Samuel Ghelli
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.
Volere la Botte Piena e la Moglie Ubriaca: The Arithmetic of Desire
Why a full barrel and a drunken wife still explain our impossible wishes.
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.
Finire a Tarallucci e Vino: When the Table Has the Final Word
In this week’s column on Italian sayings shaped at the table, Italian scholar and educator Samuel Ghelli explores conflict and coexistence in Italian life.
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.
