Read the text about meals in Italy, then read the glossary below to learn other useful information.

lasagna

Let’s admit it, when we are abroad, we Italians just can’t help feeling proud of the rich and trendy Mediterranean assortment awaiting reassuringly for us at the local delicatessen. We all feel a bit gourmet, a bit food experts, and we cherish our golden olive oil and fleshy cherry tomatoes as though they were our own crown jewels. We most assuredly like eating, and we definitely enjoy sharing a good meal with our friends or relatives. And even if we cannot all aspire to be accomplished chefs, or we do not prepare meals regularly, we try at least to be able to reproduce a basic set of family recipes if the occasion arises.

Breakfast

The first meal of the day in the morning, colazione (breakfast, usually eaten before 9 am), is not a cooked meal and is quite light compared to what is usually eaten in northern countries. La colazione is usually composed of un caffè or un cappuccino and una pasta (a cake, usually a croissant, un cornetto) if you have it in a bar. At home many people eat biscotti (biscuits), others prefer fette biscottate (rusks) or pane tostato (toast) with burro (butter) and marmellata (jam), and also frutta (fruit) or cereali (cereals). In any case, people generally like sweet things rather than savoury food at this time of day. The most common drinks are always coffee and cappuccino, or else caffellatte (milk with a drop of coffee) or simply latte (milk), or a cup of tè (tea). Many people also have a mid-morning coffee break.

Lunch and Dinner
In the middle of the day (usually between about 12.30 and 2 pm), Italians have lunch (pranzo). Il pranzo can be a full cooked meal, if you have time for it, as is generally the case on Sundays and on holiday. On working days, lunch often consists of a one course meal (piatto unico) or a simple sandwich, a salad (insalata) or a slice of pizza. Afterwards, be sure not to miss a tiny cup of full-bodied espresso coffee (un espresso).

In most cases, the only elaborate meal is dinner (cena), which is usually eaten between 7 and 9.30 pm. A cena (at dinner), it is common to have two different courses, il primo and il secondo. Il primo is a soup or a pasta dish (N.B. la pasta - uncountable - is not the same as una pasta, the sweet preparation eaten at breakfast), whereas il secondo normally contains proteins (carne, meat, pesce, fish, uova, eggs, or vegetarian alternatives) as well as vegetables (verdure) as a side dish (contorno). Bread (pane) is normally served to be eaten with the second course. Dinner frequently ends with fruit (frutta) or a dessert and with yet another coffee. As for drinks, at both lunch and dinner Italians have water (acqua naturale, still, or frizzante, sparkling) and wine (vino). A more complete traditional meal comprises a starter (antipasto), can include two or more primi and secondi and conclude with cheese (formaggio), fruit and dessert. An after-dinner liqueur (un digestivo) or spirits (un liquore) can be proposed along with the unfailing coffee. Happy hour and brunch have also become quite popular in our country. But if you look for something more typical, you must try the aperitivo, an aperitif drink accompanied with appetizing cold and warm buffets which offer a cheap alternative to dinner at a restaurant.

GLOSSARY

Places to eat

ristorante: restaurant
trattoria: eating house
osteria: tavern, inn
mensa: canteen
tavola calda: fast food
pizzeria: pizzeria
bar: cafè

At the restaurant
Vorrei un tavolo per due, per favore: (I’d like) a table for two people, please.
Vorrei il menu/la lista delle bevande/il conto, per favore: I’d like the menu/the drink list/the bill, please.
Cosa mi consiglia?: What would you recommend?
Vorrei una specialità della regione: I’d like a local specialty.
Avete piatti vegetariani?: Do you have vegetarian dishes?
Prendiamo solo da bere: We’re just having drinks.
Mi porta una bottiglia d’acqua, per favore?: Could you please bring a bottle of water?
È squisito/buonissimo!: It’s delicious!
I piatti del giorno: The daily specials.

At the table
Buon appetito!: Enjoy your meal!
Cin cin!: Chears!
Salute!: Chears!