This is so important to understanding Italian culture and culinary acumen.

It’s a hard to explain to folks who haven’t experienced it, but enjoying food in Italy is a process as much as an event–it’s time, place, environment. It’s taking in your surroundings and absorbing the local atmosphere. It’s taking time to reflect while savoring.

It’s not meant to include styrofoam.

It’s everything a meal should be.

I’d be surprised to learn the Italians even have a phrase for slow food–for them the concept is just what they call “eating.”