While visiting Italy, there are five food rules that you, as an American traveler, should be aware of. Learning them may help you to navigate the ins and outs of the local ristorantes and trattorias. While the odds of you remaining anonymous as a tourist are slim, sticking to these rules may help to better your odds from being identified as “one of those” tourists.
- Don’t Americanize your breakfast. In Italy, there’s a right way to do breakfast, and there’s a wrong way. When ordering, it’s important to keep in mind that eggs and bacon are an uncommon food to eat for the first meal of the day. Don’t be surprised if you get odd looks when you order an omelet for breakfast. Also, it’s very uncommon to get a cappuccino after breakfast hours. Best when paired with a simple pastry, cappuccinos are meant to be enjoyed after a meal. It should be the last taste on your palate when you leave.
- Simplicity is key. Traditional Italian dishes are meant to contain no more than three or four ingredients. Each course and side dish are served on separate plates–there’s no mixing all the different elements of the meal into a pile on your plate. Breaking up the components of each meal into different segments allows you to distinctly taste and see everything that you’re eating.
- Ease up on the parm. Parmesan cheese has a specific role in Italian cuisine, and its use should not be abused. When presented with that beautifully cooked, fresh cut of fish, resist the urge to throw a handful of parmesan cheese on it. Italians enjoy fresh and simple flavors, parmesan cheese is harsh, and will mask the food’s natural flavor. Dousing your fresh dish of fish with cheese is extremely offensive to the chef.
- Stick to water or wine. It is not even acceptable for children to drink sugary sodas with their meal. Soda is great for a middle-of-the-day treat or as a digestive, but it’s an uncivilized beverage for dinner. Adults should stick to water or wine to accompany their meals. Beer is only acceptable with a pizza or panino dinner.
- Don’t stick your bread in your pasta sauce. Every Italian ristorante provides each table with bread. The bread it meant for munching with antipasto or to nibble on when you first sit down. Using your bread as an edible spoon to consume the remaining sauce on your plate is considered bad form.
With just a little bit of preparation by learning more about the Italian food culture you can avoid making embarrassing mistakes during mealtimes. To practice your Italian etiquette, visit Christini’s Ristorante Italiano today. Our top Orlando restaurant serves top of the line Northern Italian Cuisine.
