The following is a guest post from Alice Ross: travel blogger, world adventurer, and life lover. She blogs at Fortravelista.com.
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10 Street Foods in Italy You Have To Try
Going to Italy isn’t only about seeing top-notch art, getting your skin tanned and salty on the beaches of Riviera, and walking around the cobblestone streets in its remarkable cities. Going to Italy is also about enjoying the delicious foods the country offers. And if you’re looking to try some real Italian food, you do not have to break your bank to make a reservation in one of their Michelin-starred restaurants: if you really want to try some authentic Italian foods, then eating some street foods in Italy or “Cibo di Strada” is something you must experience.
In ancient Rome, eating street food symbolized poverty. These days, however, street food is a popular grub that has been reinvented by many Italian top chefs. So, forget the usual dirty pickup trucks that serve sandwiches made of strange ingredients, Italian street food is normally high quality and something you can enjoy as much as eating food from fancy Italian restaurants.
In this article, I put up 10 of the must-try street foods in Italy that you should hunt for when you visit:
Gelato
Although the term ‘gelato’ literally translates to ‘ice cream’ in English, this sweet cold food, which like ice cream, is available in different flavors, is different from a typical ice cream. Even though the history of gelato starts back to early days when snow was carried down from the mountains and well-kept underground, the first ever gelato cart did not appear until about 1920 to 1930 in Varese. These days, it is probably the most eaten street food in Italy.
La Casa del Supplì
Suppli is a fried rice ball with mincemeat, tomato sauce, and of course, mozzarella. So, after spending a long day seeing many attractions, go on your way to find supplì to have a real taste of modern Roman street food. Like a lot of traditional foods in the country, this finger food was made as a way to not waste leftovers. In other Italian regions, suppli is available in another variety called ‘suppli al telefono.’ It got its name from the string mozzarella used on making it which looks like a telephone cord.
Olive Ascolana
In Le Marche, a region which is located between the Adriatic Sea and the Apennine Mountains, Olive Ascolana is a famous delicacy. The lightly breaded olives filled with ground meat is something you should try especially if you found yourself wandering around the street of Ascoli-Piceno – a town that is located in the southern part of the country. The green olive that is used in making Olive Ascolana is a special variation that is only grown in this specific part of the country. They are normally available on the menu at different wine bars and trattorie and are usually served in a paper cone or in cartoccio, which makes them a perfect grub while wandering around.
Arancini
Arancini are fried rice balls that are normally packed with meat ragu, peas, and cheese though there are a lot of other varieties available found in streets of Italy. Arancini was originated in Sicily way back in the 10th century and Sicilians normally to eat them as snacks! So, unsurprisingly, the best place to have this delicious street food is on the island of Sicily.
Cannoli
Cannoli, which originated from Palermo on the island of Sicily, is one of the most classic desserts in the country. This is fried pastry dough in shaped of a tube. It has a creamy filling of sweet ricotta, normally with chocolate chips mixed in. Cannoli is finished off with a sweet cherry on one end and an orange peel on the other. Today, you can easily find this sweet treat all over the country, but Sicily is the best place to get it. Make sure to have a napkin on hand as this is one of the messiest street foods you can eat in the country.
Porchetta Romana
Normally heavily salted and filled with rosemary, garlic, and other herbs, porchetta is a cut of moist roast pork that’s normally served from a van. Though this street food is easily found on many streets in the country, it originated in a province of Rome named Ariccia, hence the name. You can buy it by the kilo which you can store in your fridge for a good sandwich!
Tigelle
Tigelle is a crossbreed of a pancake and an English muffin and could be split open and filled with delicious fillings. The tigelle is crispy on the outside and warm and soft on the inside. This is a type of bread that is known to be a traditional food product in the country. Today, this is a typical part of a traditional meal from brassieres of Bologna and Modena, but of course, normally seen in many other streets in the country.
Cuoppo Napoletano
Originated from Naples, this street food is another deep fried Italian delicacy you shouldn’t miss. Normally placed in a paper code, this variety of different fried-deep seafood offers different flavors that are not easy to get enough of.
Pizza al Taglio
When we hear of the country of Italy, one of the first things we think of is their pizza. But if you want to take pizza to a different level, then this easy food is another thing you shouldn’t miss. Literally translated to ‘pizza by the cut’ in English, pizza al taglio is baked in big rectangular trays and are commonly seen throughout the country, specifically in Rome where it originated.
Folpetti
Are you a fan of calamari? Then you would love to try folpetti. Originated from Venice, you will find this quick treat in many streets in the country will satisfy your taste buds. This delicacy is salty boiled octopus best eaten with a freshly squeezed lemon juice and a dash of parsley.
No matter if you are traveling with your friends or you are enjoying the benefits of traveling solo, trying out some of the best street foods in Italy is an important part of your overall travel experience. Italian food is more than delicious pasta and pizza, when you open your eyes wide enough while walking on the streets of Italy, then you will surely enjoy your trip even more.
Alice Ross is a travel blogger, world adventurer, and life lover. She travels the world at a slow pace immersing herself into that which this wonderful world has to offer. If you want to get more travel tips and advice, head to her website www.fortravelista.com and join her in her adventures to see the world on a budget.
