| Think of the famous Italian foods that have made their | | | | The food is served in large platters which make it |
| way into the menus of the rest of the world. Pasta, | | | | easy to reach but as a guest you ought to be careful |
| cappuccino, olive oil, pizza, tiramisu, pesto the list goes | | | | not to stuff yourself up on the first few servings |
| on; Italian food culture is a prominent feature of | | | | because there is always more to come on an Italian |
| Western society. Italian risotto became another typical | | | | dinner table. Another prevalent tradition in Italian homes |
| dish of the Italian food. Italian salami, prosciutto and | | | | is that each guest brings with himself and interesting |
| mortadella are the main Italian cold cuts. | | | | homemade dish as well which adds to the already |
| To be precise the average Italian meal is three hours | | | | overwhelming menu. |
| long during which the people consume their food in ten | | | | The only two beverages that you see on most Italian |
| courses. Since the courses are so many in numbers | | | | tables are water and wine. Italians love their wine and |
| they are usually small in quantity so as to be able to | | | | serve it freely with both lunch and dinner. They are |
| get a taste of everything. A restaurant meal may | | | | smart, real, and fun-loving in their approach to wine. |
| involve up to four courses: an antipasto, primo (first | | | | Italian wine costs less than water in most restaurants. |
| course), secondo (second course), and dessert. | | | | Food and wine hold an important place in the heart of |
| Italian food goes beyond a good pasta dish. Over the | | | | Italians and such Italian food culture easily rubs off on |
| years the Italians have developed their own culture | | | | the tourist. |
| surrounding the eating of their food. Just like there is a | | | | Italian pastry is another Italian traditional food, as it is |
| special art to preparing top class Italian food there is | | | | part of the Italian daily life. Italian honey that comes |
| the art of eating Italian food. It is fascinating to witness | | | | from Sardinia has a special taste. Italian dessert |
| the culture that has developed around Italian food over | | | | recipes that make your mouth waters like tiramisu, |
| the years. | | | | panna cotta. And finally we get to Italian coffee which |
| When the Italians sit down to eat, they literally forget | | | | is a typical product that is spread worldwide. |
| about the world and are in no hurry whatsoever to | | | | Everybody knows about espresso (remember not to |
| gobble down their food and get back to work. The | | | | say expresso) and cappuccino (from the word or |
| actual sitting down and eating process on an Italian | | | | hood) but Italians rarely drink cappuccino after 10 am, |
| dinner table is long, relaxed and spread over a couple | | | | and never after a meal. |
| of hours. This is why we find the Italians to be very | | | | But remember "Living Italian" means not letting the little |
| fond of spending long hours on the table and meal | | | | stuff get you down. |
| times expanding over the span of a couple of hours. | | | | |