Steps closer to becoming an Italian

[KarenVChin]

For those of you who are following and/or participating @ermest’s #TeamChallenge here on Connect, he created with #TeamItaly’s support for their country a series called: #TeamItaly - Italian culture between ancient and modern.

What intrigued me after reading Team Italy’s initial collaborative series was that I wanted to know more about how I can get the inside scoop of learning how to live like a Local, to be Italian. Then magically, Ermes came up with #TeamItaly, On Demand - What do you want to know about Italy?

Background

Where I live, we have a historical San Francisco neighborhood called “North Beach.” It is our “Little Italy’ - this is where the Italian immigrants settled in San Francisco early during the last century.

My grandparents bought their house in 1961 on the Italian side of Broadway Avenue. Broadway was the street that historically separated, or divided, the Chinese (San Francisco’s Chinatown) on one side and the Italians on the other side. Up until the 60s, both ethnic groups stay on either side of Broadway and neither would cross this major street.

What I remember of my grandpa was that he would go buy Molinari salami and Italian sandwich loaves) for us, grandkids at Molinari’s Delicatessen. He understood English, but he never felt comfortable speaking it in front of us.

Now, it amazes me as an adult after understanding that his English was VERY limited my grandpa would go inside and somehow order the Molinari Deli worker to slice him a pound of their award-winning salami and buy the freshly baked Italian sandwich loaves so that he can go home and make us, “The World’s Best Salami Sandwiches!”

Walking by Molinari’s always reminds me of my grandpa.

Chinese are like Italians - Family is very important culturally and socially and we LOVE food! So, when I first met Ermes in 2017 in real life. Molinari’s Delicatessen and North Beach was high on my Must See / Dos for him to see. I wanted to get his opinion of what the oldest Italian deli west of the Mississippi is like among the other famous sites of North Beach. And we became immediate friends from that 4-hour speed walking and eating tour of North Beach and Chinatown.

Maybe because Ermes and I are now forever friends. I strongly believe he currently somehow has access to my YouTube feed! In the last several days, I am getting “How to speak, eat, and/or live like an Italian” videos as part of my YouTube Home Page “recommended YouTube videos” to watch.

Help #TeamItaly! Curious minds need to know!

Speaking for the online Connect Community, I would love to know (Besides Ermes, @davidhyno @LuigiZ @Matt95Bassett @RiccyB @Giuseppe75 @manulele81 @inviaggioconlollo @nicspelgatti @GiulianoOrlando if these videos are the real deal, authentic in advice:

What is the etiquette of when and what kind of coffee or espresso to drink throughout the day? But I do like pineapple and ham on my pizza (Hawaiian pizza rocks!) and roasted chicken and pesto is a great combination too. Will you forgive me?? What is the classic Italian pizza - the Margherita?

Is this basic 15 Italian words or phrases list missing anything else? Do you agree or disagree?

What are your personal tips to dress like an Italian? And is there any style tips that are “Only in Italy,” compared to the rest of Europe?

If I follow these video tips, will this make me closer to becoming Italian since as a little girl I have been eating Molinari salami sandwiches and now drinking good Italian wines as an adult?? ?

Watching these YouTube videos, do you have questions regarding Italy that you would like answered by #TeamItaly?

Cheers,

Karen

P.S.: #TeamItaly, have you visited Tenuta Vannulo Caseificio Yogurteria Biologica?

[FaridTDF]

Que agradable fue leer este post @KarenVChin , definitivamente somos ciudadanos del mundo y ninguno es pura cepa en ningún lado del mundo, todos descendemos de inmigrantes, y nos gusta la familia y comer, actividad que siempre destacamos en argentina una tierra como la de EEUU, formada por miles y miles de inmigrantes. En mi caso como tú destacó la cultura Italiana que llevó el buen comer, sus vinos y muchas otras cosas que ya forman parte de la cultura mundial, como las pastas y sus características salsa rojas, o las pizzas en sus distintas variantes, Ahora la pizza con piña no es tan común , es agridulce, supongo que tiene que ver el calor. Y los salames mmm que cosa tan sabrosas que son esas.

Farid

[KarenVChin]

Haha @FaridTDF , I think Hawaiian Pizza is truly an American invention. It is popular. Sweet (pineapple), savory (ham), and gooey (CHEESE!!) are a great combination.

Cheers,

Karen

[kroza]

Nice post @KarenVChin ! Loved reading about your memories of your grandpa I couldn’t agree more with @FaridTDF in that we’re all citizens of the world, somehow linked to places and cultures without even knowing it.

So similar and yet so different! In Misiones Argentina pineapple pizza is quite common, I think it’s because our closeness to Brazil, where rodizio de pizzas is very popular (it’s a type of restaurant service where you pay all-you-can-eat) and you’re offered all types of pizzza (I mean every kind of pizza you can imagine)

Congrats again to #TeamItaly for your great work! @ErmesT you nailed it with that challenge!

[NirmalTeja]

Interesting post @KarenVChin detailed information thank you for sharing with us…

[Ivi_Ge]

Hey @KarenVChin , very interesting post! I enjoyed it a lot and it was very interesting for me to read it. I am very happy to have a chance every day to learn from you.

[davidhyno]

Beautiful memories of your dad @KarenVChin !
And great reading how he introduced Italian food specialties to your family!
Perhaps, you will have already understood it, the common feature in Italian cuisine is to maintain simplicity: few ingredients but perfectly combined.
Honestly, here in Italy it is very rare to find a pizzeria that puts pineapple in your pizza! I tried a Toast Hawaii once but personally I didn’t like it: a clash of tastes not easy to be filled!
Those videos are all useful, even to understand the pronunciation of these words in Italian!
A very common phrase to say when you meet an acquaintance on the street is, after the “Ciao”, “Come stai?” stand for “How do you do?” and “Tutto bene?” as “Everything good?”

And above all, to look like a real Italian, when you meet a dear friend, let’s not forget a big hug, two kisses on the cheeks (first on the right and then on the left)!
For all others, however, a handshake is always a must!

Great post Karen,

thanks for tagging me, really appreciate!

Bye,

David

[Matt95Bassett]

@KarenVChin What a beautiful post Karen! I really enjoyed reading it and watching videos. Maybe the first one has some stereotypes / clichés too but it was a lot of fun! I read a great emotion when you wrote your memories of the past with your grandpa. I also have wonderful memories with my grandparents and it moved me a lot. Probably this post has entered my top 5 of the best posts here on connect, thank you very much for sharing it! I can’t wait to meet you and teach you something about Italy and learn something from you about America. In fact many things told in the videos you shared are valid for a large part of Italy, but every region of Italy is different, especially from north to south. P.S. in case there was a chance, would you like to be my guide in San Francisco’s Little Italy? I would love to visit it

thanx again for mentioning me

[LuigiZ]

Wow @KarenVChin , what a great post! And thank you for tagging me on it.

Well first of all it is great to remember all those memories, they are the best ever and Molinari looks a very nice Italian shop .

The video’s? They are all fun haha … as also @Matt95Bassett mentioned they are all based on true facts in terms that those are things we Italians found outside Italy and we joke about them because they are “wrong” Italian idea’s … so they became now common jokes, such as pineapple on the pizza, the meat with spaghetti, the meatballs and so on, and do not talk about what “not to wear” hahaha.

Italians are famous for talking, smiling, being friendly, begin “fashion”, of course all adapted to the several regions we have where things act differently. Then the food for which we are famous everywhere and everyone tries to replicate, here the receipts is simple … simple ingredients like @davidhyno says, of course Italian to get that exact taste, and proper way to combine them as that’s the first mistake ever done, attempting to cook still in a not Italian style, even the oil before or after put in a pan makes a totally different result!

Wines, cars, arts, literature … lot to talk about.

The Caseificio Vannullo? I know it very well . It is the region when I’m born and lived and passed that street many times to reach beaches on the coast of Cilento (now my memories hehe). It is a very good one with great mozzarella, they are the variant from Salerno (at very south of Naples) because the buffalo from north of Naples are different in taste and there are people who like more the one compared to the other one.

Do we find any time to make a tour around little Italy ?!? Now that you have so big Italian delegation … wondering if there is a spare time where we all fit in .

Thank you again Karen, wonderful post .

[nicspelgatti]

Thank you @KarenVChin for the amaizing post!!

#TeamItaly is ready to give a its heart to the cause!!

ps

get ready to gesticulate allot more than usual XD

[SharifImran]

Hello @KarenVChin thank you for sharing with us.

[KarenVChin]

Thanks @kroza for your kind words and sharing your pizza stories. So Hawaiian Pizza (Canadian Ham, cheese, and pineapple chunks) is not just a delicious American invention.

I have never heard of a pizza buffet style restaurant before. We need to get #TeamBrazil to get their opinion on this very important topic. LOL - @AlexandreCampbell @sanchestom @RogerOhayashi @tzequi @MaximinoSantos

Cheers,

Karen

[KarenVChin]

Thanks @NirmalTeja . Happy to know you enjoyed reading my post. Do you have any questions relating to living like an a Italian that always wanted to know? We have #TeamItaly who are more than happy to answer them.

Cheers,

Karen

[KarenVChin]

Thanks @Ivi_Ge ! Isn’t Connect wonderful? I learn from you too!

Cheers,

Karen

[KarenVChin]

Thanks @davidhyno . After reading many of #TeamItaly Connect posts, they triggered my memories of my grandpa and thoughts of how he was able to communicate with people who don’t speak Chinese. I am thinking there were a lot of hand gestures and pointing to get his point across.

Yes, the how many times you kiss on each cheek is a mystery. Is there a northern or southern style too? Regional? Different from the rest of Europe? I remember @BeatrizAguilar telling me about this important greeting ritual.

Americans hug and/or pat each other on the back if they know someone well. You can also add a mutual arm pulling towards each other if you are male. And if you don’t know someone well it’s either a simple handshake or just saying “Hi” or “Hello”

Cheers,

Karen

[KarenVChin]

Glad you enjoyed reading my post @Matt95Bassett . It’s because of you guys #TeamItaly that triggered me in thinking about my grandpa. Chinese are in general reserved and don’t show or share a lot of emotions, especially his generation. As a kid you don’t think about what adults do for you because you are a kid. As you get older you learn, realize how major or important what others do for you, even if it impacts their personal comfort levels.

Haha! I am sure your relative will be a better Local Guide than me when it comes to North Beach.

I can tell you though the one thing @ErmesT did not to try was the tiramisu at Caffe Greco because they sold out when we got there in 2017. And for some reason, we never walked back at night last year. Why is that Ermes??

Caffe Greco
423 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 397-6261
https://goo.gl/maps/1H4x51W8tnh1xhPi8

Personally, I love this - light, airy, with the right amount of espresso and cocoa powder. Heaven in every bite!

Plus, Cafe Greco has both indoor and outdoor cafe seating (heat lamps are on at night - as close to Italian Cafe life we have). It’s both a neighborhood and a tourist stop. The SFPD (police) like to stop here for coffee during their breaks.

Cheers,

Karen

[KarenVChin]

You’re welcome @LuigiZ . Glad you enjoyed reading my post. Even though we have North Beach, the best Italian Food I’ve had was in NYC - squid ink pasta with seafood! Heaven in every bite! Randomly found, before Local Guides, in the dark one night. Definitely a local, neighborhood small Italian restaurant.

Yup, that is the goal to finally make the trip back to Italy. @ErmesT is already planning. 3 weeks in my mind. Just waiting for my kiddos to be old enough to remember and appreciate the trip. Plus, reduce the amount of kid gear we would need to haul (as you well know!).

So, in the meantime, we are doing the food and wine cultural exchange.

Cheers,

Karen

[KarenVChin]

Haha @nicspelgatti . I am designating you as my teacher of Italian hand gestures.

Cheers,

Karen

[KarenVChin]

@SharifImran - nice! You must be part Italian! What kind of biscuits are these with your chai tea?

Cheers,

Karen

[Matt95Bassett]

@KarenVChin Holy words! Grandparents are really special, they do everything for their grandchildren without wanting anything in return. The time spent with the grandchildren is their reward. Ahaha yes probably my cousin knows the place but I would also like to visit San Francisco through the eyes of an American