Latest news with #Italians
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- General
- The Irish Sun
Italian restaurant red flags revealed and how to know if it's a tourist trap – the garlic bread is a giveaway
PIZZA, pasta, Parmesan - everyone loves a taste of Italy. But how do you know a place is authentically Italian? One expert has offered their advice on how to tell whether you're in a good 5 One expert revealed the way to tell if an Italian restaurant is authentic Credit: Alamy 5 The menu won't be too long if it's a good restaurant Credit: Alamy Orazio Salvini, founder of And sadly for Brits, there's one tasty side dish that shouldn't be on the menu. Orazio said: "If you see garlic bread listed as a starter, you're probably not in a good restaurant. "This dish simply doesn't exist in Italy in the form Brits know it. What Italians actually eat is 'bruschetta' - toasted bread rubbed with garlic and topped with good olive oil, sometimes with fresh tomatoes added." Read More on Holidays There's more bad news for anyone who loves a carbonara with chicken and mushrooms. Orazio added: "Real "If you see cream, peas, chicken, or mushrooms, the restaurant isn't following traditional recipes." Another way to know whether or not you're at a good eatery is quite simple - all you need to do is glance at the menu. Most read in News Travel According to Orazio, if the menu has lots on offer then it might be a sign that it's not authentic. Most real Italian restaurants have small menus with dishes that change seasonally. I visited the tiny island that is Italy's best kept secret and you can avoid the summer crowds 5 Garlic bread shouldn't be on the menu Credit: Alamy 5 Carbonara is made up of five ingredients with no extra toppings Credit: Alamy If there are lots of various dishes on offer, then it could be a sign that the eatery is using frozen ingredients and that the food isn't fresh. And when you order a seafood pasta, hopefully you won't be offered any Orazio advised that "no Italian would ever add cheese to seafood pasta". He even added that it's considered a "culinary sin" - so a definite no no. Another sign of inauthenticity is if a restaurant is mixing specialities from across regions. Areas like If you really want to put a place to the test, ask a server about ingredients and cooking techniques. The expert revealed that most authentic restaurants will happily divulge facts like where the olive oil is from, or which region a dish is from. For more, check out the Check out the 5 An Italian expert reveals the signs of a truly authentic Italian restaurant Credit: Alamy
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Italian restaurant red flags revealed and how to know if it's a tourist trap – the garlic bread is a giveaway
Plus, the Italian dish that you should never put Parmesan on PENNE PERFECT Italian restaurant red flags revealed and how to know if it's a tourist trap – the garlic bread is a giveaway Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PIZZA, pasta, Parmesan - everyone loves a taste of Italy. But how do you know a place is authentically Italian? One expert has offered their advice on how to tell whether you're in a good Italian restaurant or not - from whether they have a beloved side dish on offer, to how long the menu is. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 One expert revealed the way to tell if an Italian restaurant is authentic Credit: Alamy 5 The menu won't be too long if it's a good restaurant Credit: Alamy Orazio Salvini, founder of Real Italian Restaurants, has revealed the telltale signs that some Italian eateries are not genuine - whether that be in the UK, or abroad. And sadly for Brits, there's one tasty side dish that shouldn't be on the menu. Orazio said: "If you see garlic bread listed as a starter, you're probably not in a good restaurant. "This dish simply doesn't exist in Italy in the form Brits know it. What Italians actually eat is 'bruschetta' - toasted bread rubbed with garlic and topped with good olive oil, sometimes with fresh tomatoes added." There's more bad news for anyone who loves a carbonara with chicken and mushrooms. Orazio added: "Real carbonara contains five ingredients: pasta, eggs, pecorino cheese, guanciale (cured pork cheek), and black pepper. "If you see cream, peas, chicken, or mushrooms, the restaurant isn't following traditional recipes." Another way to know whether or not you're at a good eatery is quite simple - all you need to do is glance at the menu. According to Orazio, if the menu has lots on offer then it might be a sign that it's not authentic. Most real Italian restaurants have small menus with dishes that change seasonally. I visited the tiny island that is Italy's best kept secret and you can avoid the summer crowds 5 Garlic bread shouldn't be on the menu Credit: Alamy 5 Carbonara is made up of five ingredients with no extra toppings Credit: Alamy If there are lots of various dishes on offer, then it could be a sign that the eatery is using frozen ingredients and that the food isn't fresh. And when you order a seafood pasta, hopefully you won't be offered any Parmesan. Orazio advised that "no Italian would ever add cheese to seafood pasta". He even added that it's considered a "culinary sin" - so a definite no no. Another sign of inauthenticity is if a restaurant is mixing specialities from across regions. Areas like Sicily, Tuscany and Lombardy will have their own speciality dishes, and won't mix them with others. If you really want to put a place to the test, ask a server about ingredients and cooking techniques. The expert revealed that most authentic restaurants will happily divulge facts like where the olive oil is from, or which region a dish is from. For more, check out the big mistakes everyone makes when eating pizza according to an Italian. Check out the cheapest cities to eat and drink in Europe – where a restaurant meal costs as little as £4.
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Meta faces Italian antitrust probe over WhatsApp AI integration
Facebook-parent Meta is reportedly facing competition investigation in Italy over its new AI chatbot integrated in its popular messaging app WhatsApp. As reported by Reuters, Italy's antirust watchdog AGCM has started an investigation into Meta Platforms, alleging that the company may have abused its dominant market position by integrating its Meta AI chatbot into WhatsApp without obtaining user consent. The probe mainly revolves around concerns that embedding Meta AI directly into WhatsApp's search bar could unfairly push users towards Meta services. This move of the company may potentially distort competition and harm rival AI platforms. 'By pairing Meta AI with WhatsApp, Meta appears to be able to steer its user base into the new market not through merit-based competition, but by 'forcing' users to accept the availability of two distinct services,' the authority stated. AGCM also suspects that Meta's move may also violate European Union competition rules, particularly around user autonomy and fair market access. The regulator is also investigating whether the integration was done without explicit user consent, raising privacy and ethical concerns. 'Offering free access to our AI features in WhatsApp gives millions of Italians the choice to use AI in a place they already know, trust and understand,' a Meta spokesperson told Reuters. The investigation will focus on whether the AI chatbot's integration into WhatsApp could potentially restrict competition or create an unfair advantage for Meta's other services. WhatsApp boasts a massive user base in Italy, making any new feature that could steer user behaviour a subject of intense regulatory scrutiny. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Euractiv
8 hours ago
- Business
- Euractiv
Italian authorities raid Meta over WhatsApp AI function
The Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) has launched an investigation into Meta over the AI function in its WhatsApp messaging service. The authority suspects that Meta abused its dominant position in messaging by pre-installing the AI function without first requiring users to opt in. Officials raided Meta's Italian subsidiary on Tuesday, assisted by antitrust specialists of the Italian Financial Police, AGCM said in a press release. A Commission spokesperson said that its DG COMP was closely cooperating with the Italian competition authorities on the investigation. A Meta spokesperson said that the company was "fully cooperating with the Italian Competition Authority" per an email statement sent to Euractiv. "Offering free access to our AI features in WhatsApp gives millions of Italians the choice to use AI in a place they already know," the spokesperson added. Meta has claimed that the AI option is an entirely optional service to use. However, the Italian competition authorities have said that since March 2025, Meta AI has been pre-install its AI services, "by combining with its WhatsApp service, without any prior request from users," in its statement. The AI service had already come under scrutiny in several European countries. Meta had delayed the rollout of its AI service after the Irish data protection authority raised questions surrounding data use. The data protection watchdog in Hamburg, Germany, also started investigating Meta's use of user data but dropped the case in May. (cp)
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Meta faces Italian competition investigation over WhatsApp AI chatbot
Academy Empower your mind, elevate your skills Italy's antitrust authority said on Wednesday it had launched an investigation into Meta Platforms over allegations the company abused its dominant position by installing its artificial intelligence tool on messaging service WhatsApp The watchdog said Meta may have violated European Union competition rules by integrating its Meta AI assistant into WhatsApp without user consent, a move that might harm its company said it was cooperating with the Rome-based authority and that its AI service benefited customers."Offering free access to our AI features in WhatsApp gives millions of Italians the choice to use AI in a place they already know, trust and understand," a spokesperson said in an emailed authority, known as AGCM, said it acted "in close cooperation with the relevant offices of the European Commission".Meta AI, which provides chatbot-style responses and virtual assistant functions, has been part of WhatsApp's interface since March 2025, and was included in the app's search bar, the authority regulator said inclusion could unfairly steer users toward Meta's AI services, potentially harming competitors and locking users into the platform."By pairing Meta AI with WhatsApp, Meta appears to be able to steer its user base into the new market not through merit-based competition, but by 'forcing' users to accept the availability of two distinct services, potentially harming competing services", the authority that breach EU competition rules by abusing a dominant position can be fined up to 10% of their worldwide authority said its officials carried out investigations at the offices of Meta's Italian subsidiary with the assistance of Italy's tax police special antitrust unit.
