Italian food, glorious food

By Peter Della Penna

I’m pretty sad that the ICC WCL Division 4 Tournament in Bologna, Italy, is finished. I don’t really mind so much that the games are over, but I’m going to miss the lunch spreads put together by the Federazionale Cricket Italia at each match. This is the first tournament I’ve covered where the organizers have run out of food at lunch because the players and volunteers have gone back for seconds, thirds and fourths.

As an Italian-American, I don’t really feel like I’m much of an outsider in the way that perhaps I should in the Asian and West Indian dominated US cricket community … until it’s time for the lunch break. A member of the MCC touring party that came to California and Florida this past March for a series of matches was discussing how their tour had gone while we sat down together over a pre-game meal before one of their final matches in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. At one point, he voiced his confusion and frustration at the lack of variety in the food they had been served all tour.

“We came over here expecting hot dogs and hamburgers at tea,” said the touring member, “but all we’ve eaten since we landed here are curries.”

Curries don’t sit well in my stomach. I’m the guy with a giant plate full of nothing but white rice at most matches around the US and I followed suit while touring Nepal for USA’s previous tournament at WCL Division 5.

It feels good to have the script flipped for once. I don’t know if I ever thought I’d see a tray full of penne in pesto sauce at a cricket match, but this week has been a breath of fresh air. Each match, the food has gotten better and better. My heart almost skipped a beat one day when FCrI President Simone Gambino said to everyone gathered at the post match presentation of USA’s match against Tanzania: “We have some bad news … There’s only enough food for 15 people so you guys better get over to the lunch table quick before it’s all gone.” A few seconds later he let loose with a belly laugh. He probably got a little enjoyment at seeing some startled faces from his bit of humor.

I’ve enjoyed my first visit to Italy so far and will be a little sad to have to go back home to America. For once, I feel right at home at a cricket match during the lunch breaks in Bologna.