In Italy, food is about much more than eating. It’s about family and taking your time. Meals with my host family in Parma usually last about two hours, sometimes three. Most nights my host sister cooks, but Sundays are different. Sunday is pizza day, when my host dad and his friends make pizza from scratch.
On Sundays, the kitchen fills up with five of my host dad’s friends and families. They start making the dough that morning and it makes the most amazing smell. Everyone has a job, and every Sunday it switches whose house it is at, but when my family gets to host it it also includes my host brother's friends. The pizzas are topped with different cheeses, prosciutto di Parma, truffles and a tomato sauce that comes from a family friend who makes it at home. They bake the pizzas in outdoor ovens, and they cook so fast we are constantly tasting new flavor combos. My favorite was burrata cheese with mozzarela and prosciutto.
My first pizza Sunday was definitely overwhelming. It was after my host brother's soccer game and all his friends came over. But every Sunday after has been the sweetest experience. I have been able to talk about a variety of topics with my host parents' friends and connect even when they don't speak much English.
