Buying groceries in bulk

Just in general, I think you'll find package sizes for many staples to be smaller in Europe, since they also have smaller kitchens and are more in the habit of shopping frequently. When I've used shared kitchens in a youth hostel, there were always some staples left behind, like cooking oil. I don't know about apartment rentals, but check the cupboards before heading to the store.

We agree with Laura. Our experience has been that Europeans tend to shop for that day, and that refrigerator space (and food storage in general) in apartments we've rented tend to reflect that fact. Have never seen bulk quantities of anything for sale in Italian markets. The local way seems to be to pop in for that day's fixings as part of the daily routine - kind of fun after you get into the flow of local life.

You can always pack along small quantities of things like spices. I use TicTac containers for things like salt and pepper, garlic powder, cinnamon, etc.

Last time I rented an apartment when traveling I too thought I was going to be cooking. I purchases some supplies and landed up throwing most of it away. Our days were not that structured to be home at X time to have dinner, we were out and about and most times just grabbed a few smaller meals throughout the day (deli sandwich, fruit, slice of pizza, shared treat) and kept going. We are renting an apartment in Rome and plan on doing what others say, see what is there and plan from there. I will always buy eggs, chees and bread as hubby can't survive on the Italian Breakfast of a carb and a coffee, he must have protein and lots of it to not get jittery and a headache. Just easier for me to make a quick b-fast sandwich than spend time trying to find a full American breakfast for him, not to mention the time wasted in a restaurant.

That is the awesome thing about Europe is how fresh the food is compared to the bulk foods found in America. If I were to stay where I could cook in Italy I would just pick up fresh everyday!

Rice is mostly sold in 1 kg. packages. I have occasionally seen rice been sold in bulk - in Florence, for example, at the cooperativa agricola di Legnaia (fantastic food there but really out of town), in some old grain shops (one in via della Spada), in some ethnic shops managed by Pakistani or Indians. So rice may be found but it would be time consuming. Never seen flour sold in bulk.

I don't know about in Italy, but in France you find more of that type of thing in the organic grocery stores rather than the regular ones. One of our Italian regulars can tell whether the same holds true in Italy!