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Gnocchi
As soon as you land over Italy, you must be curious about the most important thing of your trip - FOOD!!!
Next you’ll find some useful information that will help you to get along when you approach any place despensing food.
By the way as everyone usually says “ When in Rome do as the Romans do”.
BREAKFAST - If you are staying in a Hotel, you will usually find a huge buffet of cold cuts, cheeses, eggs, juice, coffee, milk, toasts, butter, jams, cereals etc.. Otherwise you can go to a bar and ask for a cappuccino and a croissant or other fresh pastries; (that’s what Italians usually do in the early morning).
LUNCH - In Italy, lunch is usually served from 12,30 P.M. to 3,00 P.M.
DINNER - Dinner is usually served from 8,00 P.M. but Italians usually start around 9,00 P.M.
Where to go - There are many places where to eat and you can choose depending on what you feel like. Take a look at the listed places below:
TAVOLA CALDA: which means "hot table". There you can find a variety of sandwiches as well as hot dishes. Some of them have tables where you can eat and relax. Larger ones are similar to U.S. self-service cafeterias.
ROSTICCERIA / Pizza al Taglio : These shops sell cooked meats, most often whole chickens. They also have supplì (a bowl of fried rice with mozzarella cheese inside), crocchette (a bowl of fried mash-potatoes), and other fried vegetables. Pizza al Taglio or Pizza by the slice sold in a variety of choices.
RISTORANTE: A restaurant provides complete menu (fixed price or by the choice and full waiter service). They can range from small and cozy to large very elegant including a sommelier, very experienced with food and wine. These can sometimes be expensive.
TRATTORIA: Generally a family run restaurant where you can find expressed cooked local dishes not less appealing than expensive restaurants. Next you’ll find some suggested menu of pasta that will make your mouth watering:
• Cacio e pepe- This is the simplest and tastiest dish of pasta you can have - pecorino cheese and pepper.
• Arrabbiata- Tomato, garlic and hot peppers.
• Amatricana- Bacon, tomatoes, onion and hot peppers.
• Carbonara- Eggs, bacon and cheese.
• Pescatora- Seafood.
• Stuffed pasta: Ravioli, Cannelloni, Tortellini, Lasagna (with grounded meat or ricotta and cheese).
• Gnocchi - Small dumplings served with meat sauce or butter and sage.
• Pasta e Fagioli- Pasta and beans often with some vegetables.
• Minestrone - Vegetable soup.
• Vongole- Clams, garlic and olive oil. The clams are often served with the shells.
PIZZERIA: Where pizza is sold, like all over the World. Pizza was invented in Italy, but they are quite different from the pizzas served in the US Pizza parlors. They are individually-sized of about 10-12 inches in diameter and you can choose it with a wide variety of toppings. Remember, when they serve you a Pizza it is never sliced. You can cut it as you want. Next a few suggestions:
• Margherita-tomato sauce and mozzarella
• Marinara-tomato sauce, origano and garlic without cheese
• Funghi-mushrooms
• Quattro formaggi- four cheeses
• Quattro stagioni-a different topping on each of the four quarters
• Capricciosa- tomato sauce, mozzrella cheese, ham , mushrooms, artichokes and sliced hard boiled egg
• Tonno- tomato sauce, tuna fish, capers and sliced hard boiled eggs
• Prosciutto- tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and ham.
If you want something similar to the PEPPERONI PIZZA you have at home, you should ask for a Salami pizza, because, if you ask for a pepperoni pizza, they will bring you a pizza with hot pepper, because that’s what pepperoni means in Italian.
If you got some space left in your stomach, you should try some second courses (secondo piatto) :
• Abbacchio scottadito - grilled lamb.
• Melanzane alla parmigiana - Egg plants with tomato and parmesan cheese.
• Arrosto di pesce - A variety of grilled fish, shrimps and squids;
At the end of the meal don’t forget some digestive such as grappa, sambuca, amaro or limoncello.
Anyway, if you ask your driver, he will suggest the right place according to your needs and your desires and he will make sure you’ll fulfill your expectations.
Pizza Margherita |
Sfogliatella Napoletana |
Mozzarella cheese |
Cantucci and Vin santo |
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Lasagne
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Ravioli
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Gelato
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Tiramisù
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Bucatini alla Amatriciana
Italian Red Wine
Cannelloni
Limoncello
Spaghetti with Astice (lobster)
Spaghetti Carbonara
Spaghetti with fish, olives and tomatoes
Typical italian tarts
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