34 Comments
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Amy Delcambre's avatar

How lovely! I remember the first time I made carbonara. It’s such a good dish and I love pistachio gelato. I always have had the most WTF “meet cute” stories and it’s like okay…we have the real version of things aaaaand the one we tell people. Haha

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Amy Delcambre's avatar

Just because it’s so complicated.

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BrainFudge's avatar

I relate so much to what you wrote the whole health hustle. Also I have tried countless Carbonara pasta and the best ones are in the Rome region.

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Sema Karaman's avatar

If you ever come back to Rome you should definitely try Maccheroni 🙂

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BrainFudge's avatar

Thanks, I might.

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Sudu Nona's avatar

I felt this story in my soul! I’ve gone on a very similar eating journey and this was so refreshing to read. It’s beautiful how the ones we love can teach us about balance and how to enjoy life to the fullest 🩷

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Sema Karaman's avatar

thank you for your kind words Sudu. The way we relate to food is very personal but also universal. I'm so happy to see how, so many people were able to relate to this essay.

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Anne Emerson Hall's avatar

Funny enough, I have been chafing against the restrictive diet I adopted 2 years ago. I did need to lose some weight because during our extended pandemic isolation, I kept reordering chocolate caramels and truly delicious potato chips. I have been longing for pasta. Tomorrow is a milestone birthday for me. Maybe that pasta is how we will celebrate

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Suzanna Ornoch's avatar

Intimate, charming, insightful. Really enjoyed this, Sema!

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Sema Karaman's avatar

thank you so much for your kind comment :)

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Anna Ray's avatar

loved this!

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Sema Karaman's avatar

thank you :)

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Jessica Mattison's avatar

Beautiful story!

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Sema Karaman's avatar

thank you :)

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steff malherbe's avatar

I loved this so much!!

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Sema Karaman's avatar

Thank you so much :)

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Tim Dawkins's avatar

What a love story! There is nothing better than starting one's day with a cornetto al pistacchio. As usual, the Italians simply get it.

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Sema Karaman's avatar

thank you so much for your kind comment :)

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Marco Marquez's avatar

I am so glad the algo led me to you! I love your writing! My family is from Puglia, and I love visiting there and aspire to learn Italian fluently one day

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Sema Karaman's avatar

thank you so much! I live half of the year in Puglia.

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Ashlynn Crow's avatar

I loved everything about this post! 🍝🍷

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Sema Karaman's avatar

thank you SO much :)

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Michelle Elisabeth Varghese's avatar

The list of dietary restrictions made me laugh as someone who’s tried to balance so many different ones for my own parties. I’ve also come to realize so much of what is healthy for you is *surprise* personal. And also a never ending journey if you let it. Love this essay!

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Sema Karaman's avatar

hahah absolutely! Now I giggle as I write these stories, back in the day, not so much :)

And totally agree that it's a personal journey. Thanks for your kind words :)

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Kaila Krayewski's avatar

Yes I loved this!!

I was anorexic when I was a teenager, accounted every single calorie I ingested. It was only when I stopped counting calories that I managed to find a weight that I maintained. And now I don't really deny myself anything, I think because I allow myself whatever I want, it all seems significantly less tempting.

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Amy Delcambre's avatar

I remember being mine like this up to somewhere in my early 20s. I never went back to being intentionally anorexic. But I did get a little OCD about controlling my weight after my husband died and when I tried intermittent fasting.

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Sema Karaman's avatar

thanks for sharing your experience Kaila! And yes ironic that when we stop micromanaging our health, our health trives :)

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Andrea Ferrante's avatar

I love you ❤️

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Sema Karaman's avatar

I love you more 😘

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Kamin Mohammadi's avatar

Bella Figura baby! Lovely piece, well written, great read ❤️❤️

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Sema Karaman's avatar

It's actually a piece I originally wrote for our class, but I later revised and heavily edited. Thank you for the inspiration! :)

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Brenna's avatar

I live in Napoli. I see really chic ladies walking around with gelato at odd hours of the day all the time 😂 they always look so happy. 😀 I personally do not live cornetti al pistacchio because it’s almost too sweet for me! But I love cornetti brioche. 🥐 I think the “food police” in the American way is really damaging. Seeing food as moral or immoral is hard to get past once it’s been engrained. Well done you for working past it!

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Sema Karaman's avatar

Haha, to be completely honest, the sweet breakfast is not really for me either :) But I indulge here and there, as having flexibility in my routine really contributes to my well-being these days.

Oh, you live in Napoli? I divide my time between Rome and Puglia. Just subscribed to your Substack. I’d love to stay in touch.

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