John Peter Sloan

Dear John,
I went to London and it was nice, but the food was terrible! How is it possible when you have great cooks like Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay?
Paolo P

I think food is similar to art and music. It’s down to taste. London (like Amsterdam) is an international city, so you can’t really take it as “England.” I love English food and it’s all I make, even in Italy (cottage pie, steak and kidney pie), not to mention the tastiest cakes in the world. Try eating in the North of England and you might change your mind.

Dear John,
I learned English with an American teacher, but now I have to go to England. Will I understand their English?
Valentina

Of course you will! Americans speak English, they just have different slang words and a different accent. Personally, I think they sound like motorbikes! If you learned English with a British teacher you’d find Americans hard to understand, but in your case it will be easy.

Dear John,
I saw your quarrel with Vittorio Sgarbi on TV. Is he really as bad as he looks?
Pietro

At first I thought he was a madman, but then I realized it was all a show. Sgarbi is a prisoner in a prison of his own making. He knows people expect him to go crazy when he is provoked. As soon as the “quarrel” has finished he gets distracted by the ladies in the audience and forgets everything.

Dear John,
There is a girl who often goes to my local bar and I really like her. She usually sits alone and I’d love to say something to her, but what can I say?
Anthony

Oh, my God, I don’t know! I have never chatted a girl up in my life. I wouldn’t know what to say either. You really should ask an Italian man: they are world champions at this kind of thing.

Dear John,
Why are all men such liars?!
Anna

We’re not!