Things I love in Italy #1001

Little packs of pancetta, all neatly chopped.  It's not like I can't get this at Traders Joes.  But here there are 20 varieties to choose from at the supermarket, all higher quality and all under $3.00.  Seriously.

There is a "funny" story that mirrors this.  According to one of our foodie tour guides, further explaining the gradation of olive oils that we heard at Volpetti's, the best olive oil stays here, the next best goes to European countries & the stuff that does not make the grade...to the US.  Haha.  Not.  Bet it is the same with all that parmesan and romano...maybe France and Spain are joining Italy in dumping their leftovers in the US?? And it is all bought by people like me at Dean and DeLuca and Taj MaTeeter?  I'm just sayin...