Shopping for Groceries

"Italian Style"

While many of the foods found in the commissary are what you are used to, and you will continue to use, there is a whole new world available to you. Embrace the local flavors and learn to experiment! Shopping with the Italians is a new and different experience, and will give you a broader view into the daily culture of Italy. You do need to be willing to experience life from what seems to be a different time, while possibly stepping back into the style of market shopping your parents or grandparents may have experienced.

Italian Grocery Stores

The Italian families tend to shop the old fashioned way, buying smaller amounts of fresh food, but very frequently. In any of the local communities you can expect to find a butcher, vegetable and fruit stand, bakery, cheese shop, seafood shop, and small markets. Most local communities have what I would describe as a small American style grocery store, with deli, dairy section, and bakery counters. Prices do vary, and each store has it's own specialties, depending on the owners. Most are still owned and operated by the family. Over the past few years, the idea of the large one-stop supermarket has caught on, and they are being built in larger neighborhoods.

The advantage of the local markets (Alimentari or Mercato) is of course freshness and wide variety of products. While the commissary will be essential in keeping your soda, cereal and soup shelves full, the local markets can provide you with the freshest seafood, fruits and vegetables, and a wide selection of fresh meat. Another thought about eating local foods...remain open minded, lets take a look at what is available nearby, and can be picked up fresh each day.

Meat Market (Macelleria): Fresh beef, chicken and turkey are always available, but so are rabbit, veal, quail, goose, and others. Being a different country, there are different taste preferences, and many of the meats and seafood are cut, cleaned, and dressed to order. Sausage is made fresh daily. When we think of Italian sausage, I know that we think of only "American style" pre-packaged sausage. Each day your choices can be spicy (hot to mild), or sweet, with cheese in the sausage, or with herbs, such as fennel.

Seafood Shop (Pescheria): There are many kinds of clams, shellfish such as shrimp, fish such as bass, salmon or swordfish, and then of course the octopus, squid, and eel. Many of the items will be live, kept in barrels or tanks, and waiting for you to choose your dinner. Tuna seems to be very rare, and when found is very expensive. The Naples area is noted for the best clams in the world.

Fruit and Vegetables (Frutta e Verdura) Always available in season, each stand or market has as many fresh items as space allows. Most vegetables and fruits are recognizable, although it's not uncommon to see three or four types of broccoli, eggplant, or greens. What may seem to us to be specialty fruits such as cactus fruit, fresh figs, apricots, or persimmons are common here. Different varieties of oranges are available year round.

Pastry and Bread (Pasticceria e Panetteria) A "pasticceria" can be a cake and pastry shop only, or a "bar" which is similar to our coffee bars, with a few tables and a pastry counter for snacks and service. The larger pastry shops have counters of many kinds of tasty pastries and desserts, sold by weight, and wrapped with colorful paper and ribbon, to take home. The "panetteria", or bread shop specializes in bread and rolls made daily, in many shapes, sizes, and varieties.

Cheese Shop (Caseificio) Italy is known for it's cheeses, and the Naples area is known for Mozzarella Di Bufala (another favorite). Unlike American mozzarella which can be dry and stringy, this is a soft white cheese, eaten the same day as it is made, and frequently served as an appetizer (antipasto) with melon, tomato, prosciutto or fresh fig. Bought by weight, after you've made your selection, your cheese will be placed in whey to keep it fresh until eaten. Each shop normally has one or two specialties made locally, and your choices of other hard or soft cheeses such as ricotta, gorgonzola, romano, and of course parmigiano.

Deli Shop (Salumeria) In these shops you can buy a wide variety of food such as ham, salami, cheese, olives, appetizers, sausages, and freshly made take-away dishes. Specialties differ from region to region, and the owners normally have there own specialty.

Roadside Fare (Rosticceria): One of my absolute favorites! A roadside stand that sells whole rotisserie chicken, roasted over a wood fire, with herbs and wine. Sometimes these small stands also have rabbit, french fries, and other small hot snacks.

Ice Cream (Gelateria or Cremoria) The original ice cream parlor! (Another sinful delight.) The gelateria can be small, and have only a few flavors, to huge, with over 75 flavors. Many have specialty sundaes, desserts, and ice cream cakes. The key is that each flavor is hand made each day. If you see a sign with "Gelati-produzione Propria", this means that the ice creams are made daily on the premises and are particularly good! Every gelateria and cremeria has it's own specialties which will either be described on menu cards or displayed on posters. Specialties vary from region to region and owner to owner.