UrbanTravelGirl dishes about her ‘Inner Italian’ on ‘Simple Italy’ blog, a love letter to bella Italia
October 29, 2009 at 11:34 pm 4 comments
My former newspaper colleague and friend Sharon Sanders writes a gorgeous, award-winning blog called “Simple Italy: Italian Food, Culture, Lifestyle and Travel.” Years ago, she and I developed a tight bond over our fascination with all things Italian. Today, Sharon—who spent several years living and working in beautiful Florence—was kind enough to feature me and my “Inner Italian” persona in a recent post.
She writes a periodic question-and-answer feature with “wannabe Italians or expatriate Italians –who try to ‘live Italian’ wherever they are.” I would certainly qualify, as I remain obsessed with the place, its food and wine, its beautiful people — the list goes on. So read all about my “Inner Italian” and you’ll understand why, as Sharon says, “Even if we don’t live in Italy, Italy lives inside of us.”
Entry filed under: Uncategorized. Tags: bella Italia, Florence, Inner Italian, Italy, Sharon Sanders, Simple Italy, UrbanTravelGirl.
1.
urbantravelgirl | October 30, 2009 at 10:51 pm
We’ve turned into such European food snobs, haven’t we? But really — it’s all about quality and thinking about what we eat. I just don’t see the point. And we wonder why we Americans are overweight and sickly and burdened by high blood pressure, diabetes and goodness knows what else. Our DIETS are a good place to start — and borrowing healthy habits from our neighbors around the world certainly makes sense to me!
Maureen
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kellyecarter | October 30, 2009 at 10:40 pm
You are sooo right about bread. I’m trying to think the last time I bought a loaf of bread. I guess it was in early 2003, before I wised up and moved to Italy. Although I’ve been back for four years I have NOT bought a loaf of bread. The idea is just crazy!
3.
urbantravelgirl | October 30, 2009 at 1:30 am
GRAZIE, Signorina Kelly! I know we’re kindred spirits when it comes to cherishing our “Inner Italians,” no matter where we are.
I don’t have a car here in Chi-town, but I’m with you when it comes to skipping the VERY American mentality of shopping for two months’ worth of groceries just because we can. I know this isn’t terribly Italian of me, but I don’t cook very often. Still, when I do, I like to go to the store — or better yet, some small specialty market and pick up JUST ENOUGH good cheese or ham or olives to last a few days at the most. And I buy fresh Italian bread or French baguettes the day I plan to eat it, just as I would in Italy or France. (Any bread worth eating will be hard as a rock within a day, anyway. What’s up with loaves of bread that are still “fresh” weeks later? In two words: scary preservatives!)
These may be small things, but they at least make me feel like I’m nourishing that part of my spirit I tried to cultivate during my short time in Italia….
Marina
4.
kellyecarter | October 30, 2009 at 1:23 am
Marina,
You did such a wonderful job of articulating your Inner Italian. The time that Italians take to wrap something is so precious.
I love Sharon’s comment: “Even if we don’t live in Italy, Italy lives inside of us.” That is so true.
Although I’m in L.A, and can fill up the trunk of my car with enough groceries to last me for three months, I never do. I continue to go to the market every few days as I am under the belief that freezers are only for ice.
Kelly