I recently learned my first non-food Italian word, and it is already my favorite: Lo Scarafaggio, the cockroach. It’s even better than the Spanish: La Cucaracha. For some reason, it just sounds better in other languages. Don’t get me wrong, I hate cockroaches, but now when I attempt to smash an invading roach, it feels somewhat like an epic battle between me and the wily scarafaggio. When I am victorious, I proclaim operatically, “La morte allo scarafaggio!”

I think it would fun to open a snooty Italian restaurant with scarafaggio in the name. I can already imagine the rave reviews of the $37 cannelloni al forno con besciamella limone at Nessuni Scarafaggi, aka “No cockroaches”. Or maybe a cheap Mexican restaurant, Nacho Scarafaggio. Kids would love it.

My first published drawing, Señor Nacho Scarafaggio.