Words and photos by Makenna Kaminski, our Jetsetter Journalist studying abroad in Sorrento, Italy, during Spring semester 2023.

You can't go to Italy without having a passion for the food culture. Food is the root of everything in this amazing country, and they know it. The Italians I've met thrive on their small farms, natural productions, amazing flavors, and their traditional family recipes. It's equal parts amazing to witness and to taste.

The best thing about Italian food is that it's all good. I honestly can't name a single piece of food I've tried so far that wasn't delicious. With everything being farmed naturally and locally, it's all just so fresh! I still can't get over the amount of quality that lies in each bite of Italian cuisine. It seems like the staff of every restaurant here genuinely puts their heart and soul into every dish they cook.

Now that I've been in Italy for about a month, I feel like I've gotten the chance to search out some of the best food the country has to offer. Of course, the lists can go on forever, but there are definitely a few dishes and treats that have stood out against the rest.

Find some of my favorites below.

Sfogliatelle

Gran Caffé Gambrinus, Naples

Potentially the best thing I've consumed while abroad in Italy has been the sfogliatelle pastries from the Gran Caffé Gambrinus in Naples. Sfogliatelle are a flaky pastry (like a croissant), but unlike croissants they are more crisp instead of soft. Inside, they have a ricotta filling that can be any flavor, but is traditionally a light lemon cream. These pastries are a Napoleon specialty and, after trying them, I immediately understood why. The light lemon flavor inside is a perfect combination for the flaky crust. Both elements are subtle, but together they combine to create an amazing duo that is light and airy from the outside and satisfyingly sweet and rich with the ricotta filling inside. This treat is something I think I'd actually fly back to Italy just to eat again.

Pizza!

Pizzeria Da Franco, Sorrento

Pizza in Italy is something completely different from what we know in the US. While the US standard is huge, family-sized pizzas that are usually flat and floppy, Italy specializes in a pizza all of their own. Here, pizzas are solely served in personal-sized pies, meant to be eaten in one sitting (which can easily be done). So far, I've found that Italian pizza has a standard style as well; it tends to be thicker than the American pizza I know, and has a thick crust.

I've tried probably a dozen Italian pizzas so far, but one place has taken a special spot in my heart. Pizzeria da Franco—located less than a mile from my school in Sorrento—has been the best pizza I've tried to date. This pizzeria is known by the locals here as being the best, and my friends and I all agreed.

I ordered a white pizza topped with mushrooms, red peppers, parmesan flakes, oil, and basil. The mushrooms alone were one of the best things I've ever had, and on top of the pizza they were even better. The restaurant has a mile-long list of different pizza options, so I can't wait to make my way back a second time to try out some more from their menu.

Caffé Freddo

Gran Caffé Gambrinus, Naples

Also from the Gran Caffé Gambrinus, the Caffe freddo I ordered was hands-down the best coffee I’ve ever had. Coming from a coffee-enthusiast like myself, that’s a bold statement.

A caffe freddo is the Italian version of an "iced" coffee, but it's nothing like those we know in the U.S. This cold treat is a sweetened, slushy-like frozen espresso drink. It was sweet, rich, and undoubtedly refreshing. The espresso flavor was so smooth, and the added ice gave an extra touch. I can only imagine how refreshing this would be on a warm Summer day.

Suppli

Native to Rome, suppli are a traditional street food in Italy. These are delicious little rice balls, filled with a thick cheese and then deep-fried to perfection. I got myself one of these as an after dinner snack in Rome and I was blown away.

The one that I tried had a tomato paste mixed in which added an extra touch of flavor. These were hot and cheesy, the perfect food for a late night or greasy treat. They were such a good mix of flavor and indulgence.

Everything Truffle

Before coming to Italy, I always knew that I loved truffle on foods. Here in Italy however, truffle takes on a whole new meaning.

When I did a day trip to Tuscany as part of a wine tour, they gave us samples of all of their homegrown food specialties. One of our sampled items was a truffle paste, made from those truffles found in their own backyard. The flavors of this were absolutely exquisite. The paste was paired with a truffle-based parmesan cheese that was so rich, creamy and balanced. I've been hunting down every truffle food I could find ever since.

At All'Antico Vinaio (the famous sandwich shop of Florence), I got a vegetarian sandwich with a truffle pesto that was to die for. Then I got the best truffle oil of all time from a small local shop. And then there was the truffle pasta I ate from Trattoria ZaZa. And the list is sure to go on.

The best part is that Italians love truffle just as much as I do; thus, they put it in everything. I will likely have to take a stash of tuffle delicacies in my suitcase home with me come May.

Croissants

We all hear about the croissants and the pastries of Italy, but the rave is not an exaggeration. They really are that good! Believe it or not, the best croissant that I've had so far was from my hotel breakfast in Rome. This was one of my first tastes of Italy, and I chose the most delicious apricot-filled croissant you could imagine. It was so fluffy, and on top was a light coating of sweet powdered sugar. I paired this with fresh orange juice (another one of my favorite things here) and ate it on a balcony overlooking the streets of Rome.

The experience alone was amazing enough, but the croissant made it even better: buttery, flaky, sweet goodness.

The Caprese

The tomatoes and cheese in Italy are without a doubt on my list of food favorites. Back home, I never eat much cheese, but here there's no way I could live without it. The mozzarella here is so fresh. And the sweet tomatoes taste better than if you were to grow them yourself.

The caprese they serve comes as a plate of garden-ripe tomatoes layered with thick slices of creamy mozzarella cheese. On top, they put rich olive oil, salt, and thin strips of basil. It's absolute heaven. The best caprese I've had so far has been at a local Italian restaurant in Sorrento, but Italy's foods are all so fresh that the caprese is amazing just about everywhere you go.

ALL THE PISTACHIO

Pistachio products are an Italian favorite as well as one of my own. I'll never fail to be impressed by the Italian method of finding a way to stuff pistachios into just about anything. And I mean anything.

You'll see pistachio in every pastry known to man, in gelato, in coffees, and even on pizza, chicken, and in pasta dishes. The pistachio works so well as a compliment to the other flavors in a dish due to its richness and creaminess, and also its own sweet/salty combo. The pistachio cream is by far my favorite.

On my first trip to the Italian grocery store, I picked up a jar of pistachio cream just by chance. Little did I know that it would be one of the best things I've ever tasted. Since that day, I've spread this pistachio obsession to all of my close friends and even the other students from my school started to try my beloved pistachio cream and fall in love with it too. Since then, I've realized that if pistachio is an option for a pastry or food, then that will always be the best choice. Just this morning, I got a pistachio-filled brioche on my travels to Milan; and let me tell you, it was life-changing.

Some of my other little favorites so far include the chocolates which are all so rich and decadent (even those from the supermarket). I've also developed a deep love for Italian snacks, both these little chili-flavored rice crackers as well as my all-time favorite, the "taralli" which I jokingly refer to as "mini bagels" due to their round shape. Both are so good, definitely a step up from the American Cheez-Itz.

Of course, the espresso and cappuccinos are also world-renowned for very good reason.

These are just my findings within a month here in Italy and I can't even imagine what I'll taste and discover over the next three! It's a blessing to know that I'll never run out of new treats to discover while living out these next few months in Europe.