When I’m asked what it’s like shopping in Italy I realized that it’s quite a tricky question  to answer because shopping in Italy isn’t always an easy task. But before you yawn, there is information about this fantastic area that I have to share with you.

Once a month we drive 20 minutes to our nearest Eurospin Supermarket where one can stock up on the basics: beans, sauces and pastes etc. , for 30c to 40c a packet.

However, we still love to visit our local markets and shops to buy fresh produce. It’s not just the food, but the experience. For example our village Force ( for-chay) has local milk from an organic free range farm and also great cheese.

Our house is surrounded by sheep who are farmed for their meat, milk and a great variety of cheeses. Many of these are sold locally at the supermarkets or the local village and town markets. Apart from Mondays you can find a local market in any one of the many villages or towns.

Our village butcher is situated on the farm itself, down a small lane. We don’t eat a great deal of meat in our family but when we do we make sure it’s good quality and here we know for sure it is. We also know that the animals have not travelled in distress.

Best of I have to explain to you the lovely free local seasonal produce we get from our neighbouring friends, anything from fresh plump cherries to carrots, peaches to lettuce, plus zucchini’s and many tomatoes, all of course naturally grown.

So you have to be a little organized but the benefits of this quality of food is worth it. What I look forward to most are the spring vegetable plant markets, so I can get  on with planting my own food too. Life here is simple, but good.