Taking the Kids: Eating your way through Italy

Staying somewhere where you can cook -- or at least bring in takeout -- offers yet another opportunity to experience a new culture. And, of course, there are websites like EatWith.com or MealSharing.com that let you share a local's table -- just make sure they are kid-friendly.

I've hunted for truffles in Tuscany and toured markets in Athens and Seattle at the famous Pike's Place Market. My family explored Jewish history in Budapest via a food tour there and in Prague, a beer history tour with Eating Europe, which also offers tours in Italy, London, Amsterdam and Paris.

In Paris, we were treated to a food tour thanks to a volunteer guide from the Global Greeter Network. You sign up for a complimentary tour in your language, based on your family's interests.

The Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, meanwhile, where Parma is located is certainly a draw for all of the foodies in your family. It extends from the Apennine Mountains to the Po River and is especially famous for its food and food industry. American baloney takes its name from the mild Mortadella sausage made and eaten widely in Bologna, Italy. Nearby Modena is known for the production of balsamic vinegar. And there is the famous Bolognese meat sauce that everyone here calls Ragu.

In Bologna, we saw the famous sites with Micol Mazzeo, the mother of twins, who welcomes families on her tours -- the porticos that stretch for many miles, the Basilica di San Petronio, one of Europe's largest with its arresting fresco of Heaven and Hell; the University of Bologna, dating back to 1088 and the oldest university in the world. Visitors find the Anatomical Theater irresistible. Here, during the 17th and 18th centuries, students, professors and the well-heeled would gather for hours for the "show" of seeing a dissected body.

But food is perhaps the biggest draw, especially at the historical center of the city where the markets date back to medieval times. There are shops selling just pasta, just chocolate; fish, meat -- one sells only horse meat; the hanging Parma hams and huge rounds of the Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. I wanted to eat everything!

I also wanted to bring everything home. However, I learned my lesson bringing sausage back when I belatedly discovered that meat -- even vacuum-sealed -- is prohibited to bring into the United States. Be forewarned that USDA-trained dogs help sniff out plants and animal products in luggage and carry-on items on international flights and not only will your yummy souvenirs be confiscated but you can be fined.

Don't be tempted by the meats and cheeses sold at duty-free shops. Check the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service site before you buy, just to be sure. For example, travelers cannot bring in most fresh fruits and vegetables but baked goods are permissible as are many cheeses, including Brie and Camembert.

Don't bring anything you aren't sure is permitted, suggests the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

That was my mantra -- all the more reason to eat more while traveling!

Happy eating!

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