It's always the right time
to eat together...
Since I came to Ireland I've begun to understand how the terminology used to define the meals is different from Italy.
I noticed that here you use the word 'Dinner' to mean 'the most important meal of the day',
for Italians 'Dinner' is the evening meal, regardeless of the amount of food,
and also 'Lunch', which we call 'Pranzo', is always served from 12.00 to 14,30, depending which region you live in.
Here you have the 'Main Dish' regardless of the type of food,
'Primo' is often 'Pastasciutta' (classic pasta cooked in a pan and then seasoned with sauce, cooked separately),
'Pasta al Forno' (Pasta cooked in sauce in the oven),
rice, bean, pasta or vegetable soup, which we call 'Minestra' or 'Minestrone',
'Gnocchi' (made with potatoes) .
'Secondo' is often meat, fish, or different recipies of cooked vegetables or similar.
We NEVER eat the first dish after the second dish... this is considered a heresy!
Also they are NEVER served together, you finish the Primo and
( often waiting... even 30 minutes!) then the Secondo is served !!!
(... Don't worry...I won't impose this on you !)
We always have bread on the table, mainly used to accompany the second dish,
but we use it a lot with soups and to make a 'scarpetta' (little shoe),
which is dipping a small piece of bread in what remains
We eat Primo and Secondo only for Sunday lunch or dinner, meeting with friends, etc...
At home as a daily meal we stick to one of them, as you do with a 'Main Dish'
What about Starter and Side Dish ? We call them 'Antipasto and 'Contorno',
sometimes they may be interchangeable. When do we use them ?
Well... for special occasions or simply when we want something small.
Sometimes we may order a series of Antipasti as a main dish,
Ok, ok....it is COFFEE !
Cappuccino at the end or during a meal is another heresy.
Sorry about that.
Special Coffee ( which I make) is always welcome !
I noticed that here you use the word 'Dinner' to mean 'the most important meal of the day',
for Italians 'Dinner' is the evening meal, regardeless of the amount of food,
and also 'Lunch', which we call 'Pranzo', is always served from 12.00 to 14,30, depending which region you live in.
Here you have the 'Main Dish' regardless of the type of food,
instead, in Italy, we have 'Primo Piatto' (First Dish) and 'Secondo Piatto' (Second Dish).
'Pasta al Forno' (Pasta cooked in sauce in the oven),
rice, bean, pasta or vegetable soup, which we call 'Minestra' or 'Minestrone',
'Gnocchi' (made with potatoes) .
'Secondo' is often meat, fish, or different recipies of cooked vegetables or similar.
We NEVER eat the first dish after the second dish... this is considered a heresy!
Also they are NEVER served together, you finish the Primo and
( often waiting... even 30 minutes!) then the Secondo is served !!!
(... Don't worry...I won't impose this on you !)
We always have bread on the table, mainly used to accompany the second dish,
but we use it a lot with soups and to make a 'scarpetta' (little shoe),
which is dipping a small piece of bread in what remains
in the dish (typically sauce or similar) after you finish eating it.
At home as a daily meal we stick to one of them, as you do with a 'Main Dish'
What about Starter and Side Dish ? We call them 'Antipasto and 'Contorno',
sometimes they may be interchangeable. When do we use them ?
Well... for special occasions or simply when we want something small.
Sometimes we may order a series of Antipasti as a main dish,
but certainly it is not traditional
So a big Italian meal could be : 1) Antipasto - 2) Primo Piatto - 3 ) Secondo Piatto with Contorno -
So actually there are 2 main courses, but Antipasto could be considered a main too! ...It depends how large it is...
Sometimes we add 'Dolce' which is the Dessert, It could be just a little thing (such as a wrapped sweet).
What we ALWAYS have at the end is ..... ?? you tell me....
Ok, ok....it is COFFEE !
Cappuccino at the end or during a meal is another heresy.
Sorry about that.
Special Coffee ( which I make) is always welcome !