Mussels are a popular dish, especially in Southern Italy and, specifically, in Naples. You’ll usually find mussels served in a slightly spicy tomato sauce or a sweeter and lighter white wine sauce. Either way, you’re in for a treat. Pro Tip: make sure your crostini soaks in plenty of your sauce before you eat it.

Carbonara is a simple recipe – eggs, noodles, cheese, and pork – but it’s challenging to master. For this iconic dish, I recommend getting a restaurant recommendation from a local to ensure you get the truly authentic version of the meal.

This is a hearty potage made with bread, beans, kale, cabbage, carrots, beans, chard, celery, potatoes, and onion. You’ll find ribollita on every menu in Tuscany, and it’s popular in other parts of Northern Italy.

Even though I’m sure pizza was already on your must-try list, you can’t talk about Italian food without including pizza. There are so many pizza variations – from crusts to toppings to cheeses – that you’d do yourself a disservice if you didn’t try a different pizza every place you went.

The best scallops I had in Italy were in Venice, but you’ll find this delectable dish throughout the entire country. Italian scallops are usually pan-seared in herb butter white wine sauce, but I had a salsa verde scallop meal in Naples that made me want to try all versions of this meal.

Yes, I know this is a drink and not a food, but it’s my favorite drink EVER. The best limoncello is in Sorrento (trying it is one of the Best Things You Can Do In Sorrento), but if you’re not going to the Amalfi Coast, try this beverage anywhere you can. Limoncello is made by infusing Sorrento lemon peels in vodka. Then it’s strained, mixed with sugar syrup, and chilled.

Risotto is the most common way of cooking rice in Italy. The rice is cooked with broth (that can come from meat, fish, or vegetables) until it reaches a creamy consistency, then butter, onion, white wine, and parmesan cheese are mixed in.

The variety of gelato in Italy never ceases to amaze me, and the best gelato I ever had was in Florence at a place called Vivoli. The gelato here is worthy of being one of the Top Things To Do In Florence.

Don’t be too hard on yourself about all the gelato you’ll be eating. Just remind yourself you’re doing way more walking in Italy than you probably do at home.