The Full Story
About
Becoming Julia’s intern has been one of the happiest experiences in my time here.
Julia always invites me to her place to have lunch with her and her Family. Around their table, I get to taste not only delicious local Italian food but also the warmth and rhythm of real Italian life.Every time I go to my internship, I look forward so much for every lunchtime, sitting with them, talking, watching TV, and simply being present in that moment. Those meals always remind me that connection and simplicity can be a form of art, too.
So I decided to keep a record of every dish we’ve shared. Each one is a memory of Julia and her warmth.
Paccheri al Ragù di Pesce
It was my first time having lunch at Julia’s home, and I was a little nervous at the beginning. But when I met her family, everyone was so warm and welcoming. We talked a lot about our cultures and shared many stories around the table.
The pasta was amazing,it was my first time trying Italian pasta made with fish, and it tasted so fresh and full of flavor.
Gnocchi alla Sorrentina
Back in the U.S., I used to buy microwavable gnocchi from the supermarket. I never realized that it actually comes from Italy and even from Sorrento! It felt so special and lucky to taste the real one here. It was so delicious, but sadly, I couldn’t finish it because gnocchi makes you feel full so quickly.
Antipasto Campano
On this plate, there were two different kinds of cheese, a piece of bread, and a slice of ham.
Sadly, I didn’t remember their names, but both cheeses were so good! One of them was served in a small cup, and both tasted so different from the traditional cheese I’ve had before light, creamy, and not heavy at all.
Spaghetti
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This was such an interesting story. During our morning studio, Julia told me that today’s lunch would be something very special, that we were going to have very good truffles. Unfortunately, I can’t eat mushrooms, so I couldn’t have this fortunate.
But I was still amazed. Even without the truffle, the pasta itself was so good. It reminded me that when it’s cooked the right way, even the simplest dish can feel warm and full of comfort.
Fusilli alla Bolognese
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I remember that morning, Julia’s boyfriend drove her to the studio, and before leaving, he asked me what I wanted for lunch.
To be honest, my mind went completely blank at that moment. The only Italian dish I really knew was pasta, so I just blurted out, “pasta… maybe with tomato.”
I didn’t expect that random answer would turn into one of my favorite kinds of pasta ever.
Hamburger di Fassona Piemontese
After staying in Italy for a month, I started craving a big piece of meat. But since I’m not very good at cooking, it felt like a wish that would be hard to make come true.
Then, the next day at Julia’s home, I was so surprised to have the most delicious hamburger full of rich wine flavor and cooked perfectly in every way. Julia told me that her partner had specially bought the meat for me the day before.
My heart felt so, so warm.