or two hours or even longer.
When I worked at camps throughout Italy, lunches consisted of an entire three or four course meal. Pasta was on the menu every day, followed by a meat and some vegetables. Pizza was generally more of a snack . Children would eat pizza at break-time! They would bring a slice or two in their lunch boxes. At some camps, cake was offered for dessert every day. It’s all great until you have to run after little kids who have pasta and cake in their belly! And then they start complaining ten minutes later because they feel sick!
During our Rome visit, my friend said she couldn’t eat any more pizza and pasta! She was sick of it! She suggested Burger King…I don’t do Burger King unless I am incredibly desperate for food, so luckily enough we came across this cute little family run Peruvian restaurant in the Termini Station area, where we were staying. We had Ceviche de Pescado appetizer (traditional Peruvian specialty made of white fish, marinated in lime, ginger, salt and pepper). We also shared some spicy chicken and rice, which was interesting and tasty. El Norteño is located on Via Castro Pretorio, 26.
Hii! I saw you’re following my blog, thanks a lot!! I already jotted down some of your recipes hahah, they look delicious! Keep on with ur blog, take care! 🙂
Great photos! That pizza looks amazing.
How do they do it? Like you, I can only eat a little at a time. The idea of eating several courses is impossible, unless I have just a tablespoon or two of each dish. Yet, I’m overweight, just a tad shy of the obese BMI. I’m half Italian too, so you’d think I could eat the same way they do and get away with it.
I’m not sure I could ever get tired of pizza, but that Peruvian restaurant sounds like it was a wonderful break.
I’m half Italian/Sicilian and I’m with Marlene. I could never do those multiple courses.
It’s been awhile since I watched it, but isn’t that the fountain that Anita Ekberg frolicked around sensually in La Dolce Vita?
Yes it’s the Trevi Fountain.
I can’t claim to be a petite eater, but your snacks look wonderful and healthy. (grumble grumble) I love Italy and the way they eat there. Lots of fresh stuff. Thanks for following the pandas. I’m looking forward to more of your blog posts, and eating some of the recipes. I’m lucky enough to have a local source for wonderful goat cheese. I’m going to try the roast pears.
They are yummy! I hope you enjoy them!
I love anything Italian. Have you ever read ‘Eat Pray Love’ when she’s in Italy?
She actually goes to Sicily just for the pizza.
Great photos.
SB
I have the book beside me right now! I have read bits of the book. I have watched the movie. I went to the same pizza place in Naples that she eats at in the movie!
Well…technically speaking all 3 courses plus side dish should reach maximum a kg of food…sometimes (well always) restaurants prefare to pump up prices and portions making a full course meal quite difficult to eat! High class restaurants give smaller portions to let people enjoy he whole meal.
The trick? Small plates ^^
Thank heavens, I was a bit worried when you said Burger King… only good for curing hangovers! 😀
I’m always astounded by how much food Italians can pack away. I’ve managed the four courses once at an amazing family restaurant called Il Timone on the island of Marettimo off the coast of Sicily – worth the trip to eat there – we were rewarded with the local liqueur (rosemary?). I’m not sure if the uneven waddle back to the hotel was caused more by this or the imbalance of body weight caused by the amount of food packed in.
I love the photos! That sounds like a lot of food. I couldn’t eat that much. Although I do love a good pasta dish every now and then. ~Sophia
I come from an Italian family (Sicilian) and I always had trouble downing pizza and pasta everyday. But now that I’m gluten free, I miss it. And that pizza looks incredible! I plan on going to Florence to study professional food writing 🙂
Studying food writing in Italy sounds AMAZING! I would love to do that!
We do the several course meal here in Spain too, and I must say I’m pretty fond of it, but I also have plenty of love left for snacks! Thanks for suscribing and I’ll be checking back for sure, great snacking ideas.
Btw, that pizza looks really good… brings back summer memories from my trip to Italy 🙂
Yes..I need to go to Spain soon. I visited when I was young…but only Costa Del Sol. So I want to explore Spain properly…especially the food and art.
You should definitely come back! If you need any information just ask 🙂
Great thanks! I will definitely start planning a trip to Spain sometime in the new year. I will drop you an email sometime for some info!
It must’ve been an amazing adventure to go to Rome. The food must’ve been delicious. Great blog! Thanks for sharing.
look at the size of that pizza…yum!!!
What a cute story ! and pretty photos !
To think back, until today, I still wonder how I ate 2 full meals plus a good breakfast every singly day when I lived in Tuscany.
Thanks for sharing the story.
btw, I am also a snacker too…I eat small portions whole day 😀
That meal in the last picture looks delish!
And Burger King in Italy?? It seems like it would be a waste to eat there!
I usually just order an appetizer or share as well. I can’t imagine eating the way Italians eat and not gaining a lot of weight.
We did the same i.e. share main courses and not order the entire course in Italy – it was really too much food and we were really amazed when people around us could finish! Felt a bit out of place though – the waiter must be going ‘these girls…’
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