A Taste of America in Rome
Rome, Italy – I swore I wouldn’t do it, but five days after arriving here, I went to McDonald’s. In Rome.
I feel as though I should hang my head in shame whenever I say it, but I just needed a hamburger and french fries. Italy has some of the most delicious food in the world, but a surprisingly small amount of meat.
In less than one week, I have become an accidental vegetarian — between margherita pizzas and spinach-stuffed ravioli, I have sampled some of the world’s finest carbohydrates and cheese, but have missed out on the protein.
And on top of this new diet, I typically walk between two-and-a-half and five miles a day. Now, I’m not complaining, but it was time for a hamburger and a full stomach.
So when one of the girls here mentioned a nearby McDonald’s, my ears perked up. Within minutes I grabbed my money, slipped on my shoes and was walking toward Piazza Clodio, where the aforementioned hamburgers are located.
Now, I learned two things about McDonald’s in Italy; they only take cash and apparently it’s where Italian teens hang out with friends. The place was surrounded by a maze of Vespas and motor scooters, and there were very few empty seats inside the restaurant.
But after a quick trip to the ATM — the “Bancomat” in Italy — and waiting ten minutes in line, I had my cheeseburger.
It was the first meal that left me feeling full, and I’m happy to say I was not hungry the rest of the night. It was a wonderful moment.
About This Italian Life
Journalism and political science junior and former State News reporter Abby Lubbers is studying abroad at John Cabot University in Rome for the spring 2009 semester.
Follow her journey of what it’s like to live and learn overseas.
This is Abby’s Italian life.
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Commentary
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Nicola
(01/19/09 6:39am)Report
Ever heard of something called Fiorentina steak? or Chianina? Prosciutto di Parma? Prosciutto San Daniele? Original Ravioli and Tortellini ( stuffing is as proteic as it gets: cheese and three kinds of meat)? etc etc.
Of course they might coust more than 7 euros. Be brave: try a restaurant without color corrected pictures of “food” in the window, once in a while. Enjoy.
WebVisionItaly.com
(01/19/09 10:54am)Report
Fun blog – but as the above pointed out a bistec fiorentina sure is a piece of meat. You should also find nice palliard, a grilled piece of chicken cooked only with lemon and served with arugula. Buon Appetito!
Rosanna
(01/19/09 5:17pm)Report
Wow, you’re probably the first person I’ve ever heard say there’s a lack of meat in Italian cuisine! I’m a vegetarian myself and often I have a hard time finding NON-meat dishes, especially in Rome where the most common dishes are: Pasta alla carbonara (with pancetta), Bucatini all’Amatriciana (with pancetta), Abbacchio (lamb), Coda alla Vaccinara (oxtail), Saltimbocca alla Romana (veal rolls), Pajata (intestines), Straccetti (strips of beef), I could go on and on… Roman cuisine is VERY meat-based so I’m surprised to hear about this parallel Roman vegetarian universe you discovered!
Pat
(01/31/09 9:03pm)Report
While Nicola has a valid point, you come across as a complete snob.
Interesting blog Abby, have fun!