Having lived in the US for almost 17 years, I very well know the taste of synthetic, engineered, hormone-injected, antibiotic-infused and preservative laden food.

Which is precisely why, anytime I travel out of the US, the authentic flavour of world cuisines is something I actively seek out. And, Italian food is on top of that list.

There is nothing that describes Italy like, Il bel far niente, roughly translating to 'the art of doing nothing'; something the Italians know how to accomplish to perfection, taking along tourists on the same ride.

Sitting under the Tuscan sun, as I ate my pesto pasta, overlooking the green hills and the quintessentially Tuscan cypress trees, I understood the age-old Italian saying, this has to be it. The art of doing nothing.

Under the blue sky, living the laid back country lifestyle. This is how food is meant to be savoured! The bruschetta is an Italian classic – the bread is soaked in olive oil and has the perfect topping of tomato, basil, salt and garlic; the taste of summer on a toast.

A day-trip to the Cinque Terre in the Liguria region led me on a delightful journey of taste and sight. Cinque Terra is a string of five fishing villages sitting atop the Italian Riviera.

Beautiful beyond belief, unique beyond imagination, the first village welcomed me with the smell of fresh focaccia bread. The Italian baker offered me spinach and olive focaccia, flat oven-baked Italian bread fresh out of the oven.

I picked up three bottles of Italian olive oil from outside the focaccia bakery of course and exchanged phone numbers with the baker, a good baker is hard to find; especially if he is Italian. It was at this point in my Italian adventure that I decided to embark on the `Tuscan cooking tour’ on the recommendation of my Australian companions. A must do!

The next afternoon found me in the medieval town of San Gimignano, home to the best gelato in the world. Master Dondoli is said to be a legendary ice cream maker, and the Gelateria Dondoli is always extremely busy.

With a chocolate gelato in hand, I soaked in the feel of the authentically medieval town; all we needed was a change in costume to blend in with the terracotta walls of the ancient city. It stood in time, somewhere in the Middle Ages, far beyond the realm of reality.

I left the city of Seina smiling, and it had to be the taste of roma tomatoes on a margarita pizza. Needless to say, there is no better pizza in the world than the one in Italy. Whatever it is that we call pizza beyond the borders of Italy, is a step-cousin to the real thing.

The flavour, the thin crust, the organic ingredients are all an expression of the people themselves.

My Italian holiday definitely climaxed in the water city, nothing pars the magic of Venezia. What does one say about Venice, the city speaks for itself, it sings, it dances, it is pure magic.

As night approached St. Mark’s Square played host to the full moon in the sky, the canals and the gondolas lit in golden hues as the soft cool breeze carried the sound of water swaying to the music of the famous Italian song Con te partiro more famously called 'Time to say goodbye'.

The music evokes a soul stirring emotion; it could mean anything one wants it to mean, leaving with a loved one; parting and its haunting sorrow; truly a perfect setting to eat Tiramisu in, while sipping a delightful cup of tea.

The Panini in Murano, the glass capital of the world, and the Quaranta nut nougat in Burano all left me with a bellissimo!

What could be more deliciously lovely? Was it the food, the boat ride, the two beautiful islands, the Burano lace, the Murano glass necklace or the islanders, Il bel far niente, or a combination of them all?

Armed with the romance and food of these beautiful cities, I headed to the larger cities of Florence and Rome, but that is a story for another day.

---

--Photos by Fawad Ahmed