, it is evident that the need for a picture-perfect meal is a focus of many. Attending these establishments based off of \u2018TikTok\u2019 research, one will quickly learn that the ques tend to follow. Italian food blogger Paola Magiuili who has been covering Italian dishes since 2010 shares her concerns for the traditional world of Italian food that is out of its depth in the modern world of media. \u201cA lot of Italian restaurants are built on traditions, family, generations, handed down and if tourists come through and are just fixated on one dish\u2026well, all the other love that\u2019s there is just kind of forgotten about” she says. Since living in Puglia and keeping up with the world of Italian food, she has seen a lot of change and development as social media usage has grown. Despite her concerns of the effects that trends can have on local establishments and the way which we consume she admits that she too was originally victim to the world of \u2018Instagram worthy dishes\u2019. \u201cI used to be that person, get invited somewhere but all I\u2019d care about is getting a really good picture to post on the gram\u201d. However, as Magiuili experience increased, so did her understanding of the importance of tradition in Italian cuisine. \u201cThere\u2019s the part with trends that brings tourism to a place that\u2019s never had tourism and that\u2019s great\u2026but then there\u2019s the opposite side and that is that parts of Italy have transformed what they are just to cater to tourism, and I think it damages the landscape of what the country is” she explains.<\/span><\/p>\n[aesop_gallery id=”12867″ revealfx=”off” overlay_revealfx=”off”]\nSimilarly to those operating Al Condimino, Magiuili sees beauty in savoring the moment over capturing it. This shift is crucial in maintaining tradition and ensuring that Italian foods don\u2019t fade away to a mere sixty second TikTok craze. \u201cAs soon as someone finds one dish, everyone just repeats it, and for restaurants they get this massive boost, but it\u2019s not natural and anything that goes viral doesn\u2019t last forever\u201d explains Magiuili. The concern lies not in the now but rather in the \u201clong term damage\u201d that this is doing to local businesses and communities. Yet still amongst this craze there are older buildings bursting with character that remain standing, in full operation. Despite the world around them succumbing to trends, Magiuili says that \u201cin the small, local restaurants they don\u2019t need social media to keep their businesses going or to want to keep going, you know it\u2019s being spread through word of mouth. They\u2019re not being driven by world popularity; they just want to feed people\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\nAuthentic or Aesthetic?<\/b><\/h3>\n
Lucy Johnson, a digital marketing expert explains that \u201cSocial media platforms are having a heavy influence on consumer behaviors in the food industry\u201d. According to Johnson, the aesthetic appeal of food now outweighs all other factors. People care less about the origin of the food or the story of its place in Italy\u2019s heritage and more so about how it will appeal to one\u2019s followers. \u201cAesthetically pleasing food has become a huge factor into people choosing what to eat or what restaurants to go to\u201d she shares. Social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok are now flooded with visually appealing images and videos of dishes and their establishments, amplifying their clientele. With large numbers of people doing their research for new locations on TikTok, Johnson reveals how \u201cthe intersection between food and culture continues to shape how we eat, interact and even seek social connection\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n
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Despite her admittance of aesthetics driving initial attraction, she is confident that the lasting impression comes from meaningful interactions and quality food, a philosophy that Al Condominio embodies. \u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s about business, it\u2019s about culture,\u201d she adds. However, working in the world of media Johnson is sympathetic to those who turn to trends. When competing with numerous establishments offering the same viral dish that tourists are chasing, the pressure not to serve it up becomes near impossible. These restaurants operating in the digital age are faced with a double-edged sword, but is joining the trend going to be worth the death of tradition? Social media comes with many benefits and can be a great marketing tool for establishments in Johnson\u2019s opinion. However, like most things, it comes at a cost. She is confident that media can continue to be used but it must be with great awareness and respect. In order to maintain the authenticity of localities it is crucial to look beyond thirty second traps. And perhaps when one does so it will be evident that in the food industry in somewhere as renowned as Italy, there are dishes that go beyond a \u2018famous\u2019 pizza or pasta trend.<\/span><\/p>\nEvidently this new shift towards visual appeal comes at a price to pay for both local business sustainability and long-lived traditions. While many still value the essence of authentic Italian cuisine, those who are fed by likes and shares are a growing demographic. Italy\u2019s dining culture has always been dear to both tourists and locals. However, as this culture continues to grow and appeal to many it is crucial that boundaries be established between trends and tradition. With the correct approach, it is possible for culinary heritage to continue to strive even in an age dominated by social media. The likes of Angelo Lello are a direct reflection of this. Al Condominio has a great success rate by adapting their own trend and feeding the more important things in life. Owner Angello is aware that \u201cwe cannot change the entire world, but we can make changes to improve our little world\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u00a0\u201cYou are not the prime minister so what are you doing on your phone?!, exclaims Italian restaurant owner Angelo Lello. With social media constantly begging for a seat at the dining table, he stresses how urgent it is to combat the issue of phone versus food. The #DigitalDetox has gained a lot of following with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3277,"featured_media":12737,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12736","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-acls","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
What\u2019s on the menu? Verona restaurant offers a free bottle of wine for diners who part ways with their phone - International Journalism<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n