Food and Drink
Latest articles about food, drink, and food culture in Italy.
KFC heads for Italy's Dolomites ski slopes despite backlash
As fast food giants continue their expansion across Italy, government ministers and local councillors said the arrival of KFC in the Unesco-listed Dolomites was a step too far.
'Fewer and fewer': Dry summer hits Italy's truffle season
After an excessively dry summer, black truffles are becoming few and far between in the misty hills of the Piedmont region in northern Italy.
How hard is it to find vegan or vegetarian restaurants in Italy?
Italy's growing number of vegans and vegetarians say it can be difficult to find good dining options - so how do Italian cities compare with the rest of Europe?
Sagra: The best Italian food festivals to visit in November 2026
Harvest season may be coming to an end, but Italy's food festivals are still going strong. Here are some of the best to stop by in November.
Five of the best Italian sweets to try on All Souls' Day
From cookies shaped like bones to 'beans of the dead', every Italian region has its variation on seasonal sweets at this time of year - and they have nothing to do with Halloween candy.
'They think I'm crazy': How one Italian rice farmer is beating extreme heat
A return to historic rice varieties and encouraging wildlife diversity has helped one farmer in northern Italy combat a decline in production as weather gets ever more extreme.
IN MAPS: How fast food chains are spreading across Italy
Some of the world's biggest fast food chains are expanding faster in Italy now than at any time since they arrived in the country, and they're increasingly looking south.
The unwritten rules of visiting Italian bars and cafés
From paying for your coffee to ordering an aperitivo, things work a little differently in Italy's local neighbourhood bars.
Explained: What's behind the rise in obesity in Italy?
Reports of a rising number of overweight children in Naples have put Italy's modern eating habits in the international spotlight, but the full story has more to do with money than pasta and pizza.
Sagra: The best Italian food festivals to visit in October 2026
If you're in Italy in October, you won't want to miss the many local food fairs held around the country. Here are some of the best to visit over the coming month.
'Impossible to not notice': How fast food is heading south in Italy
Major chains are expanding faster than ever in Italy, a country once held up as a model of healthy eating. Its impacts on the previously healthy, if poorer, south are concerning.
Six very Italian junk foods that you have to try
Despite its fiercely-defended reputation as the home of real food, Italy's dirty little secret is that its population often indulges in junk - and has created some uniquely Italian offerings.
Five of the best rooftop bars to visit in Rome
Everyone loves a good rooftop bar - and Rome has a selection to suit all tastes.
Italian producers downgrade bottles as wine piles up in cellars
Winemakers said on Wednesday they were struggling to shift a year’s worth of produce after a drop in exports to the United States.
Should you order tap water in Italy's restaurants?
You officially do not have the right to free tap water at restaurants in Italy, but that doesn’t mean you can’t try asking for it.
15 typical Roman foods you need to try at least once
Rome’s 2,000-year-old food scene has something to make everyone’s taste buds tingle. So what are the typical dishes you really must try?
Six cold Italian coffee options to keep cool and caffeinated this summer
From a dessert-like caffè crema to a bubbly espresso tonic, try ordering one of these cold coffee drinks at the bar when the weather becomes too hot for a normal espresso.
Italy's delicious alternatives to Easter chocolate
Never mind chocolate eggs from the supermarket. In Italy, this is the time of year to sample all kinds of seasonal sweets and cakes, with countless variations across the country. Here are a few favourites.
Parmesan makers target US market as sales drop in Italy
For the first time more than half of Parmesan cheese was exported, as Italy's population declines and consumers watch their spending, producers said Thursday.
Australian producers can use Prosecco name under EU trade deal
Australian wine producers have been granted EU approval to market their Italian-style sparkling wine as Prosecco under a new trade agreement that also allows cheesemakers to use the Parmesan label.
Nine choices for Italian Michelin-style dining under €40
The 2026 Michelin guide is out and offers proof that fine dining doesn't have to break the bank. Here are some options for delicious but affordable Italian cuisine.
An Italian Easter menu: Dishes to try each day of Holy Week
Food is central to any Italian celebration, and Easter is no exception. These are some of the classic Italian dishes to try at this time of year, from traditional lamb and artichokes to an unusual pig's blood dessert.
US backs down on 'super tariffs' for Italian pasta brands
Italy said on Thursday the United States had agreed to further cut threatened duties on Italian pasta brands, in what it said was a "positive" final decision.