DINE LIKE AN ITALIAN.

 If you want to dine the Italian way, then, M A N G I A.

 You will be expected to order an antipasto, primo, secondo with contorno, then dolce, maybe un vino di meditazione ( dessert wine), and finally café`.  Ordering all of these plates is not obligatory even if the waiter makes you feel it is.  He is doing his job, selling food. Do not feel pressured to order it all.  You may select only a few plates. Traditional ordering could take hours.  If your dining companion wants courses 2 & 4 and you want courses 1 & 3 you could be waiting all evening. 

 If you want to save some time (alla Americana) then you may instruct the waiter to bring you the plates at the same time. “ Ci porta tutti i piatti insieme allo stesso tempo per favore.  Please bring us all the plates at the same time. Not very Italian but will expedite your meal.  And whatever you do, don’t cut the long pasta with a fork! Twirl baby, Twirl.Just wear black to dinner that night.

 Antipasto                Appetizer    

Primo                      Pasta, soup or risotto

Secondo                 Meat or fish

(And just meat or fish)

Contorno               Vegetables are side plates, salads, spinach etc

Dolce                      Desserts

Vino di meditazione  – Dessert wine

Cafe                         Coffee (never brought WITH the dessert)

FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

Do not touch the fruit with your hands …ever.

The shop keeper will pick the fruit and put it in a bag for you. When purchasing fruits and vegetables, note the location of where the product was grown. In most cases the products are grown within Italy. To touch the fruits and vegetables in Italy you need to wear plastic gloves.

NON TOCCARE= DO NOT TOUCH

 COLAZIONE: Breakfast  Breakfast is almost always included at your hotel.  The nicer the hotel typically the better breakfast.  Eggs are not served for breakfast in Italy, but are normally served at home for an evening meal as a Frittata. You will see eggs on the breakfast menu, beginning at the 3-4 star hotel level.

 WATER- Can you drink it.?  You CAN drink the water, however no one does.

 Italy is blessed with a wealth of fresh water springs throughout the country.  Whether at home or dining out, Italians order and drink bottled water.  You may even see them at the local spring filling up their empty bottles.  So, Order the bottled water. 

Vocabulary:  Frizzante or Gassata or naturale or Liscia ( smooth)

 ICE CREAM; Artigenale  which means hand crafted is the word to look for when selecting an ice cream shop.  Avoid the shops with the mounds of gelato.

 COFFEE BAR ETICHETTE

An Italian bar will serve both coffee and alcohol all day long.  Italian may go to a bar for breakfast, and typically have their colazione standing up (it is cheaper that way).    There is a ritual/ process to paying for and to obtain your café.   The price is different if you stand at the bar (less expensive) than if you sit down at a table. (More expensive).

 Ordering Procedure for the “BAR”  Go to the cassa, (cash register) first and pay for whatever you are having.  Get the scontrino (receipt), and take it to the barman. Now wave the receipt in front of the barman then he will notice you, and then order your café `and paste or cornetto, brioche (literally means dough or pastry). In a perfect world, he should tear the receipt and give it back to you.  By law, the consumer must hold onto the receipt for 50 feet from the store, in case the Guardia di Financia (that is mobile IRS in gray and yellow cars and uniforms) stop you.   They can legally fine you, because you did not keep the receipt.  They can also fine the establishment because it is now obvious that they intended to keep the cash and not pay the tax. 

 Scrontino                     Receipt

Sprumuta di Aranca-   Fresh squeezed oj