14 Unspoken Rules of Eating in Italy

14 Unspoken Rules of Eating in Italy

Jun 22, 2016, 2:04:59 AM Life and Styles

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.

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Don't do what I did and drink a cappuccino with your lunch (in Milan)

 

2) Don't eat alone.

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Having a Zuppa del Carcerato in Pistoia

 

3) On the bright side, staff will be nicer to you if you eat alone.

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Even drinking hot chocolate alone is lovely though!

 

4)  Only have wine or water with your meal.

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Don't order a lemon soda with your meal like I did...

 

5) Don't ask for a spaghetti bolognese or fettuccine carbonara.

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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.

 

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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).

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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).

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Menu at Trattoria "La Bettola" in Pistoia

 

9) Wait until after you've finished your pasta dish to eat the bread.

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Tortellini in Bologna

 

10) Only use olive oil or vinegar with your salad.

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San Tritita salad in Florence

 

11) Don't have savoury food for breakfast.

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A quick breakfast in Rome

 

12) Don't sit down at the local cafe.

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Standing up while eating a croissant in Milan

 

13) Don't have dinner early.

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Dinner in Venice

 

14) There should be no chance for you to eat fast, ever.

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Bruschetta with pecorino cheese, honey, pear, raisin and nuts in San Gimignano

 

Published by Jessie W

Comments (3)

Aug 2, 2016, 11:19:08 AM

Thank you so much! It means a lot! :)

Aug 2, 2016, 11:18:31 AM

Thank you so much! It means a lot! :)

Jun 22, 2016, 11:33:15 AM

I enjoyed reading your post :)

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