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Italians are passionate people when it comes to food. And when there's passion, there's bound to be a couple of rules. Here is a list of unspoken rules about the art of Italian culture I gained from both living with an Italian host family and my own experiences.
1)Drinking anything other than a shot of espresso after midday is strange.
Don't do what I did and drink a cappuccino with your lunch (in Milan)
2) Don't eat alone.
Having a Zuppa del Carcerato in Pistoia
3) On the bright side, staff will be nicer to you if you eat alone.
Even drinking hot chocolate alone is lovely though!
4) Only have wine or water with your meal.
Don't order a lemon soda with your meal like I did...
5) Don't ask for a spaghetti bolognese or fettuccine carbonara.
tagliatelle with ragu sauce and parmiagiano reggiano
6) Don't expect huge amounts of meat in your primo dish (pasta and rice dishes), because meat and seafood dishes come second as a secondi.
Farro Soup in Lucca
7) Asking for tap water is really uncommon, so expect to pay for bottles of waters instead (usually around €1.50 or so).
Water fountain in front of the Spanish Steps in Rome
8) Expect to pay for service fees (servizio) and bread and cover charge (pane e coperto).
Menu at Trattoria "La Bettola" in Pistoia
9) Wait until after you've finished your pasta dish to eat the bread.
Tortellini in Bologna
10) Only use olive oil or vinegar with your salad.
San Tritita salad in Florence
11) Don't have savoury food for breakfast.
A quick breakfast in Rome
12) Don't sit down at the local cafe.
Standing up while eating a croissant in Milan
13) Don't have dinner early.
Dinner in Venice
14) There should be no chance for you to eat fast, ever.
Bruschetta with pecorino cheese, honey, pear, raisin and nuts in San Gimignano
For a full version of this article, visit https://youngoldtraveller.wordpress.com/2016/06/19/unspoken-rules-about-eating-in-italy
Published by Jessie W
7 years ago 
