Letters from Abroad: An Italian Family Dinner in Bologna

If one were to open up any Italian textbook, be it freshly printed or thoroughly worn, he or she would quickly find a variety of photos portraying the beauty of Italy. Upon enrolling in an Italian course at the Dickinson Center in Bologna, I didn’t realize that my textbook would be just as colorful as the streets I had the pleasure of wandering down every day. As I sit here and study the lessons in my textbook for Italian 101, I find that each page contains a lovely array of pictures and photos. There are thin and symmetrical slices of pizza, grapes swollen and ready for the annual harvest, handmade pasta lightly dusted with flour, cheese of great proportions, and monuments glistening in the sun. Italian culture is synonymous with spectacular food and wine varities. Unlike the United States, mealtimes are not something to be rushed through in Italy. The thought of rushing to the Snar for a black bean burger before class seems rather distant now, as lunch in Italy is a long, relaxed affair. Much like an Italian lunch, which traditionally starts around 1:30 and lasts several hours, an Italian dinner is also a lengthy event.

In general, Italian culture values good food and company over convenience. As a group of 38 Dickinsonians in a new city with different culinary traditions, all of us faced some level of culture shock. The pace of everyday life in Bologna, as well as the speed and method by which food was prepared was a bit different than what we were accustomed to. After a short time, many of us decided to try and make ourselves feel right at home. On our third day in Bologna, a group of us decided to cook our very own Italian family dinner. While this might seem like a simple task, it ended up being the first of my many adventures abroad. Our group was composed of 10 students and only one of us felt comfortable in the kitchen. I was personally too afraid to try it out because I set off the Malcolm fire alarm last year while trying to make some late night popcorn and occasionally left the oven on for extended periods of time (sorry again guys!). Despite our lack of experience, we decided to push on any way. Some of us went to the market for fresh vegetables and chicken, others went searching for spices and kitchen supplies, and the last group prepped the kitchen.

Cooking and eating in Italy is an all day affair. Each shop has a specialty, whether it be meat, cheese, vegetables, pasta, baked goods, coffee or wine. In preparing an authentic meal, it’s essential to go to each individual shop to get the necessary ingredients, rather than a supermarket. Not only are the specialty shops more fun, for they often come with free samples and a few new friends, but the quality of the products is also astounding.

For our first “family dinner,” we cooked chicken in a lemon sauce with fresh vegetables.  While this was a great main dish, we found that the side dishes and appetizers were even more important. Nearly everyone prepared their own dish! Some of the appetizers were simple while others were more complicated. By the time we all sat down, the table was covered in food. There was caprese salad with bright red tomatoes and freshly prepared mozzarella, tossed salad with homemade (oil and vinegar) dressing, 4 different cheese plates, prosciutto draped over melon slices, and a series of other lovely dishes.

While the meal was cooked with surprising success (considering my history in the kitchen), it was the people with me at the dinner table that was the most important part. After spending four weeks in Italy, I have found a new appreciation for slow cooked meals and time with my fellow Dickinsonians.