pollo arrosto

roast chicken
Talking about Sunday lunch (pranzo) in my previous post made me think of another dish that was only featured in that meal: pollo arrosto. We would buy it at a store, una rosticceria, actually 'the' store, because we had one favorite place. I am not sure whether it is still in business, but I hope it is.

As a child, I loved going with my father to the rotisserie to get the roast chicken: I loved the smell of the place and the look of the food that was made and sold there. I usually got to carry the warm bag with the chicken and would bask in the heady smell that came from it. I alternated between eating the breast (il petto) and the thigh (la coscia). I remember the taste of rosemary and the crispness of the skin. To this day, smelling rosemary reminds me of the pollo arrosto from my childhood.

If a person is a pollo, he or she is a simpleton, someone easily taken in. Something or someone that fa ridere i polli (literally: makes chickens laugh) is ridiculous, or acts in a ridiculous way. When I am able to predict exactly what my husband will do, he always asks me: "How did you know?" to which I answer: "Conosco i miei polli." Literally it translates: "I know my chickens" and it means that I am familiar with their ways, so I can predict what they will do.

Hear me pronounce the words and expressions on the pollo arrosto audio file [mp3] or go to the pollo arrosto audio page for more listening options.

Comments

[Christine]

What a fun post, Simona. I'll have to use these expressions on my husband. That is when I've got the pronunciation down!

[Lisa]

Such a nice image of you and your father walking home from the rosticceria together. I can smell the rosemary, too.

And I also love the "husband" phrase. Perfect!

[Simona]

Thanks Christine. They are fun expressions to use.
Thanks Lisa. Rosticcerie are great places to go for lunch, especially in central Italy. I'll talk more about them in a future post.

[Susan]

There is something about a rotisserie chicken. I like to bring one home for an instant meal after a long day out rather than fast food.

[Paz]

I love reading your childhood food memories and I love these sayings -- fa ridere i polli... Conosco i miei polli ... hehe! Love it!

Paz

[Paz]

How do you say "I love it!" in Italian? Is there a special expression or phrase for it?

Paz

[Simona]

I agree, Susan. A rotisserie chicken is a special treat.
Great question, Paz. The Italian expression would be something like 'mi piace molto' However, expressing appreciation is often done using more colloquial expressions, like 'mi piace un sacco' or 'troppo carino!' or, like my brother often says, 'mitico!' I'll make sure I add some of these expressions in my future recordings, so you can get a sense of how they sound.