italian life, italian pride

what struck me about italian pride is that it’s rooted in the way of life around food. it is not just about the best taste, but more importantly, it’s about trust. the trust that a butcher will always provide the best cut of meat, or that a cheesemaker will carry the same tradition for generations. this trust creates a kind of continuity that brings people, families, and communities together. and a way of living that doesn’t need reinvention, only devotion.

when peter, the father of the family speaks about food, his whole face lights up. he goes only to this shop for meat, where his favorite treat is coppa di testa - a delicacy terrine made from parts of the pig’s head, a mosaic of different texture compressed into a cube. he gets gorgonzola only from Novara in Piemonte, which is known as the heartland of the cheese, with craftsmanship at its peak. when it comes to pesto, he insists on basil from Pra’, a tiny field outside of Genoa, and buys only the two brands from there at the supermarket. 

italian pride, i realize, is all about making life rich by trusting deeply, choosing intentionally, and savoring what endures.

tenuta san lorenzo gavi