Man cannot live on bread alone

Man cannot live on bread alone!

Well, if you consider some of the fantastic traditional breads from around the Italian regions, it's worth giving it a shot.

And with certain political leaders calling for a fiscal strike in the autumn we may all be on crumbs and water very soon in any case.

But back to the point. What is happening to all the local shops Italy was famous for?

Here in one of Rome's more quoted quarters, the only high street commercial activities opening up are three; banks, estate agencies and pizza take aways.

They are replacing small local grocers who are all but gone. We are now all doing our food shopping in supermarkets retailing only goods advertised on television.

The estate agents are understandable considering the spectacular properties, something like 80% private ownership and a noticeable generational change.

The pizza take aways are catering for public employees and other workers who could once indulge in longer lunches in restaurants, such is the pace of life now.

While the banks are a mystery. Who needs a brand new branch of the Popular Bank of Bari in the middle of Rome? Isn't it all about online banking these days.

What are thriving, to a certain extent, are shops specializing in quality local food products, such as mozzarella buffalo cheese from Salerno and burrata from Puglia.

A new growing demand is there and many of the products once sold in local grocers are appearing in these outlets for their wares.

Long may it continue.