Author Archives: Rhyann

Andiamo a Sorrento

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This past weekend, I went to Sorrento, Italy with a large group of students from my program.

Sorrento, Italy via Instagram

Sorrento, Italy via Instagram

We woke at four in the morning and walked about 1 mile to catch the bus which brought us to a train that went to Roma which brought us to a train that went to Napoli which brought us to a train which went to Sorrento which brought us to a train station where we then had to walk two-ish miles to a hostel.

Sunset in Sorrento, Italy

Sunset in Sorrento, Italy

Twelve hours later we were laying by the cool, blue water. There were hardly any onde (waves) and the water felt fresh and clean. I floated on my back and was in awe of the beauty surrounding me. I was in the clearest, most beautiful water I had ever seen and I felt amazingly peaceful–a rare feeling for me. I thought to myself how lucky I am to be in this place at this moment.

Sorrento, Italy

Sorrento, Italy

Later in the night, we watched the sun set over the water. The sunset was breathtaking as it slowly lowered closer and closer to the horizon. The rest of the evening consisted of sketchy wine in water bottles, Limoncello, karaoke clubs, cute Italian boys, and gelato going to sleep early and not doing anything remotely fun or involving alcohol (my parents do read this blog…)

Mount Vesuvius

Mount Vesuvius

The next day we trekked to a secluded beach/grotto where we cliff jumped and swam. The day was exhilarating, but also exhausting. Again, the night involved a tiny black dress, Limoncello, wine, dancing, more Italian boys, tiramisu, and breaking pictures I went to bed early.

Sorrento, Italy

Sorrento, Italy

Sorrento was beyond beautiful. I already want to go back and it hasn’t even been 30 hours since I left.

Oh, and since this is a food blog (I almost forgot…), I’ll show you some photos of that too. The frutti di mare (seafood) is OUTSTANDING here.

Ravioli with clams, shrimp, and calamari. O dio mio!

Ravioli with clams, shrimp, and calamari. O dio mio!

My friend Roxy got this amazing crostata di fragola (strawberry crostata). It was so pretty!

My friend Roxy got this amazing crostata di fragola (strawberry crostata). It was so pretty!

Pizza Diavola... Mind Blowing!

Pizza Diavola… Mindblowing.

Italy

Tiramisu… In Italian, it means “pick me up”. It definitely picked me up. The wine and limoncello helped too.

Italy

Gelato. Dark chocolate, torrone (which is this Italian toffee thing–I do realize that that is a pretty ambiguous description), and Ferrero Roche.

Italy

Spaghetti with calamari. Spicy, light, and delicious.

I hope you had a beautiful weekend too! What did you do?

The Food of Italy

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I’ve eaten lots of wonderful things in my four-ish weeks in Italy.

Gelato in Tarquinia, Italy. Gone in 2 minutes...

Gelato in Tarquinia, Italy. Gone in 2 minutes…

Gelato is a daily occurrence here. Everyone eats it as though it is the last food left on Earth. It could be raining or snowing and I feel certain that people would be huddled inside the tiny shops requesting pinoli (pine nut gelato) or bacio (Italian for kiss, chocolate and nuts). If I had children here, they would probably be saying gelato before mama.

Gelato in Orvieto, Italy. Pistacchio (the green one) is AMAZING! I'm a huge fan now!

Gelato in Orvieto, Italy. Pistacchio (the green one) is AMAZING! I’m a huge fan now!

The caffé in Italia is also very important to all that live here. You won’t find a coffee over 8 ounces here–they are all tiny and very strong. Another interesting quality of the coffee in Italy is that they don’t serve it with milk (unless you specifically order something like a cappuccino which is made with milk). As a result, I’ve learned to drink my caffé with a single cucchiaino di zucchero.

A delicious cappuccino (my second of the day...)

A delicious cappuccino

Cappuccinos in Italy are excellent, creamy and rich. But typically you only order them in the morning. If you order it in the afternoon, you may get the stink eye.

Creamy Lemon Risotto in Orvieto, Italy

Creamy Lemon Risotto in Orvieto, Italy

Italians are also very serious about their pasta. My host family typically serves two different types of pasta for dinner (plus antipasto and bread and wine). 

Penne Arrabbiata (literally Angry Pasta). This is my host mother's specialty.

Penne Arrabbiata (literally Angry Pasta). This is my host mother’s specialty.

I’ve had pasta morbida (fresh pasta) with creamy pesto sauces and flavorful truffles. I’ve also had quite a bit of pasta secca (dry pasta). Oh and parmigiana di gobbo (absolute heaven made by my host mom). And ravioli, and lasagne, and gnocchi.

Ravioli in Orvieto. The picture is kind of cruddy, but the pasta certainly isn't.

Ravioli in Orvieto. The picture is kind of cruddy, but the pasta certainly isn’t.

Pizza. Pizza. Pizza. Need I say more?

Best pizza ever in Siena, Italy

Best pizza ever in Siena, Italy

Okay, I shall. I’ve had my fare share of pizza here. I’ve eaten across the spectrum of deliciousness–from thin, crispy crusts to doughy pies overflowing with cheese. By far, one of my favorite pizzas was in Siena, Italy. It was crispy, fresh, and so flavorful.

Quattro Formaggi in Rome, Italy

Quattro Formaggi in Rome, Italy

Of course I can’t forget about the wine, but that’s truly a post in itself.

The food has been phenomenal, but at the same time, I’m a (tad bit) ready for a break. In the small town of Orvieto, Italy (where I’m staying), the restaurants basically serve delicious variations of the same things: pizza, pasta, sandwiches, meats, etc. All of the food is distinctly Italian. There is one amazing Chinese restaurant here (my Chinese take-out crazy parents would be very happy to know this), but other than that, you’d be hard pressed to find mashed potatoes or a taco.

GIANT calzone in Orvieto, Italy. And yes, I did eat the whole thing ;)

GIANT calzone in Orvieto, Italy. And yes, I did eat the whole thing ;)

Honestly, I never realized how much variety we had in the United States until I visited Italy.

When I’m back home in the States, I can drive (a max of) 5 miles and I can find restaurants that serve Italian, Mexican, Ethiopian, Thai, Spanish, German and Afghan food (and many, many more). I won’t necessarily comment on whether Italy or the United States is better, because they are honesty so different. I suppose now, though, I am much more aware of the cultural differences between our food.

Another amazing pie from Charley's in Orvieto, Italy.

Another amazing pie from Charley’s in Orvieto, Italy.

Another note on cultural differences. When Italians go out to dinner, they go out to dinner. People will often order several courses (or ALL) which include: apertivo (pre-dinner drink), antipasto (appetizer), primo (pasta course: ravioli, gnocchi, etc.), secondo (meat course), contorno (side dish: salad, potatoes, etc.), formaggio e frutta (cheese and fruit), dolce (heaven, aka my favorite course), caffé (usually an espresso), and FINALLY digestivo (after dinner drink). All of these courses are usually smaller than what we would get in America, but it’s still a big (a pricy) meal. It’s eaten slowly, also, with lots of vino. Food here is eaten with care and love. Meals are taken seriously, as are second servings ;)

My host mom also made this spaghetti--seriously my favorite pasta EVER!

My host mom also made this spaghetti–seriously my favorite pasta EVER!

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Running in Italia

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A picturesque view of Orvieto

A picturesque view of Orvieto

This is not a post about food. It’s also not solely about my travels in Italy (which happen to be quite lovely). To be honest, I was feeling a bit uninspired with my writing. I started post after post, wanting to tell you about my experiences in Italia, but it just didn’t seem like me. It felt forced and not very funny (and I know the only reason you really read this blog is because I’m hilariously funny…)

My travels so far have been wonderful, beyond amazing. But, honestly, I’ve had a bit of sensory overload—new language, new culture, new people.

So I went for a run. I needed to pound the pavement. I needed to think and clear my mind. I needed to sweat and feel my heart pound (think PG skydiving of sorts).

I turned on my music and set out on the old cobblestone streets. Running in Italy is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. It’s cool, breezy, and intensely beautiful. I found a tiny paved path through the woods (this is when my mom will start freaking out and spend $10.00 on an international phone call telling me not to run alone in the woods).

Orvieto, Italy

Orvieto, Italy

It was peaceful, fresh, and so quiet. The solitude made me think about my journey with running. It began a bit over 4 years ago. I consider that day—May 9, 2009—to be the very first day that I really ran.

To make a longggg story much shorter, I signed up for a charity 5k, thinking I would walk the whole time. Somehow, I ended up running the entire thing. My time was crap, but I finished the run. I pushed so hard because I was trying to impress a boy that I liked. My running must have worked and he took me to see Star Trek for our very first date.

From that day in May the running fever inside me grew into a rolling fire, a tumbling ocean, a large train (I’m a bit metaphor crazy).

My relationship with the sport is dynamic, changing over the past four years. I run now to feel my emotions (my version of screaming into pillows, I suppose). I run to feel alive.

I’ve run in three different continents.

I’ve run in ten different states.

I’ve run over 30 races—two of them half marathons.

I’ve run for hours at a time. I’ve run in the rain, snow, heat, and cold. I’ve run in cities and in the woods. I’ve run with friends and by myself. I’ve run in good moods, bad moods, angry moods, and with tears streaming down my face.

Siena, Italy (I didn't actually run here, but I thought it was a neat picture)

Siena, Italy (I didn’t actually run here, but I thought it was a neat picture)

Running in Italy, though, is a completely different experience for me. It’s cleansing, breathtaking, and challenging. As I run through the quiet paths, I feel strong, unbelievably so. My thoughts swirl and I wish that everyone I’ve ever encountered could see what I’m seeing as I run through the medieval town of Orvieto. I wish they could feel the goose bumps I get as I run down the steep grass lined hills.

For now, I hope some pictures will do. I wish you a beautiful day!

Looking for more Cooking College Chick? Follow me on Twitter or Pinterest! You can also subscribe on the upper right hand bar to receive email updates! Happy Cooking!!!

What I’ve learned in Italia

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I am in Italia! I’ve been here for about five days now and it has been a wonderful experience. Here are some pictures and musings from my trip!

I found this beautiful staircase when I went roaming through the tiny town of Orvieto in Italy

I found this beautiful staircase when I went roaming through the tiny town of Orvieto in Italy

1. Italian coffees are small. Sorry Starbucks, but you WON’T find a trenta ANYWHERE. The cappuccinos are probably eight ounces (if that) and the espressos are maybe an ounce. But they are strong and terribly delicious. I’ve had at least one everyday. Or three.

A delicious cappuccino (my second of the day...)

A delicious cappuccino (my second of the day…)

2. Italians love to feed me. Read: I eat pasta and gelato and pastries and cappuccino and espresso and chocolate every day. And you know what? It’s awesome.

3. Italian love their gelato (as do Americans). Everyday. Rain. Snow. Sleet. Hail. I see them eating it while they are working, while they are walking, while they are talking.

Gelato--Cioccolata, Pinoli, and Tiramisu

Gelato–Cioccolata, Pinoli, and Tiramisu

4. Pasta is just plain better in Italia. My host mom made us a HUGE dinner a few nights ago with two kinds of pasta–rigatoni and spaghetti. Both were absolutely fantastic. I wanted to sleep in them. No really.

My host mom makes THE BEST spaghetti!

My host mom makes THE BEST spaghetti!

5. Everything is slower in Italia. People drink coffee slowly, they eat slowly, they nap. I already feel as though I am falling into the Italian way of life. I want to sleep and rest. I want to take slow walks. I want to lazily walk around the city. Oh wait, I think I was already doing that in the U.S.

The beautiful countryside

The beautiful countryside

 

6. The weather is temperamental. Cold, then hot, then rainy, then windy. And I thought that I was the one with the mood swings ;)

7. Italians love their wine. In fact, it’s cheaper than water here. And gas. I think they are on to something.

8. Four glasses of wine does a fool make (i.e., me).

9. My host family is the most generous, beautiful, awesome family I’ve ever met. They greeted me with torta con banane as soon as I entered their home, and they haven’t stopped feeding me since.

Pretty trees!

Pretty trees!

10. My Italian is not as awful as I thought. People actually understand me when I speak. Or they are humoring me. I hope that it is the former.

Looking for more Cooking College Chick? Follow me on Twitter or Pinterest! You can also subscribe on the upper right hand bar to receive email updates! Happy Cooking!!!