Students ask many questions about linguistics, culture, and food: two most common questions from American students are appropriately about food: “How come in Italian pizzeria I get a pizza with vegetables when I order a pepperoni pizza?” and, “Why can’t I find Neapolitan ice cream in a gelateria?”
The answers are simple. Pepperoni pizza comes from the Italian noun peperone, pepper, while Neapolitan ice cream comes from a long time ago, when an Italian emigrant in the US, Spumone of Naples, introduced a new type of ice cream with three flavors (usually chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry). So be careful in Italy when you order at an ice cream or pizza place!
Until next time!
Michela Giovannini teaches all levels of Italian on Skype. Click here for contact information.