194. Italian Food Rules: The Pizza & Pasta Police Are Real

194. Italian Food Rules: The Pizza & Pasta Police Are Real

Author: Kimberly Holcombe August 21, 2025 Duration: 26:42
Please Follow us on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook ⁠! In this episode, Kimberly and Tommaso discuss the significance of preserving Italian recipes and the consequences of not adhering to culinary traditions. Pizza Napolitana and the AVPN: The hosts introduce the Associazione Verace Pizza Napolitana (AVPN), an organization dedicated to preserving the authentic technique of pizza making in Naples. They discuss the specific requirements for cooking certified pizzas, including dough preparation, cooking time, and ingredients. The AVPN employs “pizza agents” to ensure compliance with standards, risking delisting for non-compliant pizzerias. Cacio e Pepe Controversy: A British website, UK Good Food, published a recipe for Cacio e Pepe with incorrect ingredients, sparking outrage among Italians. The recipe included butter and parmigiano, deviating from the traditional ingredients of pasta, pepper and pecorino The President of Italy’s Restaurant Association sent a letter to UK Good Food, leading to a comical turn of events, but finally an acknowledgement of the correct recipe. Italian Pride in Traditional Recipes: Cuisine bonds Italians to each other, with recipes handed down by generations. Italians take deep pleasure in preparing their meals slowly and with the best ingredients possible. They don’t just consume a meal, they linger and enjoy it, and talk about it! Italy’s efforts to respect and protect specific foods and recipes through organizations like the DOP are admirable Link to Pizza Police Site: Here is link to the AVPN website which explains the school and lists the certified pizzerias around the world. https://www.pizzanapoletana.org

There's a particular magic to Italy that goes far beyond its famous landmarks, a rhythm of life that you only really start to feel once you've lingered in a local piazza or navigated a bustling market. Kimberly's Italy Travel is an invitation into that deeper experience, guided by Kimberly Holcombe, whose own story began with a life-changing move to Milan years ago. That journey didn't just create memories; it reshaped her perspective, and she shares that genuine, lived-in understanding in every episode. You'll hear personal stories from her travels, often punctuated by the kind of comical, real-world lessons that no standard guidebook ever mentions. This podcast serves as a rich audio companion, weaving together passionate discussions about regional cuisine, layers of local history, and the vibrant arts that define Italy's culture. It’s about the sensory details-the taste of a perfectly simple dish, the echo in an ancient alleyway, the warmth of a conversation with a new friend. Listeners gain practical, invaluable travel tips born from direct experience, all while feeling like they're sharing a coffee and a laugh with a knowledgeable guide. Through these conversations and reflections, the aim is to transport you, offering not just a list of destinations, but a feeling for the places and people that make Italy endlessly captivating.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Kimberly's Italy Travel
Podcast Episodes
210. 48 Hours in Rome [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:52
Please follow us on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! If you enjoy our podcast please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, Grazie Mille! In this episode, Kimberly and Tommaso c…
209. 36 Hours in Venice!! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:55
In this episode, Tommaso and Kimberly share their recent 36-hour trip to Venice. They talk about what to do in Venice when you have no agenda and want to see the real Venice. Tommaso and Kimberly also discuss their amazi…
208. Surprising Differences of Daily Life in Italy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:20
Please follow us on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! If you enjoy our podcast please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, Grazie Mille! In this episode, Kimberly and Tommaso m…
207.  Spring Travel Update [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:32
Please follow us on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! In this episode, Kimberly and Tommaso share their recent experiences moving to Italy, including challenging administrative tasks a…
206. One month in to our new life in Italy! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:16
Please follow us on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! In this episode, Kimberly and Tommaso share their experiences after living in Italy for almost a month. They discuss the daily adjustm…
205. Immigrating to Italy: Our First 2 Weeks! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:19
Please follow us on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! In this episode, Kimberly and Tommaso talk about their first two weeks in their new home in Italy. They share the joys and challenges…
204. Tips for your first trip to Italy and/or a refresh! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:04
Please follow us on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! In this episode, Kimberly and Tommaso share essential tips for a smooth first trip to Italy. They offer advice on everything from arrival…
203. New Italian Adventures to Try  In 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:50
Please follow us on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Links for the Show: Fondazione FS Italiane National Railway Museum Strada dell’Olio DOP Umbria Via di Linari In this episode, Kimberly Holcomb…
202.   Why Italian Christmas is Unlike Any Other [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:53
Please follow us on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠! In this episode, Kimberly and Tommaso wish everyone a Buon Natale and a Happy New Year. They share their past Christmas experiences in Italy, high…
201. Italian Destinations AI Won’t Tell You About [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:08
Please follow us on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook ⁠⁠⁠! In this episode, Kimberly and Tommaso talk about travel to Italy during the high season. They suggest places to visit and compare their personal recom…