This is one of the most informative videos I have seen on aspects of tourism in Italy. My son visited Italy four years ago. He watched numerous video on what to see and expect while traveling through Italy. There was nothing in these videos regarding tipping for service. While in Naples, after trying for hours to find a parking spot, he landed in front of a tiny building where he could see a man making pizza. To make a long story short, this chap would not accept a tip. My son said the chap and his wife were so good to him and his two friends that they insisted to leave them something. They left the money in the table and the chap returned it to them . So my son gave the money to their two children. This chap was the one who told my son to avoid restaurants with menus with pictures! He made a list
Thank you for your kind comment. It makes it all worth while and will pass it on to Giuliano. I love your story about Naples where Enzo was born. The Neapolitans can be the kindest people. I so appreciate positive stories about this city close to my heart.
Oops, I pressed the arrow before finishing my sentence!!! The chap made a list of local shops and restaurants that he felt my son and his friends would enjoy. What a gracious person. My sons only complaint was that he could not find a restaurant that made a sandwich like he got at home. Finally while purchasing gas for his car, he noticed cured meats in a casing, and the owners made the boys a sandwich each that was just like home. Thanks again for your great and informative videos. I have some catching up to do on all your other ones I have missed. Wishing you and your family a Buona Pasqua!
Another great video...can't wait to get back to Italy. We have always adapted our habits while traveling to eat the typical dishes to each region we are in.
Thank you for providing this brief introduction into dining at restaurants in Italy (certainly not the experience seen in the movie The Big Night, starring Stanley Tucci.) After watching your video, I viewed several websites concerning visiting Italian restaurants that provided additional information that was not covered in your video. Dining in American restaurants after the “Age of Covid” has resulted in standard practices that seem strange to natives, much less to foreigners who have not been to the US in the last three years - Tip Jars, especially before you even receive your food or even if self-service is the norm. I do appreciate the Italian concept/tradition of not being rushed to finish a meal.
This is such a helpful video! I love "living as the locals" while on vacation and experiencing life the way they do! I truly hope Italy keeps its traditions and doesn't change too much 🙏 Question : Enzo do you teach cooking classes ? How do I contact you about renting your home ? TY!
Thank you for your lovely comment. To give you all the information including the farmhouse, please write an email to infopiazzatalk@gmail.com and we will reply. The email is also in the about section of the channel.
Great video! We want to be friends with Giuliano and Janet! What a charming couple. Also, a shout out to Antica Locanda di Sesto, one of our favorites!
In the early 1990s, I experienced dining in Italy (Lucca) for the first time. The stores closing at midday and workers enjoying their big meal at that time made much more sense to me than we Americans who eat dinner way too late in the evening. Eating at that time slot afforded workers sustenance and re-energized them for the second half of the workday. I decided long ago that I would adopt this custom. My husband and I try to eat our big meal around noon and a light meal in the evening. In the past 10 years, I’ve noticed that Italians, whether in Lucca or Bologna, have adopted eating that late meal. That makes me sad. By the way, Buca di Sant’Antonio is a regular stop. This last visit we had a lovely chat with the owners. Always delicious food, excellent service and ambience.
You might well have been served by Giuliano , so I will make sure he sees your lovely comment about Buca di Sant'Antonio. In Lucca many families still keep the lunch tradition going but it is harder as officers are adopting more and more American office hours.
I agree Pat, a great part of the enjoyment of travelling is learning about other cultures, and doing what they do. I always do a lot of research before traveling so I know what to expect. Unfortunately there are a lot of lazy travelers out there who expect the world to come to them!
Thankyou for your beautiful videos❤️ It would be fantastic to see more of Bagni di Lucca are there any restaurants? Wishing you a great week 😊 Cecilia (from Norway)
We will indeed be doing more videos on our beloved Bagni di Lucca. Our farmhouse is there. There are many great restaurants in the area including the villages in the hills above the main town. The restaurants tend to serve simple home-cooked local traditional dishes. Thank you for saying hello from Norway and I see we share the same name.
I really enjoyed this video and it's made me hungry for Frantoiana con calabaza, patatas, e coles! I'm so sorry to hear that the service industry in Italy is slipping towards a more American style with an emphasis on tips as a form of payment. I wholeheartedly hope that doesn't happen as it doesn't seem to benefit anyone. Will you now make a video on preparing Frantoiana? Ah, and now I remember that I must make a comment on the video you did with lasagne. Ciao!
There are many good gelaterias in Lucca and locals all have their favourite . The two mentioned here are completely different. Veneta, old traditional parlour, De'Coltelli more modern and sometimes unusual tastes with sustainable ingredients. As far as restaurants go, we don't eat out very often in Lucca as we prefer country restaurants but 'Buca di Sant'Antonio' serves very good Lucchese food and it is the historical restaurant of the city also 'Il Mecenate' is also a good bet.
what I'm taking away from this is, not much has changed in the last 30 years. My first trip to Lucca was 1993 and it was the same, tip if it was good and you only need to round up a couple thousand Lira or 3-4 euros. The better places keep their hours traditional, eat when Italians eat, period. Eat local, don't waste your time even getting a passport if you want to eat fast food meard. We've been back 7 times since that first trip in 93, so yeah, it's great
In tourist towns, it is getting harder to find good food. We mostly enjoy eating in village and country restaurants where the cooking is all based on local ingredients.
This is one of the most informative videos I have seen on aspects of tourism in Italy. My son visited Italy four years ago. He watched numerous video on what to see and expect while traveling through Italy. There was nothing in these videos regarding tipping for service. While in Naples, after trying for hours to find a parking spot, he landed in front of a tiny building where he could see a man making pizza. To make a long story short, this chap would not accept a tip. My son said the chap and his wife were so good to him and his two friends that they insisted to leave them something. They left the money in the table and the chap returned it to them . So my son gave the money to their two children. This chap was the one who told my son to avoid restaurants with menus with pictures! He made a list
Thank you for your kind comment. It makes it all worth while and will pass it on to Giuliano. I love your story about Naples where Enzo was born. The Neapolitans can be the kindest people. I so appreciate positive stories about this city close to my heart.
Oops, I pressed the arrow before finishing my sentence!!! The chap made a list of local shops and restaurants that he felt my son and his friends would enjoy. What a gracious person. My sons only complaint was that he could not find a restaurant that made a sandwich like he got at home. Finally while purchasing gas for his car, he noticed cured meats in a casing, and the owners made the boys a sandwich each that was just like home. Thanks again for your great and informative videos. I have some catching up to do on all your other ones I have missed. Wishing you and your family a Buona Pasqua!
I love making up my sandwich. My favourite always contains the vegetables in oil but it makes for a rather messy lunch !!
Another great video...can't wait to get back to Italy. We have always adapted our habits while traveling to eat the typical dishes to each region we are in.
I remember what appreciative and lovely guests you were and that you embraced the village and the food.
Can't wait to come back to Lucca next month and eat in all our favourite restaurants again. We've had some lovely meals in the city
Good to know you will be back in Lucca soon.
Bravo! This was very helpful and my mouth is watering thinking of all the fabulous dishes in Lucca!
Thank you for your lovely words and comment.
Thank you for providing this brief introduction into dining at restaurants in Italy (certainly not the experience seen in the movie The Big Night, starring Stanley Tucci.) After watching your video, I viewed several websites concerning visiting Italian restaurants that provided additional information that was not covered in your video. Dining in American restaurants after the “Age of Covid” has resulted in standard practices that seem strange to natives, much less to foreigners who have not been to the US in the last three years - Tip Jars, especially before you even receive your food or even if self-service is the norm. I do appreciate the Italian concept/tradition of not being rushed to finish a meal.
Italians have a big tradition in the hospitality industry and Italians don't like to be rushed at a meal.
This is such a helpful video! I love "living as the locals" while on vacation and experiencing life the way they do! I truly hope Italy keeps its traditions and doesn't change too much 🙏
Question : Enzo do you teach cooking classes ? How do I contact you about renting your home ?
TY!
Thank you for your lovely comment. To give you all the information including the farmhouse, please write an email to infopiazzatalk@gmail.com and we will reply. The email is also in the about section of the channel.
My favorite restaurant in Lucca !!
Thank you for commenting. It's a lovely restaurant.
Great video! We want to be friends with Giuliano and Janet! What a charming couple. Also, a shout out to Antica Locanda di Sesto, one of our favorites!
I will make sure Janet and Giuliano see your message.
To anybody who has never visited Lucca,you should, it's wonderful as is Bagni di Lucca, especially when the Public swimming pool is open.🎉
Thank you for endorsing the beauty of our area
In the early 1990s, I experienced dining in Italy (Lucca) for the first time. The stores closing at midday and workers enjoying their big meal at that time made much more sense to me than we Americans who eat dinner way too late in the evening. Eating at that time slot afforded workers sustenance and re-energized them for the second half of the workday. I decided long ago that I would adopt this custom. My husband and I try to eat our big meal around noon and a light meal in the evening. In the past 10 years, I’ve noticed that Italians, whether in Lucca or Bologna, have adopted eating that late meal. That makes me sad.
By the way, Buca di Sant’Antonio is a regular stop. This last visit we had a lovely chat with the owners. Always delicious food, excellent service and ambience.
You might well have been served by Giuliano , so I will make sure he sees your lovely comment about Buca di Sant'Antonio. In Lucca many families still keep the lunch tradition going but it is harder as officers are adopting more and more American office hours.
I agree Pat, a great part of the enjoyment of travelling is learning about other cultures, and doing what they do. I always do a lot of research before traveling so I know what to expect. Unfortunately there are a lot of lazy travelers out there who expect the world to come to them!
Great info grazie!
Thank you, we hope it will help.
Thankyou for your beautiful videos❤️ It would be fantastic to see more of Bagni di Lucca are there any restaurants? Wishing you a great week 😊 Cecilia (from Norway)
We will indeed be doing more videos on our beloved Bagni di Lucca. Our farmhouse is there. There are many great restaurants in the area including the villages in the hills above the main town. The restaurants tend to serve simple home-cooked local traditional dishes. Thank you for saying hello from Norway and I see we share the same name.
Thankyou 😊🥰🙏
I really enjoyed this video and it's made me hungry for Frantoiana con calabaza, patatas, e coles! I'm so sorry to hear that the service industry in Italy is slipping towards a more American style with an emphasis on tips as a form of payment. I wholeheartedly hope that doesn't happen as it doesn't seem to benefit anyone. Will you now make a video on preparing Frantoiana? Ah, and now I remember that I must make a comment on the video you did with lasagne. Ciao!
We will certainly do it but it is almost the end of the soup season so it might be next year! Thank you for your comment.
really great informative video... I think choice of word should be flexible rather than elastic...
So glad the information was useful, Very sorry for the slip of the tongue.
@@PiazzaTalkLucca thought I'd just inform you folks... looking forward to our first visit in Lucca :)
We hope you have a wonderful time in Lucca.
@@PiazzaTalkLucca any recommendations for gelato, restaurants? :)
There are many good gelaterias in Lucca and locals all have their favourite . The two mentioned here are completely different. Veneta, old traditional parlour, De'Coltelli more modern and sometimes unusual tastes with sustainable ingredients. As far as restaurants go, we don't eat out very often in Lucca as we prefer country restaurants but 'Buca di Sant'Antonio' serves very good Lucchese food and it is the historical restaurant of the city also 'Il Mecenate' is also a good bet.
what I'm taking away from this is, not much has changed in the last 30 years. My first trip to Lucca was 1993 and it was the same, tip if it was good and you only need to round up a couple thousand Lira or 3-4 euros. The better places keep their hours traditional, eat when Italians eat, period. Eat local, don't waste your time even getting a passport if you want to eat fast food meard. We've been back 7 times since that first trip in 93, so yeah, it's great
In tourist towns, it is getting harder to find good food. We mostly enjoy eating in village and country restaurants where the cooking is all based on local ingredients.
Please external mikes.......
Thank you for your suggestion
@@PiazzaTalkLucca
Io abito negli Stati Uniti....pero I miei sono tutti di Lucca. Ci vengo in qualche settimane. Molti auguri.
Giovanni
Lucca è molto bella. Sono molti i Lucchesi negli Stati Uniti. Tanti saluti e buon viaggio.