I liked this comparison as someone who studied French in grade school (so retain much more French than other languages) and is now learning Italian (which feels like a slow, halting process). Your notes did strike me as very much France vs. Northern Italy. Have you noticed similar patterns between cultural nuances of Southern Italy or Sicily?
Yes, Nothern Italy is very different from Southern Italy. Everytime I go there I feel the shock! I even got a ticket on the train in Rome, and I felt very angry with "the north". I was saying to myself "this would never happen in Napoli".
For me, it's the rivalry in film that stands out: it is hard to choose between the great Italian auteurs, Fellini and Antonioni, and the great French ones, Bresson and Kieślowski.
Love your mum's reaction, cheating on France for the move to Italy. I can understand why the Italian had smoke coming out, French cheeses have their name but there are so many other countries with great cheese too. I once met someone telling me Greece has more cheeses than France. There are some amazing local cheeses in Greece that never reach the limelight. Loved this post! Culture and food!
I love feta...and halloumi. I would love to know more about Greek cheese but I'll say that when I was served a piece of grilled feta and honey I thought I'd died and gone to heaven.
Panfried feta with honey and sesame seeds! Where did you get that? It's very rare. I tried something similar ages ago and it was divine. There are loads of things you can do with feta. Baked, grilled, so many options, sweet and savoury. Graviera, Kefalograviera, Kefalotyri, Ladotyri Mytilini, Arsenikos, Batsos, Kalathaki Limnos, and Mastelo... So many more. I'm vegan now, but when I wasn't I remember these ones. Most if not all, are PDO cheeses, product of designated origin so no other region nor country can make them and put their label on, it needs to be from there.
French people are cats. Italians should be dogs but I am not emotionally attached to the concept. It depends a lot on the person. I do have good French friends (one actually) and I think we literally bonded over wine. Also, aside from France, there is the olive war between Spain, Italy, and Greece! (we acknowledge we are all cousins but our olives are just better than theirs)
I like the way you've put this, "drawing awareness to themes", it's something I reflect on a lot when I write, I don't want it to sound like I'm making sweeping generalizations because there are always exceptions and life is too nuanced to make things black and white. But there are undoubtedly themes that are interesting to reflect on and I think it's fun to explore with a wider audience.
I'm not personally familiar enough with Italian or French culture to speak to it directly but certainly food, fashion and lifestyle are huge for Spain as well. As for rivalries, I've heard friendly competitive comments between Spain and Portugal! But I imagine this varies depending on which part of Spain you're in.
Having spent a lot more time in Italy than in France, I hadn’t thought about them being so similar, values-wise. Thanks for sharing your observations! 🇫🇷🇮🇹
It is interesting to mention that there also many domestic rivalries within Italy. Being a country that was put together as pieces from different puzzles, even neighbouring regions will fight over one ingredient in a recipe or other tiny differences.
In general I am more interested in learning about other cultures rather than assuming the comparison attitude, though I admit I do have my bit of national pride. The point is, I just love my country. But I don't usually end up saying our hams or cheese are the best. I lived in Spain 11 years and nothing like that ever came to my mind, I adapted myself to their style, history etc, giving room to honest views, and sometimes Italy came out as the winner! Now that I travel inside the country, I am curious about the differences among regions... do you think they act the same way?
I liked this comparison as someone who studied French in grade school (so retain much more French than other languages) and is now learning Italian (which feels like a slow, halting process). Your notes did strike me as very much France vs. Northern Italy. Have you noticed similar patterns between cultural nuances of Southern Italy or Sicily?
Yes, Nothern Italy is very different from Southern Italy. Everytime I go there I feel the shock! I even got a ticket on the train in Rome, and I felt very angry with "the north". I was saying to myself "this would never happen in Napoli".
😊 lovely read. Had an interesting “run-in” with some followers over the PESTO genovese vs PISTOU Provençal rivalry. 😂 no peace accord yet 🌸
OK even crazier, "pasta genovese" in Napoli is made with onions like the pistou in provence!!! Haha
I would loooove to dress like an Italian or French girl! That style is so elusive...
How do you look so good that it looks like you don't care??? That is the challenge for me.
Hahaha I suppose that's art!
For me, it's the rivalry in film that stands out: it is hard to choose between the great Italian auteurs, Fellini and Antonioni, and the great French ones, Bresson and Kieślowski.
Or women writers, Simone de Beauvoir, Elena Ferrante :) :)
Love your mum's reaction, cheating on France for the move to Italy. I can understand why the Italian had smoke coming out, French cheeses have their name but there are so many other countries with great cheese too. I once met someone telling me Greece has more cheeses than France. There are some amazing local cheeses in Greece that never reach the limelight. Loved this post! Culture and food!
I love feta...and halloumi. I would love to know more about Greek cheese but I'll say that when I was served a piece of grilled feta and honey I thought I'd died and gone to heaven.
Panfried feta with honey and sesame seeds! Where did you get that? It's very rare. I tried something similar ages ago and it was divine. There are loads of things you can do with feta. Baked, grilled, so many options, sweet and savoury. Graviera, Kefalograviera, Kefalotyri, Ladotyri Mytilini, Arsenikos, Batsos, Kalathaki Limnos, and Mastelo... So many more. I'm vegan now, but when I wasn't I remember these ones. Most if not all, are PDO cheeses, product of designated origin so no other region nor country can make them and put their label on, it needs to be from there.
Thanks for your tips !
PDO is a product of protected designation of origin...
In Rhodes! I went there in April and it was amazing. 🤩
Never been there! On my list of places to visit! Was there good food there?
The food was amazing 🤩 there were also several food festivals happening around the time we were there that we missed. I want to go back.
French people are cats. Italians should be dogs but I am not emotionally attached to the concept. It depends a lot on the person. I do have good French friends (one actually) and I think we literally bonded over wine. Also, aside from France, there is the olive war between Spain, Italy, and Greece! (we acknowledge we are all cousins but our olives are just better than theirs)
Hahahah I love this, French people are cats and Italians are dogs, that is sooooo right on!!!
As an Italian in a made-up war against France (especially during Eurovision) I can’t wait to dive into this article!!
Thanks for the giggles! A lovely light hearted adventure!
I like the way you've put this, "drawing awareness to themes", it's something I reflect on a lot when I write, I don't want it to sound like I'm making sweeping generalizations because there are always exceptions and life is too nuanced to make things black and white. But there are undoubtedly themes that are interesting to reflect on and I think it's fun to explore with a wider audience.
I'm not personally familiar enough with Italian or French culture to speak to it directly but certainly food, fashion and lifestyle are huge for Spain as well. As for rivalries, I've heard friendly competitive comments between Spain and Portugal! But I imagine this varies depending on which part of Spain you're in.
I love my Spanish sandals (Pons). Food is so good too ❤️ I have only done little Spain trips I would love to stay for longer !
Having spent a lot more time in Italy than in France, I hadn’t thought about them being so similar, values-wise. Thanks for sharing your observations! 🇫🇷🇮🇹
It is interesting to mention that there also many domestic rivalries within Italy. Being a country that was put together as pieces from different puzzles, even neighbouring regions will fight over one ingredient in a recipe or other tiny differences.
In general I am more interested in learning about other cultures rather than assuming the comparison attitude, though I admit I do have my bit of national pride. The point is, I just love my country. But I don't usually end up saying our hams or cheese are the best. I lived in Spain 11 years and nothing like that ever came to my mind, I adapted myself to their style, history etc, giving room to honest views, and sometimes Italy came out as the winner! Now that I travel inside the country, I am curious about the differences among regions... do you think they act the same way?