I found a cannoli stand in the student area and had a delicious pistacho cannoli.
Italians use mealtimes and coffee breaks as large social occasions. I've enjoyed chatting with my coworkers in between espresso shots or practicing my Italian over pasta. Italian food balances the savory and the sweet, with even desserts like gelato and cannoli using tangy cheese to balance sugar.
I have been loving trying new foods as well as having the Italian version of dishes I've had in America. For example, the pizza here has a thinner crust than America. I am glad to be living in a city so known for its food culture; some guidebooks even name Bologna as the best city for food in Italy! Since each city has its own signature dish, there's a lot of variety in individual restaurants. My roommates and coworkers all have different ideas about the best places for food in the city, and I'm looking forward to finding my own favorites.
Cooking in Italy is very time-consuming. Chefs and families spend many hours preparing food from scratch. Bolognese sauce takes hours to simmer on the stove, combining the tomato sauce, spices, and meat to create the rich sauce. Mortadella is made of ground pork, which is mixed with spices and then put into a casing that creates the sausage shape. The production of mortadella is an important tradition in Bologna, and there are even laws in place that ensure the highest standards for this sausage! In contrast, pasta production varies by family.
