Italian language
Mangiare la Foglia: When Getting It Is Something You Eat
In Italian, understanding is not always something you grasp. Sometimes, it is something you eat.
Essere una Buona Forchetta: Where Eating Becomes Appreciation
In Italy, eating is not just about how much or how “well,” but about how much pleasure, attention, and satisfaction one brings to it.
Aria Fritta: Almost Anything—But Not Air
From polenta to zucchini blossoms, Italian frying knows few limits. Its only boundary becomes a metaphor for words without substance.
When the Fruit Arrives: The Italian Way of Saying It’s All Over
A simple moment at the Italian table becomes a metaphor for when our options—and our resources—are nearly gone.
Fare la Scarpetta: The Last Sweep of the Plate
In Italy, even the final streaks of sauce have a name.
Essere Una Minestra Riscaldata: After the First Simmer
From the Italian kitchen to public judgment, minestra riscaldata reminds us that second attempts rarely recover their original flavor.
Bread and Hunger: Italy’s Measure of Good and Bad
From Buono come il pane to Brutto come la fame, two familiar sayings reveal how Italian culture measures good and bad at the table—through sustenance and deprivation.
Avere Gli Occhi Foderati di Prosciutto: Ignoring What is Right in Front of You
Italian scholar and New York–based educator Samuel Ghelli continues his Appetito series, examining how an Italian expression uses food to illuminate the ways we choose not to see.
L’Appetito Vien Mangiando: Why Appetite Comes With Eating
Italian scholar and New York-based educator Samuel Ghelli launches a new Appetito series exploring how Italian sayings shape ideas about food, language and life.
Some Travel Tips for Your Upcoming Trip to Italy
A frequent traveler to Italy, our Editor-in-Chief offers some simple suggestions on how to make the most of a visit to Il Bel Paese.
