Italy, the country where normally many of our clients travel to visit a factory, close a deal with a new client, perform or go on a shopping trip. But also the country where many tourists celebrate their vacations every year and enjoy "la dolce vita." How different everything was in the first months of this year.
In addition to the concerns we had here in the Netherlands during the lockdown, about our health and family, I, Esmee Rambach - Business Travel Consultant in Arnhem, as the daughter-in-law of an Italian family, have also had quite a few additional concerns about my in-laws and their business these past few months.
My in-laws are originally from Sicily, but moved to northern Italy a few years ago for economic reasons. To the province of Padova/Vicenza, the hearth during the violent outbreak of COVID-19 in Italy.
Italy, a land of contradictions and ... espresso
If you look globally at the country you can say that the economy in northern Italy is the most developed. We also see that our clients also fly most often to Milan and Bologna The economic situation, however, is not yet comparable to the economy in the Netherlands. The further south you go, the harder the population has to work proportionally, the more often they have to deal with corruption and the more the area has to rely on tourism. So that was one of the reasons why my in-laws eventually left for northern Italy and started a bar there.
You know, a typical Italian coffee bar: You rush in, pay for an espresso with a warm croissant filled with cream at the cash register, get a receipt, walk to the part of the bar where the espresso is made, show your receipt and while walking (half running) you drink your espresso and eat your croissant. At the end you can choose whether you want aqua frizzante or aqua naturale and once you reach the door you finish it and throw the plastic cup in the trash. All this happens in just under 5 minutes. And the day can begin!
Doing business in Italy
Besides the well-known quick espresso, Italy has its own business culture. A few tips to help when doing business with an Italian(se):
- Italians consider a personal introduction important. Introductions in writing are unusual.
- Lunch is part of a business meeting.
- Quick business or getting to the point does not fit into Italian culture. Domani (tomorrow) can do it too right?
- Italians do not excel in knowledge of any foreign language. For business contact, it is helpful if you have some command of Italian. The older generation sometimes speaks quite a bit of French. English is often (of course not always) difficult.
- Italians are very formal during a business conversation. They are not likely to call you by your first name.
A look at the lockdown in Italy
Last March, business in and with Italy came to a halt for a while. Even my in-laws' bar was closed overnight. In fact, no travel was allowed within the provinces (one of the first rules that came with Italy's lockdown). My husband's parents arrived at the bar in the morning, did their daily rounds, started everything up to start the day. After about 1 hour, the carabinieri came and evicted them from the bar. They were no longer allowed to be open. Home.
From this infamous day, they spent as much as two months at home. There is no help from the government. At least not as we know it in Holland. No income, no money, that's how it goes in Italy. Eventually they received a small compensation and the bar is now fortunately open again. Of course with the necessary hygiene measures.
Italy, meanwhile, is back on the road to the "new" normal. We are happy that our in-laws may pick up where they left off and that sales are again on the rise in their authentic Italian bar.
Bring Italy into your own home this summer
Would you also like to enjoy a little dolce vita at home this summer? With this traditional recipe for Pasta Carbonara, you will really imagine yourself in Italian spheres for a while!
Recipe for a typical Italian pasta Carbonara (2 people):
Now we can immediately underline once and for all that cream is one of the ingredients that not belongs in this recipe)! ?
- 320 grams of pasta (Spaghetti is best)
- 2 eggs (2 yolks)
- 200 grams of Guanciale (also possible to replace with lean bacon)
- 60 grams of Parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves of garlic
- Pepper and salt
- Olive Oil
Cook the pasta al dente in a pan with plenty of boiling water and a pinch of salt. Beat the two egg yolks (without the egg white) with the Parmesan cheese in a bowl. Season this mixture with some salt and pepper. Cut the Guanciale into thin strips. (If not available in the supermarket, you can also substitute lean bacon).
Heat the olive oil with the butter in a pan. Crush the garlic cloves with the rounded side of a spoon and add them to the pan along with the Guanciale strips (or bacon bits). Fry until the bacon is crispy. Remove the garlic from the pan. Add the drained pasta to the Guanciale strips (bacon bits), then remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the egg mixture and serve immediately.
Buon Appetito!
Esmee Rambach
