Yes. The original pizza is the "Napoli" pizza: tomato sauce, sliced mozzarella, basil and anchovies. Olive oil, of course. Extra thin crust! I remember when I was young in a famous pizzeria in Naples I had four pizzas! They were so thin and soft (and cheap) you could go on eating them for hours ;-)
Nowadays you can find almost everything everywhere. Emila Romagna is famous for his prosciutto, culatello, spalla, and other pork-based "salumi". But remeber that the mozzarella is from Salerno (and province, near Naples. btw: have you ever tasted the mozzarella for the Amalfi coast? Wow!!!), "dry" pasta (spaghetti, macceroni etc etc) are from Gragnano (there was the oldes pasta factory dated 1700).
Gnocchi made with potatoes or with bread are mostly from N-Italy-Austria-Croatia. Gnocchi (dumplings) are a variation of the Austrian-German knodel. Maybe migrations from Veneto to Emilia Romagna brought them down there.
Authentic Italian 2215Wow! You are so lucky to a) get to go to Italy so often and b) get to eat with italian families. It's only my most fervent dream! I think Italians are very regional...
Unusual, but not impossible. If you were near Vicenza note that there is an that's why you cannot find fine-minced or chopped meat in restaurants. Cats are now protected by the law ;-) In Austia they serve a "Venetian Rag" that's basically a stew (with tomato sauce and vegetables, similar to a Bolognaise sauce, but with chopped meat, not minced).
May I disagree? I've found excellent cuisine ein UK. Beside the delicius haggis and pies. Please have a look to this restaurant in London
Delenda Cartago!
lp
