In Italy, food is life.  Dinner in famiglia is the rule rather than the exception and Italians will wait until everyone is home before sitting at the table rather than cover a plate with aluminum foil and save anyone’s meal in the oven.  Italians also tend to return to the same restaurant over and over in the “if it ain’t broken don’t fix it” vein.  A meal is savored rather than wolfed down, and most of the conversation around the table is focused on the food and wine;  Italians truly live to eat.

• Portion size:  As you may have noticed, we are accustomed to being super-sized at our restaurants here in the U.S.  Not so in Italy where it is possible and acceptable to eat a 4-course meal at a leisurely pace, and don’t worry that you’ll need a forklift to get you out of the restaurant either; the portions are smaller and not covered in heavy sauces.  Likewise, it is common to keep your meal to two courses if you’re not terrifically hungry.

• Very important face-saving tip:  Do not ask for a doggy bag to bring your food home.  The waiter will probably politely accommodate you by wrapping your food up somehow (they will not have to-go containers in the back), but it is considered extremely tacky to take your uneaten food out of the restaurant.

• Which courses, in what order: I’ll tell you how Italians eat and you do what you want, but would you rather blend in, or stick out like a sore thumb?

1. Antipasto, or appetizer:  This is usually a small portion of fried fish or vegetables, or bruschetta, but it is NOT a garden salad or soup.

   

2. Primo, or pasta: Primo, as in first course,  is pasta, rice, and soup. Served alone, after the antipasto.

   

3. Secondo, or entree: Second course is the protein – meat, chicken, or fish.  Note that this course does not “come with” anything such as a side of vegetables, or rice, or anything else on the same plate.
4. Contorno, or side dish: This is where you order potatoes, vegetables, or salads.  You can order a few of these for the whole table, as they will each come on their own dish and will be served at the same time as the secondo, or entree.
5. Dolce, or dessert:  Exactly what you’re used to.
6. Fruit and/or cheese:  Most don’t make it this far, but this course can either follow or replace dessert.

• T   a   k   e     y   o   u   r     t   i   m   e :  Don’t expect to rush through your meal; if you’re in a hurry, find a McDonald’s.  The waiter will never hover over you and will stretch out the time between courses in order to allow for compulsory conversation, Italians’ first priority while sitting down for a meal.

• Ask for the check: I’ve never tried it, but I’ve been tempted to see what would happen if we never asked for the bill.  They’d probably bring us pillows and blankets, because I have never had a waiter ill-bred enough to bring me the check without my having asked for it.  Fun fact:  the waiter will also not tell you his name, ask yours, crack jokes, or ask you ad nauseam if “you need anything else.”  If you need anything else, you will have to politely flag him down, as he has been trained to let you enjoy your meal without constant interruptions.

• When in Rome don’t order a chili dog:  I shouldn’t have to tell anyone this, but I’m reminded of a trip I took to Paris with my mother.  On the first evening there we found a cute café to have dinner, and my mom ordered spaghetti with meat sauce.  That was in 1981, and she’s still complaining about the awful meal she had in Paris.  I, on the other hand, will never forget the delicious omelette I ate that night.