When in Italy, eat and drink like Italians do. Here is a short guide that will help you to navigate through typical Italian offerings:
Antipasti (appetizers)
- Salumi locali misti (assorted local sausages, cold cuts)
- Formaggio locale (local cheeses)
- Calamari Fritti (deep fried calamari)
- Prosciutto (thinly sliced cured ham, usually served with melon or figs)
Primi (first course)
- Minestrone (vegetable soup)
- Pasta e faggiole (Tuscan bean soup)
- Pasta con tartufo (pasta with the truffles, may be very expensive)
- Pasta con porcini (pasta with wild mushrooms)
Secondi (second / main course)
- Bistecca Fiorentina (large steak, typical of Florence / Tuscany)
- Abbacchio Scottaditto (young lamb grilled, typical of Rome)
- Funghi Porcini alla grilla (wild mushrooms prepared on the grill)
- Pomodori con basilico (tomato salad with olive oil, side dish)
- Coniglio (wild rabbit – Tuscan specialty)
Dolci (desert)
- Tiramisu (literally “pull me up” cake – must try).
- Panna Cotta (literally “cooked cream” – must try).
Beverages
- Acqua Minerale Frizzante / Naturale (mineral water, carbonated / flat)
- Birra alla spina (draft beer)
- Vino rosso della casa (inexpensive house red wine)
- Vino bianco della casa (inexpensive house white wine)
- Prosecco (dry sparkling white wine)
- Amarone, Barolo, Barbaresco, Brunello (famous dry red wine)
- Verdicchio, Vermentino, Pinot Grigio, Falanghina, Ribolla (famous dry white wine)
- Grappa (after dinner strong distilled drink)
- Limoncello, Fragolino (after dinner semi-sweet liqueur – a “must try”)
Coffee
- Caffe’ Normale or Espresso (strong, small shot of espresso)
- Caffe’ Corto or Ristretto (even smaller and stronger portion)
- Caffe’ Lungo or Americano (more water, less coffee)
- Caffe’ Corretto (espresso fortified with Grappa)
- Caffe’ Latte (shot of espresso with a lot of milk, usually served to kids).
- Caffe’ Cappuccino (shot of espresso with foamed milk, usually served in the morning)
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