Italian food is clearly delicious; I don't think anyone could disagree with that. But I want to take this time to vent about how frustrated I am with the lack of breakfast in this country. We as Americans are told "breakfast is the most important meal of the day." There are countless ads that explain that you won't lose weight by skipping breakfast, that breakfast jump starts your metabolism in the morning, that breakfast is good for you, etc. But here in Italy, they don't care. Breakfast here is about convenience. And by convenience I don't mean a sausage biscuit on the go. Breakfast equals a croissant, pastry, muffin, or even a piece of bread. That's it; no meat, no eggs, no potatoes--just bread. We were shocked by the inadequacy of the first Florentine hotel we stayed in upon arrival to the city. They had a complimentary breakfast that we were very excited about, however, after being seated by our waiter and munching on the basket of bread he brought to the table, we sat waiting for thirty minutes until we finally asked if we could get a menu and order our breakfast. He said, "Well, that is your breakfast." We looked down at the now empty basket of bread and were astonished. That was our breakfast? This hotel must be terrible in comparison to others, we assumed. But it wasn't just our crummy hotel. No one here eats more than a piece of bread or pastry for breakfast. Back in Texas, breakfast is my favorite meal. Croissant sandwich with bacon, eggs, and cheese. McDonald's sausage biscuit with cheese and a small orange juice. Quickie breakfast with bacon, egg, and cheese. Hash browns. Grits. White toast. Pancakes with butter and maple syrup. Eggs Benedict with crab meat. Lox and bagel with cream cheese and capers. Spinach Bacon Mushroom Omelet. Or my favorite: the All Star Breakfast at Waffle House. The lack of breakfast has been the root of almost all the culture shock I've noticed while in Italy; but more on that later.
Most of all, breakfast is a time to catch up with friends. Just like dinner. This meal should not be inferior to the other two central meals of the day. Try to replicate the sensation you feel when you walk into the kitchen in the morning and pour yourself a cup of coffee and the smell bacon permeates the room.
Why not enjoy the morning just as we enjoy the night? I must admit, breakfast has become more important to me over the years. But maybe that's because I--like the Italians--never stopped to realize how great breakfast makes you feel. After a good breakfast, I am ready and excited for the rest of my day.
My favorite breakfast of all time is on Christmas morning. As my parents and I arrive at my grandmother's house, I can distinctly remember walking through the front doors and being engulfed by the smell of Grandma's Christmas Casserole and her Monkey Bread. The grandchildren weren't allowed to open Christmas presents until we all ate our breakfast together. So we sat around the big table and laughed and talked while we ate breakfast.
America, I miss you. Because you serve breakfast 24 hours a day. Because you have protein in your breakfast. And because you celebrate breakfast every day.
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