57 A Typical Italian Dinner
A typical full Italian dinner has several courses:
Antipasto
Primo piatto or first “plate,” i.e. course, e.g. pasta or soup
Secondo piatto or second course – meat or fish
Contorni or side dishes – potatoes, vegetables
Dolce – dessert
Cheese
Not too many people, especially among the younger generation, have this full meal except on special occasions. Many people now have a selection from the above. If you have a coffee, make sure you don’t order a cappucino or you will be seen as a typical crass North American.
Unlike a typical North American restaurant where everything is served on one plate, in Italy the main course is served separate from potatoes and vegetables. These are ordered separately and served separately. The reason for this is that you should be able to enjoy the taste of individual dishes. Each dish has its own taste, and the way the restaurants [or home] serve it allows you to savour the food. It is an excellent idea, and so don’t wolf your meal down but savour each mouthful!
I ate out every night during my stay of five weeks and so I had to keep within my budget. I would limit myself to a first or second course and a salad with wine and a coffee. Since I love pasta, it was not difficult to concentrate on it. Occasionally, for variation, I would choose the second course and a side dish of vegetables. The salads were wonderful, and if you want a meal almost in itself, have an insalatone [large salad]. The first time I ordered one I wasn’t prepared for its size!
Italy has such wonderful gelato [ice cream] that my “dessert” was usually a gelato once a day, and not necessarily after the meal.
In my next blog I will list my favourite restaurants I ate at over my five weeks in Bologna.
Antipasto
Primo piatto or first “plate,” i.e. course, e.g. pasta or soup
Secondo piatto or second course – meat or fish
Contorni or side dishes – potatoes, vegetables
Dolce – dessert
Cheese
Not too many people, especially among the younger generation, have this full meal except on special occasions. Many people now have a selection from the above. If you have a coffee, make sure you don’t order a cappucino or you will be seen as a typical crass North American.
Unlike a typical North American restaurant where everything is served on one plate, in Italy the main course is served separate from potatoes and vegetables. These are ordered separately and served separately. The reason for this is that you should be able to enjoy the taste of individual dishes. Each dish has its own taste, and the way the restaurants [or home] serve it allows you to savour the food. It is an excellent idea, and so don’t wolf your meal down but savour each mouthful!
I ate out every night during my stay of five weeks and so I had to keep within my budget. I would limit myself to a first or second course and a salad with wine and a coffee. Since I love pasta, it was not difficult to concentrate on it. Occasionally, for variation, I would choose the second course and a side dish of vegetables. The salads were wonderful, and if you want a meal almost in itself, have an insalatone [large salad]. The first time I ordered one I wasn’t prepared for its size!
Italy has such wonderful gelato [ice cream] that my “dessert” was usually a gelato once a day, and not necessarily after the meal.
In my next blog I will list my favourite restaurants I ate at over my five weeks in Bologna.
posted by Toby1939 at 10:33 AM
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