Notas del episodio
In our second episode of the Rome Series with Barbara Saba, we get into the beloved topic of food, authentic restaurants, and dining culture you don’t want to miss while in the Eternal City. She guides us on how to make the best choices for the most satisfying meals before we dive into a vulnerable and honest conversation about the cultural differences between Italy and America. She offers poignant observations about what is missing in an individualist society for a person who was raised in collectivism. She openly shares her experiences of where Italian social values and norms aren’t met here, the implications for isolation and loneliness on people, and the deep value of community, meeting and togetherness.
We Deep Dive:
- What to avoid when choosing a restaurant in Rome (American dishes that may be on menus but should not be!)
- Keep in mind that restaurants that cater to tourists don’t need to worry about seeing their customers again…
- Barbara tells us where not to go, and offers amazing alternatives instead
- Ways that Italian speakers and Italians can vet a menu
- Reasons Italians would RUN away from an Italian restaurant and criteria that would make them feel safe to try it
- The Italian sense of community and how that contrasts with American culture
- The importance of gathering and how we may be missing the mark in the US from an Italian perspective
- What Italians consider to be the hallmarks of friendship versus the American friendship standards
- The stark differences between American individualism and Italian collectivism
- What sounds like complaining to Americans is a way of connecting for Italians
- Dinner party differences: for Italians, a dinner invitation at their home is not just a dinner invitation, it is a way of showing care and love.
- Differences in how Italians express emotion versus Americans
Places we mention:
- Prati neighborhood near St. Peter’s
Find out more about Barbara and her work:
IG: barbarasaba.12
FB: Barbara Saba
For images of our guest and her photography of her home city, head over to the show’s website for the full show notes: