An Italian Tries Old Fashioned Southern Food for the First Time 

As a Southerner, who just spent a month in Italy eating the BEST food ever, I'm so proud that an Italian likes my food. I grew up eating all that delicious Southern stuff cooked by my mom, grandmother, and aunts.

As an italian ...we love food made with passions ...no matter from where it arrives....food for us is life...happiness...

Southern grandma here and I can attest that nothing beats the meals here. I would love to go to Italy and taste true Italian cooking. It looks so good…

Never ever did I think I'd be watching an Italian eat a FRIED BOLOGNA sandwich and *liking* it! I grew up being the 4th son of a single parent who was doing everything she could to keep us fed and a roof over our head. Simple foods like biscuits and sausage gravy and fried bologna were staples in our house. I love seeing how the love and passion that goes into "poor" food is being appreciated and experienced by people from other countries and cultures. Molto amore da California!

As an Italian, Southern cooking is the best food in the US. I'm salivating right now.

Heck, I'm 67 and I've been cooking like this since I was 8. It warms my heart to see you enjoy our soul food.

I think Alessio has developed a Southerner’s sweet tooth. Years ago, many of these foods would have been too sweet for him. Congratulations! You’ve earned your True Southerner Card!

Country cooking is Comfort food! Memories of our Grandmothers; food cooked with LOVE❤❤❤

I am a 70 year old South Texas woman, and I cook like this every day. I love fried bologna, okra, tomatoes picked right out of my garden eaten like an apple, fried cabbage, pinto beans that have cooked all day served with cornbread, and home made chicken and noodles. Just today, I made baked chicken, yellow squash & onion casserole, sliced fresh red & yellow tomatoes, and a homemade oatmeal cake topped with baked apple slices. Texas is all about fresh food, and we love it!

I grew up in Middle Tennessee and I absolutely LOVE watching an Italian man with such high standards for food have his mind blown by the food I grew up on! I agree with him that the majority of America has forgotten how to cook real American food.

He's loving it because this is the type of food our southern grandmas made us growing up. He can feel the comfort of a nonna's cooking.

This is proof that "simple" food, when done well, can be amazing. I love fancy food too, but comfort food is excellent also.

Dressing is usually cornbread and maybe some different types of dried bread or dried bread crumbs, with some onions or green onions, chopped celery, maybe chopped boiled eggs (optional). Seasoned with salt, pepper, sage, and poultry seasoning. Mixed with melted butter and chicken broth and baked. Some add shredded chicken. Eaten with cranberry sauce and a chicken gravy.

Oh my goodness! I live in Georgia, grew up in the South eating all of these and know how amazing they are… but to have an Italian love it too makes me want to cry! I’ve been to Italy and the food was so amazing I almost cried there too lol! I Love Italy and I love the South! Two completely different styles of food but definitely made from the heart and soul! Tears 😭 ❤️

It's the simplicity that's hitting. Just good food, made a good way, with no bell and whistles to woo anyone. I think that's why Alessio is enjoying this so much.

I love how Italians don’t seem to ever like our versions of their food but always seem to appreciate good old fashioned American Food!😊

Alessio, okra is a green veggy from Africa which spread to South and North America centuries ago. In Brazil, they call it quiabo. And they slice it cross ways in thin rounds and sautee it in garlic and oil. Delicious! Great food try, guys👍

Ain't it grand! Country cook'n is great no matter what country you're from. Cheers from Tennessee

I love the way Alessio takes big bites to “taste” something for the first time. No hesitation. Even the cornbread which he usually doesn’t enjoy. ❤

I think we have us a newly minted Italian southerner lol. I’m 44 years old and I grew up eating food like that so it warms my heart to see someone that’s not from the south enjoy our way of cooking need to let him try some collard greens and fresh tomato sammiches next

My mother was from Oklahoma and definitely a Southern cook (Her mother was from Arkansas and grandmother from Tennessee). When I was in my 20s I had a friend from London and another from Paris visit and they loved my Mom's down home cooking. Same for any American friend I ever invited over ( we lived in California and none of them had food like that before). I don't think Southerners fully realize just how good their home cooking is compared to other cuisines. They don't have to apologize to anyone.

I miss my grandmothers cooking. It was just like this. SO GOOD. My mother followed her making foods that even the kids said they wouldnt eat and ended up asking her to make again because it was so good. I tried to follow their recipes but it never came out the same. Everything made from scratch is the BEST..

The best thing about southern cooking is it's simplicity. Simple food, well prepared and seasoned with quality ingredients, wins out in my book over much fancier and expensive food.

Okay. I'm just about in tears watching this. What you guys just had is what we had every Sunday after church at my grandmother's (Mama Bess). The vegetables were garden fresh, every thing was made from scratch. And we never knew how many people would be gathered around the kitchen table or camped out in the living room with tv trays. The next time I visit my friends in Nashville, this is where I want to go to eat.

The green beans (in the cans at the grocery) would be called "Italian cut" FYI!

My mother's family is from TN, about 45 minutes South of Nashville, and I have eaten at a few of these little restaurants and they are the absolute best! Each of those dishes reminded me of my childhood because my MawMaw cooked like that! Southern cooking is my favorite!

I love seeing people's reaction to Southern foods. It's what I cook and what my mom cooked and her mom . It's made with love . Southern food is my comfort food always . Love yalls content .

So glad you are enjoying our southern cooking! This food is our Sunday dinners ! I’m from Central Alabama and we cook this food every week!

We need to see rest of the desserts 🤤 Alessio was again so happy, it makes me happy too 😇

this german has been eating southern cooking for near 30 years. It is good. seriously.

Now I have to go to Tennessee just to try this restaurant! You’re so cute. Love you guys. I’m quietly routing for you to continue to have the best life ever!

You just can’t beat good Southern home cooking. Not always the healthiest food, but the flavor slaps ! Next time dip the Salisbury steak in the mashed potatoes before you take a bite. Pro move ! 😉

Not just Southern food, but Tennessee food? My East Tennessee heart is so pleased you got to try our food. (Edit Okra is a green pod, sort of like if pea pods were hexagonal, and they have a slippery juice that thickens stews like gumbo, but is much less when fried. It's originally African I think. Try it with caramelized onions, tomatoes, and sweet & hot peppers as a side, so good.)

When the actress, Elizabeth Taylor, starred in the legendary film; "Cat On a Hot Tin Roof" she discovered FRIED OKRA ...because the film was made in the SOUTH. When the Mini-series North & South was filmed in the 1980's she was asked to star in it...she said she would on one condition....she could have Fried Okra for dinner while filming was going on...loved it!

Being from the south I love to pick fresh vegetables from the garden and cook. It all looks delicious ❤️🤗

“I don’t know, what is this okra?” Welcome home Aleassio! Welcome home ol son. 🤠🤠🤠

My hubby lived in Sicily for 10 years as a missionary connected to the Presbyterian and the Waldensian churches. He grew up in South and North Carolina, a Duke graduate and always loves southern food, picky about his pasta and Italian foods, no Olive Garden here.

Fried Baloney Samidge!!!!! ❤❤❤ Takes me back to my 1970's!!!!! 🥪

The butcher paper menu idea is super clever so they can just tear it off at the end of each day and write their new specials! Both of your facial expressions after each bite were priceless 😍I adore green beans and their version looked tender and yummy!! I'd get a double helping 😋😋

Southern food is the best. We’ve lived all over the US and Germany, hands down love the South. I was born and raised in Arkansas.

Sometimes I get tired of seeing the arrogant Europeans online that can't wait to point out America's flaws. I'm so glad he's getting a chance to experience a subset of our culture and how much he immediately loves it. Makes me happy

I’m a northerner & moved down south. A fried bologna for me has to be burnt until a crispy black with yellow mustard. Yummy 🤤 If you go back for the desserts see if they have the Pig Pickin Cake. You will love it.

That cheeseburger looks gorgeous. I can literally taste it through my screen..

I am LOVING Jessi's smiles in this one!!! Man, I miss these foods

Alessio’s a southerner! And now I’m off to go get some southern cooking!

Arkansas weighing in... From the time I was old enough to hold a spatula or whisk, my Nana had me in her kitchen helping her cook this kinda meal. I'm 38now and even tho she passed almost 20 years ago, I now cook like this for my parents, husband and have my own daughter learning the ins and outs. This reminds me of childhood YUM

I grew up in Philadelphia. My father’s family is from Alabama. I always ate okra every summer. I now grow it in my garden and always have some breaded frozen and ready to fry 😋

I would bet Alessio would LOVE Amish cooking as well. Home cooked meals are the best.

*Now you know why Southern people are so happy... We eat good food. Happy tummy, happy life.* 😋

As a Middle Tennessean, I’m so proud he said “boloney”!!!😂 You can’t beat the Half Way Market! One of my favorites!!

Just stumbled upon you guys when planning our trip to Italy (which we just Completed). You two are too cute! Love the videos! A proud Italian from Pittsburgh!

I was born and raised in East Tennessee. This video made me proud! Grew up with Sunday lunch at Granny's! All my favorites! This is not for microwave or fast food. It's real and takes all day to fix and clean up! Sooooo worth it!

All that food looks amazing! So happy Alessio enjoyed some good old southern food. 😊

The brown gravy served over the hamburger steak shown at 4:41 was almost undoubtedly made using a powder in case you want to recreate it at home.My first guess is that it’s made using Tony Chachere's Cajun brown gravy mix that should be available in almost every grocery store in your neck of the woods. If the restaurant made any changes, I’m going to bet that they used a high quality beef stock instead of the water that’s specified in the instructions and they added either butter or beef tallow to enhance the flavor and give the gravy a better mouthfeel. I’m hungry all of a sudden after writing all of this. 😁Excellent video!!!

Welcome to Tennessee Jesse and Alessio! Glad you enjoyed Southern cookimg and the Hospitality! Love seeing you try new foods!

When he thought the chicken and stuffing was Polenta was so cute!😊

This made me smile and so happy. I’m a true southerner and I love ❤️ your truthfulness in describing these foods. Glad you liked them. That burger 🍔 looked soooo juicy 😊

Every single thing looked so tasty! Hard to find a place like that. Fun video!

As a native Tennessean, I'm glad to see that you kids like the cuisine of my home state so much. You'll find great Southern food like that all over the state, just like my mother, grandmother, aunts et. al. used to make. Now, if I can only get to Italy...

These kinds of videos always make me soo hungry! I want to try this restaurant if I ever find myself in the area.

Fun video! Alessio is almost speachless and uses italian words such as "ragazzi" or "cioè" to express his feeling of surprise! Now i'm hungry😂

Non ho mai avuto occasione di provare la cucina del sud degli Stati Uniti. Mi avete fatto venire una fame…

I love your food reviews! Those green beans are sold in Florida as Italian green beans.

Oh man, there’s nothing more comforting than some good Southern cooking. Your husband is a going to be a very happy man!

When a man from the worlds Greatest Food Country Likes the Food it’s GOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!! ❤️

Yes to all the southern food! I'd love to see that video featuring every single dessert 😛

I’m going to be in North Carolina in two weeks, now I have to find a southern home cooking restaurant! My mouth is watering right now.!!

Southern food makes everyone happy

He is so genuine. His expressions give the rating. In Northern Illinois, and I rarely go to real restaurants more because of price and time. There were mostly Greek family restaurants near home, and many have closed. Even some chain restaurants have closed. I could not help but think Alessi might want to work there to eat that food daily.

I'm a 64 yr old southern woman who loves southern food. 😍

it is so satisfying to find a restaurant that has perfection across the board like that... will never forget those experiences and will compare all other food to those places.

Southern dressing is usually made with cornbread and chicken stock. Also, okra is a vegetable brought here from Africa, and features heavily in southern cuisine.

@Jessi & Alessio, this is a message from a 71 yo Englishman Londoner for Alessio... Signore, PLEASE. You're turning into an American!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE love you as an Italian man living with his amore there. STOP being excited at the smallest thing lol, 'I am SO looking forward to [whatever]' sounds SO much more mature and manly

Alla sola vista sembra delizioso e buonissimo! M'ispira molto fate un viaggio nel sud degli Stati Uniti 😉👍! Un abbraccio from nord Italy 😘

You two are wonderful people, God bless you and your family, you’re the man Alessio and your wife couldn’t be anymore awesome

So fun to eat all the different foods around the world. Thanks for sharing

This is fantastic! As an American country boy, I think everyone from other places should sit down to a meal like this at least once! This looked like a family get-together at my house!

This is the food that America needs to be exporting.... Proper wholesome food food. I've always been so curious about all the types of pie that can be bought in America.

This is passion + tradition. Beautiful. I am sure that those who keep these recipes are jealous of them and would never change the recipe which, judging by the reaction, seems perfect. This reminds me of how Italians are strict about the rules regarding food (only those). Maybe I'm wrong, but I really wanted to try those dishes. Greetings from Florence.

This is my first time watching your channel and I loved this! I’m a rare native Nashvillian and when people come to town, I say “ let me take you to my favorite restaurant and most often, it’s a “meat ‘n three” place, which is what I’d call this. Good ole southern cooking, with your choice between a couple meats and numerous vegetables or side dishes. Good BBQ is my next favorite. What I absolutely loved about this, is he had absolutely NO hesitation in tasting anything and wasn’t trying microscopic bites I would be, like of the okra. I love the no hesitation and anticipation in what he’s trying. Did you later explain dressing can be a mixture of different breads, or all one kind, usually oddly enough he’d find is cornbread, with spices and chicken broth. Chicken (or turkey) ‘n dressing day is ALWAYS my favorite day when I go anywhere.

Fried baloney is not just southern in any way. I grew up in NJ and we ate them as kids in the 70's. It's common in the North East and Midwest as much as the south. In 1963, New York's Board of Education added bologna to its lunch program.

your reactions are priceless!! luv you guys!!!!

Okok, if south can melt an italian heart i trust him. America, u may start to cook like this i think (an italian guy) and stop to bring us Mcdonald, starbucks and all the stuff. Thank you!

So sincere when he tastes stuff. Lots of fun

I think the little places get overlooked, so glad you all are trying different places and highlighting restaurants that might get missed. You aren't too far from Kentucky, you might check out Patti's 1880s Settlement in Grand Rivers KY, it the same smalltown vibe with delicious food. Small place, but big memories made with family. Can't wait to see where you go next!

U can make a big difference in making cornbread by putting in can of cream corn a can of whole or fresh corn if u want more crunch and butter and sour cream sour cream is the secret. It fluffs it up and adding sugar to the batter makes all the difference. I just use a box of jiffy mix cream of corn

So heartwarming seeing an Italian try southern foods that I grew up with loving them!

Still find these little places all over the south, my grandad always called 'em a "meat and three" kinda place, one meat and three sides, not expensive at all and filling stuff

His eyes tell us all we need to know!!! ❤❤❤

I just made me a fried bologna sandwich last week! Now that I’m older, I try to eat some of these kinds of things just once in a while, for a treat! We grew up, eaten all these kinds of things.

There are so many variations of food in the south. I am glad you enjoyed some.

Him liking fried bologna is the suprise. I still make em from time to time for nostalgic reasons.

I'm glad he ended up in the south, where comfort meals thrive and hospitality is full of love. I feel like it is very cultured over there and a perfect place for a non-american to see America for what it can really be!

The man is learning it might not be the Healthiest food but southern food is the tastiest food. Girl deff gonna put a few pounds on him eating southern foods!!

I'm from AL. I've been all over the country and I can say that as of rn southern cooking just feels like home. I've had some great food don't get me wrong but old school southern cooking... Idk just touches the soul

The number 1 ingredient to all southern cooking is love

I’ve lived my whole life in Ga and nothing like some homemade southern cookin. Glad he enjoyed himself!

Seeing an Italian enjoy our southern cooking so much makes me so cumin happy. I will never break my pasta again.

You really need to go to Montreal...Every kind of food you can imagine and incredible restaurants, bistros and brasseries.

There's a little mom-and-pop diner a few miles from my home, and when the kitchen door opens -- you see the grandmas back there cooking. (I'm in the Chattanooga area.) ❤