ALL THE PIZZA

Oh, also!  So I know I just said I've mostly been eating pizza and gelato, but I've slowly been making my way onto the pizza scene as well.  And I have some interesting news for all you folks back home regarding the philosophy of Italian dining.

First, and this is important, Italians do not ask for doggie bags or boxes for the food they can't finish (which is a LOT of food, because this is Italy we're talking about).  It is actually considered rude to ask for such things.  And even if you did, Italians are in no way mentally or physically prepared for it, and would probably just make fun of you instead.  Thus, there is a lot of pressure to eat what's on your plate*.

Second,  PIZZA.  Pizza began in Italy, and is, therefore, delicious in Italy.  The crust is considerably thinner than its counterparts in the states, and I think the deep dish is reserved for the lasagna.  However, the most noticeable difference between pizza in the states and pizza in Italy is the ordering and serving process.  For example, say it's been a long day back in Winchestertonsfieldsville, and you and a group of friends decide you want to get a pizza.  For the sake of this example, we'll say that you are fairly popular, and are in the company of three friends.  Half of you are vegetarians, and half of you eat cheeseburgers for breakfast, so you order half and half of something.  The pizza comes, and you guys finish it in ten minutes.

Well in Italy, people do not share pizza.  You look at a menu, pick one of 18 different styles of pizzas, and they bring it out to you.  They bring the entire pizza out to you.  And then you eat it.  The entire pizza.  And granted, it's really thin crust but, the entire pizza.  One pizza for each person.  And the pizzas here are at least 12 inches in diameter.  Also, I recently discovered that while it is sometimes acceptable for women to split a pizza, men are apparently deemed wimps if they can't eat an entire pizza by themselves.  Needless to say, as Americans, we've got this covered. 

*Note:  This only applies to singular meals.  If you go out and get a traditional two course Italian meal with appetizers and dessert, I believe it is in your best interest to not eat everything on your plate(s).  Or fill up on peanut butter and nutella an hour before dinner.