| Italians don't eat to live...Italians live to eat! Once you | | | | For Italian households, lunch ("pranzo") is usually the |
| have a taste of their cuisine, you will know why. Many | | | | main meal of the day which starts around 1 or 2PM. |
| people mistakenly believe that Italian cuisine consists of | | | | However, in the northern industrialized cities such as |
| only pizza and spaghetti. Nothing could be further from | | | | Rome and Milan, dinner ("cena") is becoming the most |
| the truth! | | | | important meal of the day for working families. |
| Italian cuisine is very varied and very regionalized. | | | | Italian breakfasts ("la colazione") are usually not much |
| That's one of the beautiful things about Italy is that | | | | to brag about....they will start their day with an |
| visiting each region is almost like visiting a new country. | | | | espresso and a croissant-type pastry called a |
| The cuisine in Bologna (region of Emilia-Romana) is a | | | | "cornetto". You will have a hard time finding a |
| lot different than what you would find in Sicily. | | | | breakfast consisting of eggs and pancakes in Italy, as |
| There are many different types of eating | | | | you would in the United States or Canada or even |
| establishments in Italy. I recommend that you try as | | | | Great Britain. |
| many as you can. | | | | Let us, of course, not forget about the famous Italian |
| Meal times are usually around 2PM for lunch and | | | | wine. Italy is the world's leading producer of wine. Not |
| around 8PM for dinner time. Dinner can even start later | | | | only does it produce and export more than any other |
| down south around Naples or Palermo. | | | | country, it also offers the greatest variety types, colors |
| A full Italian meal (excluding breakfast) will usually run | | | | and flavors. Some of the vines around Rome have |
| the gamut from: | | | | been producing wine for many centuries. But the art of |
| * Antipasta - Appetizers | | | | wine-making itself goes back thousands of years in |
| * Primo piatto (First course -usually pasta or rice) | | | | Italy. However, it was not until the 1960's that a |
| * Secondo piatto (Second course - usually meat, fish | | | | nation-wide program regulating the industry was |
| or chicken) | | | | enacted by the Italian government. An indication of |
| * Contorni - Vegetables | | | | DOCG (Denonominazione di Origine Controllata e |
| * Insalata - Salad | | | | Garantita) will ensure that the wine has passed the |
| * Dolci - Desserts | | | | strictest standards by the government. However, wine |
| Consequently, a dinner ("cena") can last for a few | | | | tastes are very subjective, and that label will not |
| hours. You will always have to ask for your check in | | | | always ensure the best tasting wine. Many of the table |
| an Italian restaurant. A good Italian waiter (or waitress) | | | | or house wines ("vino di casa") served by restaurants |
| will never bring the check without you asking for it | | | | will also be very good. I suggest that you experiment |
| (unless it is closing time). With that in mind, everything is | | | | with as many wines as possible. And of course, don't |
| usually very carefully made with the finest ingredients. | | | | drink and drive in Italy. They have tough laws as well. |
| They don't rush things. If you are in a hurry, you do not | | | | And when it comes to ice cream, or "gelato," Italy has |
| want to eat in an Italian restaurant. But since you are | | | | some of the finest that there is to offer. You can |
| here for vacation, just relax and try to enjoy "la dolce | | | | savor just about any fruit, flavor or combination in |
| vita", or the good life, that the Italians are experts at | | | | "gelato" form. |
| doing. | | | | So there you have it....tips to eating in Italy. It is usually |
| Tipping: Usually the restaurant will include the "servizio" | | | | not a good idea to start a diet when you visit the |
| in the bill. However, it is not uncommon to leave some | | | | lovely country of Italy. But it is a chance of a lifetime to |
| change on the table, (or maybe even 1 Euro per | | | | savor some of the best cuisine on the planet. And if |
| person) if the service was exceptionally good. At a | | | | you eat sensibly, and use your feet as a form of |
| bar, it is customary to leave 10 or 20 Eurocents on the | | | | transportation, you may come back from Italy and |
| counter after you are done. | | | | step on the scale and be pleasantly surprised. |