Baked fresh daily...
The specialty food stores (e.g., bread store, meat
store, vegetable store, etc.) are slowly disappearing as modern grocery store
chains with lower prices take their place. The good news is that these
newer stores don't fit in the historic center of an Italian medieval
city so it's safe to say that the specialty store won't disappear entirely. Many specialty stores have found it more profitable to sell
local/regional products of particular interest to tourists (e.g., dried
meats, cheeses, wines, etc.).Italians buy everything fresh so whoever is cooking (either the Mother or Grandmother) may visit several food stores daily. I loved to "fare la spesa" (or grocery shop) for the day's meals. Each store provided a great opportunity to mingle with the locals and learn more Italian as well as more of the history and culture of Italy.
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