As Italy basks in the full glory of summer, many eagerly await Ferragosto (August 15th) and the start of a much-desired two-week vacation period. With August’s scorching temperatures in full swing, let’s delve into the summer’s food trends!

When Italians go to the beach, it is often an all-day, family affair. So, there must be lunch and snacks! Foodaffairs.it has recently published a ranking of dishes Italians prefer at the seashore, from a survey conducted by Deliveroo, focusing on three categories:

1. Pre-prepared food from home:

A whopping 81% of respondents love the habit of bringing pre-prepared food from home, savoring it comfortably under their beach umbrellas. Leading the list is the delightful rice salad, with 43% of the votes. Close behind is the ever-refreshing summer symbol – watermelon, at 29%, followed by the classic Caprese salad and a more elaborate dish, eggplant Parmigiana, tied at 14% each.

2. Favorite sandwiches:

When it comes to sandwiches, 40% opt for the timeless classic – tomato and mozzarella on bread. Next, 29% pair tomatoes with tuna, 19% choose the traditional ham and cheese combo, and 12% choose eggplant Parmigiana nestled between two slices of bread (my Neapolitan mother would heartily approve)

3. Foods that bring back childhood memories of summer:

Nostalgia reigns supreme here, with the all-time favorite – ice cream – securing the top spot at 57%. Rice salad evokes sweet recollections for 19%, while stuffed sandwiches take us down memory lane for 17%. At the bottom of this list sits the beloved pizza, cherished by 8% of respondents.

Of course, it is hard to go wrong with any of these. So, enjoy the summer and try the rice salad recipe I have posted for you. The recipe, history, and wine pairings are available here.

#ItalianFoodNews #FavoriteSummerDishes #SummerTrends #FoodLovers

References

foodaffairs.it. (2023, July 31). Cibo da spiaggia? Ecco i piatti preferiti dagli italiani da preparare e gustare sotto l’ombrellone. Foodaffairs. https://www.foodaffairs.it/2023/07/31/cibo-da-spiaggia-ecco-i-piatti-preferiti-dagli-italiani-da-preparare-e-gustare-sotto-lombrellone/

GialloZafferano.it. (n.d.). Insalata di riso. Ricette Di Cucina – Le Ricette Di GialloZafferano.it. Retrieved August 2, 2023, from https://ricette.giallozafferano.it/Insalata-di-riso-classica.html

iFood. (2019, August 4). Ricetta – Insalata di riso. Dissapore. https://www.dissapore.com/ricette/ricetta-insalata-di-riso/

Wikipedia. (2022, September 29). Insalata di riso. Wikipedia. https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insalata_di_riso