Tag Archives: eating like the locals

Great Meals: Our Octopus Dinner with Don Fernando

Freshly caught octopus grilled with garlic and olive oil and served with wine sauce-featured image

We both sat there staring at the plate placed before me. When I ordered a seafood salad, I figured I’d see a little crab and shrimp over some leafy greens with a splash of vinaigrette. I had no idea someone would go into the kitchen and out the back door to the canals beyond, scoop up whatever was unfortunate enough to swim into the net, and serve al fresco with a splash of olive oil and a dash of salt and pepper. We sat there, staring at the seafood salad I ordered. This is the story about My Octopus Dinner on the Venice Canals at Don Fernando’s in Treviso, Italy.

eating with a knife and fork in Germany

Eating Pizza Like a local with a Knife and Fork in Germany

Every country has its quirks, peculiarities, social etiquette that contributes to its overall culture. Some are reasonable, some from an outsider’s perspective, can seem odd. But it’s adopting these habits into daily life, even if only temporarily, that make living abroad fun, rewarding and unpredictable. Some, like eating pizza with a fork, is just eating like a local.