January 21, 2006
Eating Habits
Italian table manners
This is a brief guide to eating and drinking in Italy and was given to us by 'Il Pinocchio Ristorante' in central Frascati, Lazio.
We quote:
Some people may think that Italian meals are excessively large and that they go on forever.
Leisurely they are, but portions are smaller than those served in the United States or the United Kingdom.
Thus, it is possible to eat a complete meal without feeling you have indulged or damaged your waistline.
And since all chefs take great pride in selecting the freshest of local ingredients, menus can change seasonally.
This means you won't be eating pears in June or green peas in December. When in doubt let your waiter help you to decide.
Italians love to discuss food and conferring with the waiter before ordering is almost expected.
In many restaurants written menus are only a guide to what an establishment offers.
Although most restaurants try to meet individual requests, just remember the old Italian adage "If you dont see what you love, love what you see".
To eat like an Italian, follow a few general rules.
Never put cheese on any pasta containing seafood. Never chop long strands of pasta with a knife. Twirl the strands on your fork and eat.
Soup is never followed by pasta.
Don't mix meat and seafood in the same meal. If you begin with a first course sauced with fish, dont order a second course of meat.
Vegetable based courses can be followed by fish or meat.
Italians drink espresso after a meal, never with a meal.
First courses or primi piatti can be pasta or soup or rice or even a small pizza.
Pasta can be dressed with meat, vegetable, egg, cheese or even fruit based sauces and variations are only limited by the chef's imagination.
Second courses or secondi piatti generally fall into two categories: meat and fish and contorni or side dishes to accompany secondi piatti represent some of the greatest triumphs of Italian cooking.
Although regular tap water is safe to drink throughout Italy, most Italians like to enjoy bottled water with their meal.
Digestives or 'digestivi' are not crumbly biscuits, but amaro (bitter) or liquoroso (sweet) drinks which traditionally finish a meal along with a strong espresso coffee.
(from www.deliciousitaly.com)
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