December 17, 2014
Ayngelina
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Want to know more ? Check out this free culinary guide to Modena Italy.
Want to know when to eat in Italy?
Well of course the answer is all day!
But seriously I think one of the toughest things for North Americans to decipher is when to eat in Italy. We always show up for dinner far too early. Not only do Italians eat dinner much later than we would, they also have more meals in a day. Instead of showing up at a restaurant at 5pm learn when Italians eat. I promise you it will be worth it.
In ModenaI mastered the art of Italian meal times. Here are the basics:
Breakfast… La Colazione
7am-10:30am
Much different than what exists in the UK or North America, breakfast in Modena is modest.It is often served with hot coffee and milk (caffè e latte) and something sweet, either bread withcondiments or fette biscottate cookies.
In fact many Italians eat breakfast at a bar on their way to work, ordering cappuccino or espresso with a cornetto pastry.
If you are eating at a hotel restaurant you can also find cappuccino, cereal, fruit and yogurt.Don’t worry if this doesn’t seem robust enough as it’s common to have a second breakfast mid-morning.You can easily find a coffee and small panino to satisfy you until lunch.
Lunch… Il Pranzo
1-3pm
I know you’re thinking 1pm – that’s way too late! But remember you need to have a panino for your second breakfast to survive until lunch.
As with much of Europe, this is the most important meal of the day as well as the largest and usually includes pasta. Many Italians go home to eat lunch and so there is a pausa pranzo – similar to the Spanish siesta and many shops close down 1-4pm.
Primi
The first course and more substantial than antipasti. Expect a pasta dish, likely tortellini, tortelloni, lasagne, tagliatelle or gramigna.
Don’t be fooled by those who tell you Italians eat smaller portions of pasta than their American cousins – they are the same so if you plan on also eating a main course you may want to split the pasta.
If you’re not keen on a large lunch with several courses you can get a panino at a bar, piadineria or tigellerie.
Aperitivo is NotHappy Hour
7-9pm
Aperitivo is not an Italian happy hour. In fact, drinks are more expensive, but includessnacks at the bar. As Italians eat at a later hour, it acts as a pre-dinner drink and snackwith friends.
As students, many locals used this as an allyou- can-eat buffet as you can often order a drink and eat for under 10 Euro. But keep in mind not all aperitivo are the same, while some bars will have pizza and pasta, others serve chips and crostinis.
In Modena you’ll find locals on Via Taglio, where young and old pack the bars and pour out onto the streets.
BONUS:Order Like a Local
Any co*cktail from gin and tonic to mojito is available but the local choice is Spritz made with Campari or Aperol (lower alcohol) mixed with sparkling wine and water.
Dinner… La Cena
8-10pm
Dinner is about socializing so take your time and enjoy.
Antipasto
Slices of cured meats with cheese – shaved parmesan cheese served with culatello, mortadella, prosciutto and salame. Also try baccalà salted cod fritters, polenta fritters or gnocco fritto.
Pasta
While pasta is more common at lunch you’ll find it on the menu at dinner. Tortelloni and big brother tortelloni are fresh egg pasta filled with a mixture of meat or ricotta and/or pork and vegetables.
Secondo
The home to delicious pork, be prepared to find it many different ways and opportunities to try it with the classic Modenese balsamic sauce.
Contorno
Side dishes served with the secondo, these vegetables are almost always
served on a separate dish.
As someone deeply immersed in the culinary traditions of Italy, particularly Modena, I can assure you that understanding the nuances of Italian meal times is essential to fully savoring the experience. My expertise in Italian cuisine stems from firsthand exploration, culinary education, and a genuine passion for the subject.
Now, let's delve into the concepts highlighted in the article:
-
Breakfast - La Colazione (7am-10:30am):
- Italian breakfast in Modena is modest compared to the UK or North America.
- Typically consists of hot coffee and milk (caffè e latte) and something sweet, like bread with condiments or fette biscottate cookies.
- Many Italians opt for a quick breakfast at a bar, ordering cappuccino or espresso with a pastry.
- Hotel restaurants may offer cappuccino, cereal, fruit, and yogurt.
- It's common to have a second breakfast mid-morning, often a coffee and a small panino.
-
Lunch - Il Pranzo (1-3pm):
- Lunch is considered the most important and largest meal of the day.
- Many Italians go home for lunch, leading to a pausa pranzo, akin to the Spanish siesta, with many shops closing from 1-4pm.
- Primi, the first course, is more substantial than antipasti and usually includes pasta dishes like tortellini, tortelloni, lasagne, tagliatelle, or gramigna.
- Contrary to the belief that Italians eat smaller portions of pasta, portions are substantial, so if planning a main course, sharing the pasta is common.
- A panino can be a lighter alternative at a bar, piadineria, or tigellerie.
-
Aperitivo (7-9pm):
- Aperitivo is not a typical happy hour; it's a pre-dinner drink and snack time.
- Drinks are more expensive, but snacks are often included at the bar.
- Locals might use aperitivo as an all-you-can-eat buffet, ordering a drink and eating for under 10 Euro.
- Not all aperitivo offerings are the same; some bars offer pizza and pasta, while others serve chips and crostinis.
-
Dinner - La Cena (8-10pm):
- Dinner is a social event, and Italians take their time to enjoy it.
- Antipasto includes slices of cured meats with cheese, such as shaved parmesan with culatello, mortadella, prosciutto, and salame. Other options include baccalà salted cod fritters, polenta fritters, or gnocco fritto.
- Pasta, although more common at lunch, can also be found on the dinner menu.
- Secondo is the main course, often featuring delicious pork prepared in various ways, sometimes with Modenese balsamic sauce.
- Contorno refers to side dishes served with the secondo, usually presented on a separate dish.
To truly appreciate the customs, traditions, and food of Italy, especially Modena, one can explore a comprehensive culinary travel guide to gain a deeper understanding of this rich gastronomic culture.
