| Even to those who have never been to Italy, the | | | | Meat may be chicken, fish, veal or beef depending on |
| uniqueness of Italian meals is well known. With many | | | | regional preferences. The main course is also served |
| courses spread out over the period of several hours, | | | | with a salad, known as the Contorno. In some areas |
| these meals are designed to give you time to spend | | | | this is considered a separate meal, but it is still served |
| with family and enjoy delicious cuisine that is brimming | | | | alongside the main cuisine. |
| with Italian culture. Should you decide you would like to | | | | 5. Fruit |
| eat like the Italians do, the meal structure is as follows. | | | | After eating, many families start with a small |
| The Order of Italian Meals | | | | “dessert” of fruit or cheese, again chosen to |
| 1. Some Pre-Meal Alcohol | | | | complement the Italian food recipe. The type of |
| Known as “Aperitivo,” the Italians like to enjoy a | | | | cheese or fruit often varies by region and is simply |
| little bit of alcohol (both wine and liquors) that is | | | | meant to start the closing part of the meal. |
| designed to get the palate ready for the Italian food | | | | 6. Dessert |
| recipe. This is meant to both warm the stomach and | | | | Once the fruit has been completed, the Italians will |
| loosen the family before the meal. | | | | often serve a more traditional dessert, such as a large |
| 2. Antipasto | | | | cake for the entire family to enjoy. |
| Following the drink is the small appetizer. Unlike most | | | | 7. Coffee and Liquor |
| restaurant appetizers, this is often something very | | | | Italian meals often end with enjoying some type of |
| small, such as cheese, peppers, or slices of meat. It is | | | | coffee. The coffee presents a strong flavor, and is |
| not meant to be too filling, but still provide ample flavor. | | | | generally a major part of the eating tradition. After the |
| 3. First Course | | | | coffee, however, many Italian families end with a |
| The first meal is then served. Though it is designed to | | | | dessert liquor or wine in order to reduce the effects of |
| complement whatever Italian food recipe is going to be | | | | caffeine and end the night peacefully. |
| used for the second course, the first course is where | | | | Enjoying Your Italian Meal |
| traditional Italian foods like pasta and gnocchi are | | | | The traditional Italian meal is most often enjoyed on |
| served. Serving sizes are smaller than in the US (in | | | | holidays and special events, and is spread out over a |
| order to preserve room for the next course) but it is | | | | period of several hours. Each Italian food recipe is |
| still not minute, and is a tasty part of the meal. | | | | carefully selected, and the purpose of the entire |
| 4. Second Course | | | | evening is to enjoy the time you spend with family. |
| This is considered the main course. It consists most | | | | Even if you are not of Italian descent, enjoying a meal |
| often of large chunks of meat that have been properly | | | | in the Italian style is a great way to eat some delicious |
| seasoned according to a traditional Italian food recipe. | | | | food and bond with your family. |