Well I absolutely agree. Perfectly correct and incredibly thorough! As per the "scarpetta" debate, if you are there to enjoy, go ahead. If you are there to be evaluated socially it is wiser to skip it.
Sono italiano e penso che dopo aver visto tantissimi video di stranieri che parlavano di esperienze varie nei nostri ristoranti o trattorie o pizzerie finalmente ho trovato una persona non italiana che riesce a spiegare a chi non è italiano come noi viviamo il cibo in Italia.Grazie
Grazie! Questo è un commento che, come diciamo in inglese, “ci scalda il cuore.” Ci sentiamo molto soddisfatti che il video non è una distorsione della verità. Saluti!
@@OurBigItalianAdventure come ho già scritto altrove questo è il miglior video su come mangiare italiano che ho mai visto....e.....vi prego...ricordate ai turisti di non ordinare in Italia cicken pizza o formaggio su piatti di pesce o ketchup su quelli di carne o sulla pizza o meatball spaghetti e di bere vino bianco coi piatti di pesce e vino rosso su quelli di carne e birra con la pizza e che oltre al Limoncello agli Amari al Mirto del contadino abbiamo la Grappa......il tipico superalcolico italiano. ancora complimenti sinceri
It's the same in Germany. As an American who lived in Germany for several years, any attempt on my part to speak German was met with appreciation, as well as a more than equal effort on their part to communicate in English.
That wasn't my experience in Rome! They were somewhere between annoyed and disgusted! Of course I wouldn't generalise. I loved Italy and will be returning!
As an Italian I tell you that this is a very, very well done explanation. I recommend the "scarpetta" (scooping up the sauce or condiment from the plate with bread), it is something that is done, but it is not a very polite thing to do, it is absolutely not recommended in luxury restaurants or on formal occasions, such as a business lunch.
Good point about formal dinners and business. We could have mentioned that. We wanted to include it so visitors didn’t think Italians were being rude in a casual restaurant. In the US, it’s done, but much less often.
@@OurBigItalianAdventure yes the so-called "scarpetta" should never be done, in any type of pasta dish.. I personally have never done it, nor have I ever seen any other Italian do it.. perhaps in some regions, in some places it is a way of doing things.. it also depends on the type of people.
@@luigivittorionasini3228This seems a little excessive, I find way more disrespectful to waste some food than to use some bread to take some sauce. Do it if you want, most people wouldn’t blink an eye. If I remember correctly there’s a Michelin star restaurant where doing the scarpetta was part of the dish
I'm italian, I know perfectly what's happening here where I live, and I still watching your wondeful videos. Who knows why... 😂 Maybe because I love to "see us" from a different point of view. Buon appetito!
Thanks! We’re glad to get “curious” viewers. In fact, we’re thinking of making some videos targeted at curiosities, comparing attitudes, beliefs, habits, etc. of Italians and Americans.
"Greetings from Italy! As an Italian, I must say this is one of the most accurate and precise videos I've ever seen about Italian food and how the restaurant system works in Italy. Compliments to the author for such a well-made and insightful piece!"
Madam this video is fantastic! Nowadays some of those situations has became a running joke on the internet, but it's really beautiful seeing a polite and kind Lady explain with such a well crafted video why stuff is the way it is in Italy. You even know the Pisa salt story, that it's not well known in Italy outside Toscana. Good job Madame!
Instead of paying your bill at the table, you can also pay by heading to the counter. This metod is preferred if you wish to split the bills, as it makes it easier for the restaurant to do. It is also used as a way of "sneakily" pay the entire bill without having to argue for it
Yes. It’s often more convenient and faster at the cassa, but for Americans that’s usually the practice only in casual breakfast or lunch restaurants. Between needing to ask for the conto and go to the cassa, I can see people waiting at the table forever!
@@OurBigItalianAdventure by the way, I love your videos, even if I'm Italian and I already know pretty much all about the subject, I find your content very interesting and entertaining. You're a lovely couple, I wish you the best
As an Italian, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for your video. It accurately captures and represents our behavior in a respectful manner. Thank you very much for your efforts.❤ Ciao!
I have to agree with most if the comments: as an Italian I can say that your video is very accurate and I would say very useful to people visiting Italy from other Countries. 🙂
As an Italian, I have to congratulate you on this video. I'm very intrigued to see how foreigners approach explaining our way of life, and this is probably one of the clearest and most accurate representations one can find. The historical insights are also very well-done and absolutely accurate. Good job! When things are done more out of love than for business, it really shows!
I have to agree with Ilaria, you have done a really good job of describing how to eat in Italy. But please above all, enjoy our country and our food, we love sharing it with the world.
Brava Signora. Questo è il miglior video sulle abitudini culinarie degli italiani, veramente molto accurato e rispettoso verso la nostra cultura. Grazie!
What I appreciate in Italy is their accommodation of those of us with gluten issues. Every place we went to it wasn’t a problem! We’re spending 3 weeks in Genova very soon and can’t wait to return.
È stato un piacere sentirti parlare di noi in questo modo così equilibrato Grazie per la tua cordialità, cara Signora dalla bella lingua inglese/americana.
make "Scarpetta", in many case and Regions, especially in the more affordable Trattorias and Restaurants, means making Chefs and Waiters understand that the food was appreciated. Normally is a good use
Italian here: very informative! Consider that according to Italian laws you have specific rights as a customer of a restaurant. For instance, all dishes should have a price, if they have a board with the "speciality of the day" or the waiter tells you the additional dishes, make sure you know the price, especially in touristic areas. Dishes made with frozen ingredients must be indicated, like in the menu you showed in the video. While "scarpetta" is accepted in trattorias and it should be not made in hi-end restaurants, it is often recognized as an appreciation of the dish, as a way to tell the restaurant "I like it very much!". That said, especially if you are a foreigner, if you like a dish and you want to do a scarpetta, go for it and the hell the bon-ton! 🙂 If you go in non-touristic locations or outside the main touristic routes, it is not uncommon even for Italians to chat with the waiter: ask for local specialities, tell them if you have allergies/intolerances, tell them if you want to try local dishes, they will guide you.
I’m an expat living in Liguria for 29 years, married to an Italian. Complimenti on your video as it is clear, concise and for the most part accurate. Where we disagree is regarding tipping. If you experience good service for a sit down meal, a 10% gratuity is appropriate and much appreciated by your server. While they get a salary, it is quite low, on average a 1000€ or less per month. Times are changing and evolving and do should our ideas on tipping in Italy. Looking forward to following you.
Yes, I’m all for servers making more money. I would like the restaurants to just raise their prices a couple of percent, rather than encouraging a tipping culture. Tipping in the US has gotten out of hand.
Questo vlog e' fantastico! I've been to Italian four times and I still learned something. I love how you cover every little thing and also how you give some history (such as "coperto"). A lot of effort went into this vlog and I appreciate it. Grazie mille!
I'm italian and i live in Italy, your analisys it's very accurate! Good job. 👍 One thing: Trattorie and Osterie have usually bigger portions and sometimes food it's better than in expensive restaurants. 😉
Another excellent video. One thing I have seen on mainly American posts is that people think they’ve been scammed because the price they had to pay was not the price on the menu . When selling fish , in particular , they obviously come in different sizes and what you see on the menu is price per letto . This is 100 g . For fresh fish and sometimes meat , the restaurant obviously buys by weight and so they sell by weight as well.
Yes. I can bet that the price per etto is a source of confusion. That’s not a common US practice, though fish is often listed as “market price”, where you have to ask.
As an Italian i must say you explained it very well, just a few things 1)a few restaurant they have two service shifts and when you book especially by phone but also on line if you ask for a table at 8pm for example they will inform you that they have a shift at 7.30 and another at 21.30 2)some restaurant especially the most touristic in bigger cities they do not close in the afternoon, they may serve you from 12am to 11pm continuosly 3)Coperto in the past when textile tablecloth and napkins were used covered also the expenses for washing them 4)we do not eat bread with pasta dishes, just doing scarpetta is okay in general but in a very formal restaurnat is not 5)Pepperoni is not used in Italy but you can find in many places pizza with "Salamino piccante" which is very similar and with "'Nduja" a typical Calabrian spreadable sausage with a soft consistency and very spicy taste(and if I may dare both are better than Pepperoni).Thx again for your video spreading our vast and valuable food culture in the world and by the way I recognised several places in my hometown Firenze (Florence).
Thanks for the compliment and the good additional info. We were going to say, “salame piccante”, but we feared it wasn’t right, so we cut it out. Now I know we were close!
Thank you so much for creating these very informative videos. We are going to Italy in May for our anniversary, #39. This is our first time going to Italy, and your videos are extremely helpful. Thanks again or should we say Grazie !!
Davvero brava... Complimenti ! Only one thing... Agriturismi fuori dalle città! Difficili da trovare per i turisti, ma generalmente si trovano prodotti coltivati/allevati direttamente da loro ! 😊
Grazie! Siamo d’accordo sugli agriturismi. Abbiamo trascorso molti belli giorni (e alcune cene fantastici) in agriturismi. Magari un argomento per un futuro video.
@@OurBigItalianAdventureAnd also something about “vineria”, a wine bar where you can choose your wine by the glass or by the bottle with appetisers or full dishes, or to drink wine for an aperitivo. For wine connoisseurs.
As Italian, even if there are some mistakes and misspelled words, thanks for clarifying such important things in our culture for the American audience. And it makes me think that we are so lucky to live in Italy because, among the other things, of the way we enjoy food, meals and life. I can see the effort and work you out to create this video. Thanks
Thanks! We are happy you could give us a positive route review despite our mistakes and mispronunciations. You might find it interesting to know that one of the more difficult things to get right when speaking is one of the most simple in theory. That’s the agreement of nouns, adjectives, and articles in gender and number. It’s easy to get in the middle of a sentence and not remember either the gender of a noun or which noun you’ve already used and what form of the adjective is needed!
Congrats, I'm really impressed!!!!!!!! A perfect explanation. E' bellissimo vedere come veramente avete capito tanto della cultura italiana. Quando vedo in giro su you tube dei video di consigli per gli stranieri, sono tutti così distanti dalla realtà (nel bene e nel male). Tutti i vostri consigli sono sempre molto utili per chi non conosce il nostro paese, e magari si aspetta delle cose diverse dalla realtà. E' anche bene informare delle cose negative, perchè ce ne sono, così come ce ne sono per tutti i popoli della Terra.... ma soprattutto è importante fare capire perchè esistono delle tradizioni, che risalgono a tempi passati, ed è la prima volta che vedo una spiegazione simile e così esauriente in un video. Cercare di far capire all'estero perchè ogni regione, o addirittura ogni paesino confinante ha delle tradizioni differenti, credo sia una impresa ardua... già far capire che NON esiste SOLO la pasta o la pizza, ma che abbiamo talmente tanti piatti di carne e di pesce, e soprattutto di verdure, è difficilissimo. Ah, una cosa: quando non si pagava con la carta di credito, ma solo in contanti, (15 o 20 anni fà) e si era un gruppo di amici, si divideva il conto tra tutti "alla romana", e ciascuno metteva la sua quota sul tavolo.
Grazie! Una cosa difficile per noi è cercare di spiegare “Italia” agli stranieri senza essere costretto a ridurre le differenze fra i regioni e paesi. È un atto di equilibrio. Vogliamo evitare gli stereotipi ma presentare un senso generale per i visitatori. Saluti!
Fra le persone civili si paga ancora alla romana Se si paga singolarmente con la Express è giusto che ti facciano pagare di più per le commissioni ed il tempo perso.
This gentle lady speaks the truth. The information contained in this video are 100% true and accurate. I really appreciated the lil history lesson too. I really enjoyed how detailed this video is! Your love for Italy it's cristal clear :)
Thanks! We appreciate it. It’s a wonderful country in many ways, though not without its frustrations - just like everyplace else. These days, I’m much more frustrated with the US than I am with Italy! Dio ci aiuti!
@banmadabon I fear Berlusconi is like child’s play to Trump. The US president can affect so many things worldwide. Plus, as far as I know, Berlusconi never incited a riot to try to stay in power as Trump did. He has wrecked our social fabric and ruined trust in institutions and each other.
You have well said that tap water is almost everywhere drinkable, thank you so much ! Your word counts, for many people are going to take your word for true. Let me add a curiosity about water in Rome, my town; tap water is checked more than 50 times every week by a dedicated lab located next to the Piramide in Ostiense district and therefore public fountains including the monument fountains are all part of the same safe water network, sometimes even offering mineral quality, digestive water. Congratulations for your steady progress in Italian as well as for your very honest account! Great job!
I'm Italian and live in Italy, and this is the most accurate video on Italy's restaurant rules I've ever seen. It does really cut all the myths and the nonsense. Good job! A could of points. First, the most important rule and the one you should really strive to follow is #2. Please don't sit on the first available table when entering an Italian restaurant or trattoria. It's okay on bars, particularly on dehors, but limit it to those. Sitting straight away at a free table in an Italian restaurant without first asking someone on the staff where to sit is considered really poor manners and a sign you're a clueless tourist. The other thing is about restaurant types. The difference between "ristorante" and "trattoria" was a big one until a few decades ago. Now, posh restaurants love to style themselves as "trattoria" to show some air of authenticity. In general, the rule I follow is - if it's a touristy spot, don't worry about the "trattoria" sign; it's just another restaurant. However, if you're away (even slightly) from the tourist spot and you see the parking lot all packed with cars with local license plates, go for it. The rule "avoid the seaside, look for the immediate interior" is almost infallibly true for places like Liguria or the middle to lower Adriatic coast, but works almost everywhere. Italy works like this - you aim for the most forgotten mountain village you can ever imagine, you find a small and apparently modest "trattoria" in the middle of abandoned houses, and you discover the Pope used to go dining there (I'm not joking)
Hi, I'm Italian and I really appreciate your videos. This one is perfect, except for just one little thing. Many bars in Italy offer affordable meals at lunch. That's all. 😍
@@OurBigItalianAdventure And also, our pubs offer meals for dinner. I usually have dinner in a big pub where you can eat a lot of different things, pizza, meat, fish, pasta, salad, hamburgers, everything. 👋
Spot on! The biggest cultural difference I think it's the tip (and I made myself bad impressions abroad ☺). We leave nothing if paying with credit cards, and sometimes we leave someeuros just to round the sum and pay with whole banknotes, without having to carry change coins in the pocket.
Thanks! It’s a perennial topic for us, since tipping is so pervasive in the US. I know Italians who have come to America and saw a dish priced at $20 on the menu, and when they get the bill, there’s a 5-10% tax added, plus the expected 20% tip, so the $20 become almost $30!
Rarely seen such a thorough description of an essential topic for every visitor. I was a skinny kid who'd been studying in France when I got invited to Milan for Easter. First time in my life that I put on weight. The food was so fabulous. I had to taste everything, including the street vendors' offerings between meals. At the end of 10 days, I had to suck in my stomach and tug on the waistband to button my pants. One of my best memories.
Nice and accurate vid, kudos! As for round pizza size, some places in Rome offer "normal" and "giant". An old Italian proverb says "A tavola non si invecchia" (at table people don't get older), but bad habit of hurrying customers is common mostly at "all you can eat" places. Just for you liking old stories: 1) in Italy, pouring someone a drink by holding the bottle with the palm of your hand facing up and the back of your hand facing down is considered rude due the ancient use of poison rings☠ 2) An Italian verb for "to frame", "to scam" is INFINOCCHIARE (literally, DRESSING WITH FENNEL): its bulbs, previously eaten, can (and were used by dishonest innkeepers to) hide the taste of bad wine, and fruits to "fix" rancid meat...
In tuscany finocchiona is a salame with fennel, also sausages have it there but fortunately they are not framing you and are excellent quality . Also sicily sausages can have it and there is a liquor too. But is true about infinocchiare
@@anarres1400 My fault, being myself a fan of finocchiona salami and fennel raw bulbs dipped in olive oil, salt and pepper (this sausage is called PINZIMONIO in Italian and CAZZIMPERIO in Rome's dialect) I had to be more precise
Just one addition to your very exhaustive and very correct and clear explanation: not all bars are open all day long: most bars close in the evening, around 19:00-19:30, so they are good for a quick bite at lunch or an aperitivo pre-dinner, or a tea break in the afternoon, but not for dinner. Another clarification: a "tavola calda" (hot table) caters to working people, so it is also usually open just until 19:00, but if you go there after lunch hours probably you won't find all the variety of dishes you can find at lunch hours, most of all because they would be entirely consumed by all the people eating at lunch and usually they're not cooking in the afternoon, exactly because they're not open at dinner. I would add also that, if you're not interested in eating "typical" italian dishes and you need to eat out of typical lunch or dinner hours, there are also a lot of american-style "fast food", mainly MacDonald, Burger King and KFC, and also a lot of "bangla-style" fast-food (mainly Chicken Hut and Broast, but there are many different franchises) or "japan style" fast food (Sushiko) where you can eat fried chicken and hamburgers, but also kebab, chicken biryani, sushi, tempura, etc.: they're usually open all day long and they can serve food at any hour. Italian street food places (like pizzerias where you buy pizza by the slice or like "paninerie" or the ubiquitous "trapizzini") are also open and serve food all day long (not at dinner, though).
I am italian and I must say that I seldom understood a whole english/american video as good as this time. A part the fact that you are very clear I apreciate how accurate your explanations are. I have been in the USA several times and as your food customs are very different I think that every american tourist should inform himself about the italian customs befor starting to visit Italy. This will make your visit even more interesting and probably also cheaper. So thank you for your effort and have a nice day.
@@gerardinapanceri4013 in America mangiano qualche pezzo a testa quindi una pizza la dividono in più persone... Però credo che le loro pizze intere siano più grandi delle nostre
Di solito è possibile ordinare una pizza in molte misure: small/piccola per una persona, medium/media per 2-3, large/grande per 3-4-5, extra large/super grande per 5-6. Inoltre, a Chicago c’è la pizza “deep dish” in cui ci sono più sugo ed ingredienti, è pizza “stuffed”, con due livelli.
I did like this video, it s very accurate. I m Italian from Bologna but I live in Tuscany close to Livorno coast, I could add that the tasteless bred (very true, it is) is really good with salt and olio nuovo, the oil that every November comes from olives trees very common in this area. Sometimes we use to have degustazione with friends. I learned myself to love it with time.
@@MrBubu1370 torciare è una forma dialettale, scarpetta è italiano " 2. Con sign. partic. nella locuz. fig. fam. fare la s., raccogliere il sugo rimasto nel piatto passandovi un pezzetto di pane infilzato nella forchetta, o più comunem. tenuto tra le dita." fonte Treccani
lol everyone here in Italy claims that drinking "digestive" after dinner really helps digest while we all know very well that it's just an excuse to keep drinking!
@@jugoslavnamljidjiu9021 the problem is that one is not enough, for that it is better when the waiter leaves the bottle on the table, that's how you understand that you have come to the right place!
I lived in Italy for three months and can honestly say that this is spot on! A great guide for people visiting Italy for the first time, although I would say that, in my experience, at restaurants I didn't normally see a cover charge - this might depend on the region/city/town you are in.
@@OurBigItalianAdventure yes, usually when we have lunch and do not have enough time, we just eat a primo (pasta), not a second, so pasta is the main course for us.
I would say that the part about the chalkboard isn’t necessarily true, plenty of restaurants use those but don’t change the menu. And the fact that is both in English and Italian is more or less the norm, it’s not a marker of less authentic, on the contrary, really good (and pricy) restaurants all have both languages or two menus, one for each language (even more depending on the area). Also, about vino della casa, it’s always the worst wine the restaurant has to offer, this doesn’t mean it can’t be ok, but don’t expect something particularly good
I've only been abroad once, 1983 my honeymoon in Rome. It was divine and the dining an amazing experience. Our best meal was grilled fish at a seaside restaurant recommended to us by a friend who lived in Rome. We tried all the different types of eateries- none disappointed. I loved Rome.
A lot of these points aren’t really Italian, they’re more rest of the world versus America lol. This is an excellent analysis of the cultural differences. The thing I’d say is don’t worry about getting it wrong, it’s Italy, it’s friendly, casual, non judgemental, they have a sense of humour. Life is an adventure, they know that, they appreciate that you love their culture but are not au fait with it.
Buongiorno signora! Prima di tutto mi unisco ai complimenti dei miei connazionali e ai ringraziamenti per questo fantastico e serio video che spiega finalmente in maniera reale, la nostra tradizione. Ma anche ironicamente mi fa pensare ad una sorta di contrapposizione tra noi italiani che apprezziamo e lo stupore dei suoi connazionali che si staranno chiedendo perché non hanno visto spaghetti con meatballs, pizze con "pepperoni", linguine Alfredo, lasagna mattina, mezzogiorno e sera, mozzarelle sparse qua e la, mandolini, fisarmoniche e persone di tutte le età con la pancia enorme che gesticolano con atteggiamenti da malavitosi!😂 ..per cui, ancora una volta, grazie. Per noi questo rappresenta la realtà. Per molti, dovrebbe essere un documentario.
Grazie per i complimenti! Molto apprezzati. Stiamo lavorando sul video che discute, con altre cose, i cibi italo-americani che hai menzionato. È una sorpresa grande per molti che “spaghetti and meatballs” non è incluso in ogni menù. A proposito della pancia, sfortunatamente, questa è diventata un simbolo di noi. Mangiamo troppi cibi pieni di carboidrati. Non abbiamo mai pensato di poter produrre un documentario!
A thorough lesson in civilisation! I’m tempted to suggest, just one rule: respect, relax, enjoy. (I know that sounds like three, but it’s just one, really)
As italian I appreciate the accuracy of the video. Only two little considerations: - in the video you use a piece of bread to help you to "move" the pasta to the fork in your hand. In Italy we don't do it with pasta, never. - the spritz is not only "aperol" spritz that's the most commercial and it's the less traditional in the region (Veneto) where it comes from.
Thanks! We appreciate it. Very interesting about the bread. I’m sure I’ve seen it done, but maybe those times were outliers. We simplified “spritz’ to Aperol for our US viewers, who might know the term but not know “spritz” by itself.
Your videos are great. As someone who spends a great deal of time in Italy, I think they're pretty accurate. I will say that it's probably a little more polite to ask for the gabinetto rather than the bagno. It's like asking for the restroom as opposed to the bathroom.
Ma daiii!! La tua spiegazione è perfetta❤ You talked about our culture, and about eating out, everything was perfectly explained, I'm really thankful. I've subscribed immediately. Greetings from Rome 💐
Certaldo Alto is home to one of the best authentic Italian cooking experiences - Cucina Giuseppina! As a bonus - the views from her cooking school are stunning 🙌🏼
I find your video accurate and entertaining. Few comments. Saltless bread is tipically from Tuscany, which is actually in central Italy. One of the best food would be Tuscan saltless bread and salty cured ham. The only time Italians rush their food is at lunch break. Waiters get their salary so a tip is an additional income, always welcome though not compulsory. The round pizza is normally for one person, while cut pizza can be generally of any size. For round pizza, sometimes you can get it thick and softer (Neapolitan type) or thin and crunchier (Roman style). Up to your taste. Last advice: look for the local food. In Milan is risotto (rice), in Turin boiled meats with sauces and truffles, in all the north polenta (kind of corn porridge) with meats. And try the local varieties of cheeses. Though you can find carbonara in all places, that is tipically from Rome. Enjoy.
Thanks so much for this. Going to Italy soon and can’t wait to soak it all in. This seems like a fantastic video as the general flow is quite different from we in the USA are used to.
This is probably the best video about restaurants in Italy! If I may add my 2 cents: 1. Insalata (salad) as a side dish is really small and can be ordered before any other dish. There are 2 options: only lettuce or with some veggies, usually tomatoes. Often one can find a salad as a main dish. In this case it is called INSALATONA and there is a description of the ingredients. One should remember: In Italy there are no "sauces". You get Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar (not always of the best quality but better than industrial mayo...). 2. Pizza can be easily eaten with the hands dividing it before into triangled slices. I personally always ask my pizza to be served already cut in 8 slices. No problems with that. Peperoni Pizza does exist: one should ask for SALAME PICANTE. In most of the "Trattorias" there are "set menus" including 1st,2nd and side dish + water + wine for a very convinient price. Always reccomended! 4. If you see/hear italians eat in the place it is probably good. Buon appetito
Such a great video. Thank you. Will be back to Italy in a few months. FYI….You don’t have to screenshot the menu you can use your phone to actually read it with Google translate in real time.
Very enjoyable! A quick trick to spot expensive restaurants at a glance is to look at napkins: if they have fabric napkins, you're probably gonna pay a salty bill (un conto salato); if they have paper napkins, you'll probably pay a more moderate price. If the waiters are all dressed up, you might wanna check your balance before steppin' in 😀 Another trick: if you wanna ask for your bill, but the waiter is far from you, get in eye contact with him/her and perform the correct gesture: lift your open left hand, keeping it horizontal; with your right thumb and index finger tips joined, mime as if you were writing something on the palm of your left hand, smiling and optionally raising your eyebrows. Try this out (but not in super elegant restaurants) 🙂 One final word: feel free to eat pizza with your bare hands. You're actually expected to do so, and it will even taste much better 🙂
Just to add: if you are in a business environment, they will split your bill without problem: you go up to the cashdesk and list what you order, they will make you a personal bill. I mean office/commercial areas, where typically people will go with colleagues to have their lunch break, or trattorie that offer "work lunch menu". Otherwise, as you explained, it is correct.
![How to Order Food and Drinks in Italian 🇮🇹 FREE PDF [Italian for Beginners]](/img/n.gif)
I'm Italian and this is the most accurate video explanation of our way of eating out I watched on TH-cam
Wow! That’s quite the compliment. Thanks!
Well I absolutely agree.
Perfectly correct and incredibly thorough!
As per the "scarpetta" debate, if you are there to enjoy, go ahead. If you are there to be evaluated socially it is wiser to skip it.
@mariocioffi188 That’s a good way to put it. And thanks for the compliment.
Totally agree :) Thanks for spreading our eating culture
I totally agree with you
Sono italiano e penso che dopo aver visto tantissimi video di stranieri che parlavano di esperienze varie nei nostri ristoranti o trattorie o pizzerie finalmente ho trovato una persona non italiana che riesce a spiegare a chi non è italiano come noi viviamo il cibo in Italia.Grazie
Grazie! Questo è un commento che, come diciamo in inglese, “ci scalda il cuore.” Ci sentiamo molto soddisfatti che il video non è una distorsione della verità. Saluti!
Ah perché hai bisogno di farti spiegare come si va in trattoria tu?
@@gigieinaudi24 "...che riesce a spiegare a chi NON è italiano..."
@@tic-tacdrin-drinn1505 a volte alcuni italiani non sanno comprendere il testo che leggono.. è il grande problema di oggi
@@OurBigItalianAdventure come ho già scritto altrove questo è il miglior video su come mangiare italiano che ho mai visto....e.....vi prego...ricordate ai turisti di non ordinare in Italia cicken pizza o formaggio su piatti di pesce o ketchup su quelli di carne o sulla pizza o meatball spaghetti e di bere vino bianco coi piatti di pesce e vino rosso su quelli di carne e birra con la pizza e che oltre al Limoncello agli Amari al Mirto del contadino abbiamo la Grappa......il tipico superalcolico italiano. ancora complimenti sinceri
It is a pleasure to have you in our Country, as ambassadors of our culture. Thank you.
Grazie mille!
💐🥰
@roberta9833 👍
Do people really need to be told such simple things about how to behave and order food? How do you behave in USA?
No its not
I'm Italian and I tell you that you will never embarrass yourself if you try to speak Italian in Italy, people will appreciate your effort.
Thanks. I try to speak Italian 100%:of the time when I’m in Italy. Nearly everyone is tolerant, though many prefer to practice their English!
It's the same in Germany. As an American who lived in Germany for several years, any attempt on my part to speak German was met with appreciation, as well as a more than equal effort on their part to communicate in English.
@@OurBigItalianAdventure That was also my experience when in Italy.
👍
That wasn't my experience in Rome! They were somewhere between annoyed and disgusted! Of course I wouldn't generalise. I loved Italy and will be returning!
As an italian I think you are by far the most accurate youtuber in describing our country.
Wow! That makes us feel really good.
Concordo con gli altri italiani qui che apprezzano questo video fantastico, chiaro, accurato, utile e interessante. Grazie
Wow! Un gran complimento. Molto gradito.
Anche io, sono bravissimi ❤
@Unoduetrequattro340 Grazie! Molto apprezzato.
And do you know Naples?
Thank you@@OurBigItalianAdventure
I can’t say we know it, but we were there 5 days last January. Really enjoyed it.
I'm Italian. This is an excellent starting guide for a tourist.
Thanks! We appreciate it.
@@OurBigItalianAdventureItalian food is great
@AnetaMihaylova-d6f 👍
As an Italian I tell you that this is a very, very well done explanation. I recommend the "scarpetta" (scooping up the sauce or condiment from the plate with bread), it is something that is done, but it is not a very polite thing to do, it is absolutely not recommended in luxury restaurants or on formal occasions, such as a business lunch.
Good point about formal dinners and business. We could have mentioned that. We wanted to include it so visitors didn’t think Italians were being rude in a casual restaurant. In the US, it’s done, but much less often.
@@OurBigItalianAdventure yes the so-called "scarpetta" should never be done, in any type of pasta dish.. I personally have never done it, nor have I ever seen any other Italian do it.. perhaps in some regions, in some places it is a way of doing things.. it also depends on the type of people.
@luigivittorionasini3228 very interesting. I have seen it done with pasta. Maybe it’s a regional thing?
@@OurBigItalianAdventuremai fatta.
@@luigivittorionasini3228This seems a little excessive, I find way more disrespectful to waste some food than to use some bread to take some sauce. Do it if you want, most people wouldn’t blink an eye. If I remember correctly there’s a Michelin star restaurant where doing the scarpetta was part of the dish
Finalmente un video serio sulle abitudini e la cucina italiana, senza stereotipi o bufale.
Grazie! Molto apprezzato.
I'm italian, I know perfectly what's happening here where I live, and I still watching your wondeful videos. Who knows why... 😂 Maybe because I love to "see us" from a different point of view. Buon appetito!
Thanks! We’re glad to get “curious” viewers. In fact, we’re thinking of making some videos targeted at curiosities, comparing attitudes, beliefs, habits, etc. of Italians and Americans.
"Greetings from Italy! As an Italian, I must say this is one of the most accurate and precise videos I've ever seen about Italian food and how the restaurant system works in Italy. Compliments to the author for such a well-made and insightful piece!"
Thanks! That means a lot to us.
@OurBigItalianAdventure. Te lo meriti
Madam this video is fantastic! Nowadays some of those situations has became a running joke on the internet, but it's really beautiful seeing a polite and kind Lady explain with such a well crafted video why stuff is the way it is in Italy.
You even know the Pisa salt story, that it's not well known in Italy outside Toscana.
Good job Madame!
Thanks! We appreciate your kind comment.
Instead of paying your bill at the table, you can also pay by heading to the counter. This metod is preferred if you wish to split the bills, as it makes it easier for the restaurant to do. It is also used as a way of "sneakily" pay the entire bill without having to argue for it
I would say it's way more common too.
Yes. It’s often more convenient and faster at the cassa, but for Americans that’s usually the practice only in casual breakfast or lunch restaurants. Between needing to ask for the conto and go to the cassa, I can see people waiting at the table forever!
My observation, too, especially in smaller places. It’s faster and easier for everyone.
@@OurBigItalianAdventure by the way, I love your videos, even if I'm Italian and I already know pretty much all about the subject, I find your content very interesting and entertaining. You're a lovely couple, I wish you the best
@cranci Thanks! We appreciate it.
As an Italian, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for your video. It accurately captures and represents our behavior in a respectful manner. Thank you very much for your efforts.❤ Ciao!
Thanks for the compliment and the validation of our content!
I have to agree with most if the comments: as an Italian I can say that your video is very accurate and I would say very useful to people visiting Italy from other Countries. 🙂
Thanks! It’s great to hear and much appreciated.
As an Italian, I have to congratulate you on this video. I'm very intrigued to see how foreigners approach explaining our way of life, and this is probably one of the clearest and most accurate representations one can find. The historical insights are also very well-done and absolutely accurate. Good job!
When things are done more out of love than for business, it really shows!
Thanks! We appreciate the kind words. We do do it out of love.
I have to agree with Ilaria, you have done a really good job of describing how to eat in Italy. But please above all, enjoy our country and our food, we love sharing it with the world.
Thanks for both things. We really appreciate it.
Brava Signora. Questo è il miglior video sulle abitudini culinarie degli italiani, veramente molto accurato e rispettoso verso la nostra cultura. Grazie!
Grazie! Molto apprezzato.
This is the most comprehensive Italian food do/don't lists I've ever seen. Well done!
Wow! That makes us feel good.
the best simple, straightforward presentation (without the hype) of how it is in Italy, Grazie Grazie
Grazie a Lei!
What I appreciate in Italy is their accommodation of those of us with gluten issues. Every place we went to it wasn’t a problem! We’re spending 3 weeks in Genova very soon and can’t wait to return.
Yes, they are very adaptable to gluten. Enjoy your trip.
È stato un piacere sentirti parlare di noi in questo modo così equilibrato
Grazie per la tua cordialità, cara Signora dalla bella lingua inglese/americana.
Ti ringraziamo. È veramente un piacere parlare di Italia e gli italiani.
Che gentile signora !❤
@lucianatrambaglio4881 Parlando come il marito, sono d’accordo!
Absolutely the most accurate videos about Italy I have ever seen over the internet. And very enjoyable too. Complimenti!!!
Wow! That’s high praise. Thanks!
make "Scarpetta", in many case and Regions, especially in the more affordable Trattorias and Restaurants, means making Chefs and Waiters understand that the food was appreciated. Normally is a good use
Good to know! Thanks.
Italian here: very informative!
Consider that according to Italian laws you have specific rights as a customer of a restaurant.
For instance, all dishes should have a price, if they have a board with the "speciality of the day" or the waiter tells you the additional dishes, make sure you know the price, especially in touristic areas.
Dishes made with frozen ingredients must be indicated, like in the menu you showed in the video.
While "scarpetta" is accepted in trattorias and it should be not made in hi-end restaurants, it is often recognized as an appreciation of the dish, as a way to tell the restaurant "I like it very much!". That said, especially if you are a foreigner, if you like a dish and you want to do a scarpetta, go for it and the hell the bon-ton! 🙂
If you go in non-touristic locations or outside the main touristic routes, it is not uncommon even for Italians to chat with the waiter: ask for local specialities, tell them if you have allergies/intolerances, tell them if you want to try local dishes, they will guide you.
Great info! Thanks.
Well said!
What an incredible video! Packed with amazing info. Thanks a lot.
Thanks! We appreciate it.
I’m an expat living in Liguria for 29 years, married to an Italian.
Complimenti on your video as it is clear, concise and for the most part accurate.
Where we disagree is regarding tipping. If you experience good service for a sit down meal, a 10% gratuity is appropriate and much appreciated by your server.
While they get a salary, it is quite low, on average a 1000€ or less per month.
Times are changing and evolving and do should our ideas on tipping in Italy.
Looking forward to following you.
Yes, I’m all for servers making more money. I would like the restaurants to just raise their prices a couple of percent, rather than encouraging a tipping culture. Tipping in the US has gotten out of hand.
@@OurBigItalianAdventureA great man once said "I don't believe in tipping." 😂
@danbelle Was it you? 😉
@@OurBigItalianAdventurenon abbiamo la cultura delle mance e se andiamo all’estero rischiamo di fare brutte figure se non ci viene in mente
Sì. Ho sentito che è uno shock per uno straniero quando deve pagare il conto. Le tasse e la mancia.
Perfetto! Davvero null'altro da aggiungere, bravissima :)
Ti ringraziamo! Davvero un commento da ricordare per noi.
Questo vlog e' fantastico! I've been to Italian four times and I still learned something. I love how you cover every little thing and also how you give some history (such as "coperto"). A lot of effort went into this vlog and I appreciate it. Grazie mille!
Thanks! We appreciate it.
I'm italian and i live in Italy, your analisys it's very accurate!
Good job. 👍
One thing: Trattorie and Osterie have usually bigger portions and sometimes food it's better than in expensive restaurants. 😉
Thank!
Great points about trattorie e osterie.
Another excellent video.
One thing I have seen on mainly American posts is that people think they’ve been scammed because the price they had to pay was not the price on the menu .
When selling fish , in particular , they obviously come in different sizes and what you see on the menu is price per letto . This is 100 g .
For fresh fish and sometimes meat , the restaurant obviously buys by weight and so they sell by weight as well.
Yes. I can bet that the price per etto is a source of confusion. That’s not a common US practice, though fish is often listed as “market price”, where you have to ask.
As an Italian i must say you explained it very well, just a few things 1)a few restaurant they have two service shifts and when you book especially by phone but also on line if you ask for a table at 8pm for example they will inform you that they have a shift at 7.30 and another at 21.30 2)some restaurant especially the most touristic in bigger cities they do not close in the afternoon, they may serve you from 12am to 11pm continuosly 3)Coperto in the past when textile tablecloth and napkins were used covered also the expenses for washing them 4)we do not eat bread with pasta dishes, just doing scarpetta is okay in general but in a very formal restaurnat is not 5)Pepperoni is not used in Italy but you can find in many places pizza with "Salamino piccante" which is very similar and with "'Nduja" a typical Calabrian spreadable sausage with a soft consistency and very spicy taste(and if I may dare both are better than Pepperoni).Thx again for your video spreading our vast and valuable food culture in the world and by the way I recognised several places in my hometown Firenze (Florence).
Thanks for the compliment and the good additional info. We were going to say, “salame piccante”, but we feared it wasn’t right, so we cut it out. Now I know we were close!
Actually both "salamino piccante" and "salame piccante" are correct! Basically it's a matter of diameter, salamino is smaller!
Thank you so much for creating these very informative videos. We are going to Italy in May for our anniversary, #39. This is our first time going to Italy, and your videos are extremely helpful. Thanks again or should we say Grazie !!
Prego. (You’re welcome.) spero che avrete un viaggio stupendo. ( I hope you have a great trip.)
Davvero brava... Complimenti ! Only one thing... Agriturismi fuori dalle città! Difficili da trovare per i turisti, ma generalmente si trovano prodotti coltivati/allevati direttamente da loro ! 😊
Grazie! Siamo d’accordo sugli agriturismi. Abbiamo trascorso molti belli giorni (e alcune cene fantastici) in agriturismi. Magari un argomento per un futuro video.
@@OurBigItalianAdventureAnd also something about “vineria”, a wine bar where you can choose your wine by the glass or by the bottle with appetisers or full dishes, or to drink wine for an aperitivo. For wine connoisseurs.
Brava signora lei ha spiegato perfettamente le nostre abitudini italiane. Complimenti.
Grazie! Molto apprezzato.
As Italian, even if there are some mistakes and misspelled words, thanks for clarifying such important things in our culture for the American audience. And it makes me think that we are so lucky to live in Italy because, among the other things, of the way we enjoy food, meals and life.
I can see the effort and work you out to create this video. Thanks
Thanks! We are happy you could give us a positive route review despite our mistakes and mispronunciations.
You might find it interesting to know that one of the more difficult things to get right when speaking is one of the most simple in theory. That’s the agreement of nouns, adjectives, and articles in gender and number. It’s easy to get in the middle of a sentence and not remember either the gender of a noun or which noun you’ve already used and what form of the adjective is needed!
Congrats, I'm really impressed!!!!!!!! A perfect explanation. E' bellissimo vedere come veramente avete capito tanto della cultura italiana. Quando vedo in giro su you tube dei video di consigli per gli stranieri, sono tutti così distanti dalla realtà (nel bene e nel male). Tutti i vostri consigli sono sempre molto utili per chi non conosce il nostro paese, e magari si aspetta delle cose diverse dalla realtà. E' anche bene informare delle cose negative, perchè ce ne sono, così come ce ne sono per tutti i popoli della Terra.... ma soprattutto è importante fare capire perchè esistono delle tradizioni, che risalgono a tempi passati, ed è la prima volta che vedo una spiegazione simile e così esauriente in un video. Cercare di far capire all'estero perchè ogni regione, o addirittura ogni paesino confinante ha delle tradizioni differenti, credo sia una impresa ardua... già far capire che NON esiste SOLO la pasta o la pizza, ma che abbiamo talmente tanti piatti di carne e di pesce, e soprattutto di verdure, è difficilissimo. Ah, una cosa: quando non si pagava con la carta di credito, ma solo in contanti, (15 o 20 anni fà) e si era un gruppo di amici, si divideva il conto tra tutti "alla romana", e ciascuno metteva la sua quota sul tavolo.
Grazie! Una cosa difficile per noi è cercare di spiegare “Italia” agli stranieri senza essere costretto a ridurre le differenze fra i regioni e paesi. È un atto di equilibrio. Vogliamo evitare gli stereotipi ma presentare un senso generale per i visitatori. Saluti!
Fra le persone civili si paga ancora alla romana Se si paga singolarmente con la Express è giusto che ti facciano pagare di più per le commissioni ed il tempo perso.
Perfect! Just one tip: we usually say: "Dove sono i servizi" ? or "Dove è la toilette"? instead of "bagno", we say "bagno" when we are at home.
Thanks. Yeah, I’ve always been uncertain about the word to use.
"Dov'è il bagno?" is totally correct!
Grazie!
This gentle lady speaks the truth. The information contained in this video are 100% true and accurate. I really appreciated the lil history lesson too. I really enjoyed how detailed this video is! Your love for Italy it's cristal clear :)
Thanks! We appreciate it. It’s a wonderful country in many ways, though not without its frustrations - just like everyplace else. These days, I’m much more frustrated with the US than I am with Italy! Dio ci aiuti!
@@OurBigItalianAdventure Is your source of frustration orange coloured? 😉
@banmadabon Assolutamente. E a dir la verità, è molto più di frustrazione. È una sincera paura per il futuro del nostro paese.
@@OurBigItalianAdventure We survived Berlusconi so...🙂
@banmadabon I fear Berlusconi is like child’s play to Trump. The US president can affect so many things worldwide. Plus, as far as I know, Berlusconi never incited a riot to try to stay in power as Trump did. He has wrecked our social fabric and ruined trust in institutions and each other.
embarrass yourself, and make lots of mistakes, that is how you learn, and most people are happy to help you learn. great video straight up
Great advice and thanks!
You have well said that tap water is almost everywhere drinkable, thank you so much ! Your word counts, for many people are going to take your word for true.
Let me add a curiosity about water in Rome, my town; tap water is checked more than 50 times every week by a dedicated lab located next to the Piramide in Ostiense district and therefore public fountains including the monument fountains are all part of the same safe water network, sometimes even offering mineral quality, digestive water. Congratulations for your steady progress in Italian as well as for your very honest account! Great job!
Interesting. Thanks!
I'm Italian and live in Italy, and this is the most accurate video on Italy's restaurant rules I've ever seen. It does really cut all the myths and the nonsense. Good job! A could of points. First, the most important rule and the one you should really strive to follow is #2. Please don't sit on the first available table when entering an Italian restaurant or trattoria. It's okay on bars, particularly on dehors, but limit it to those. Sitting straight away at a free table in an Italian restaurant without first asking someone on the staff where to sit is considered really poor manners and a sign you're a clueless tourist. The other thing is about restaurant types. The difference between "ristorante" and "trattoria" was a big one until a few decades ago. Now, posh restaurants love to style themselves as "trattoria" to show some air of authenticity. In general, the rule I follow is - if it's a touristy spot, don't worry about the "trattoria" sign; it's just another restaurant. However, if you're away (even slightly) from the tourist spot and you see the parking lot all packed with cars with local license plates, go for it. The rule "avoid the seaside, look for the immediate interior" is almost infallibly true for places like Liguria or the middle to lower Adriatic coast, but works almost everywhere. Italy works like this - you aim for the most forgotten mountain village you can ever imagine, you find a small and apparently modest "trattoria" in the middle of abandoned houses, and you discover the Pope used to go dining there (I'm not joking)
Thanks for the compliment. And for the great explanation and story. Those popes like to show up in unexpected places.
Hi, I'm Italian and I really appreciate your videos. This one is perfect, except for just one little thing. Many bars in Italy offer affordable meals at lunch. That's all. 😍
Interesting. I’ve never noticed that. I’ll need to look more closely.
@@OurBigItalianAdventure And also, our pubs offer meals for dinner. I usually have dinner in a big pub where you can eat a lot of different things, pizza, meat, fish, pasta, salad, hamburgers, everything. 👋
@alan12de good point. Thanks.
Thanks for sharing. A good explanation.
Great empathy with Italian habits. Bravissimi! 😊
Thanks! We appreciate it.
I'm almost moved to tears by how respectful, informed and clear this video is.
Ps. You can ask for tap water in a restaurant, they'll charge you less
Grazie!
Se venite a Venezia sono felice di ospitarvi e guidarvi nella vostra gita.
Siete molto carini.
Bravi
Grazie. Molto apprezzato.
Spot on!
The biggest cultural difference I think it's the tip (and I made myself bad impressions abroad ☺).
We leave nothing if paying with credit cards, and sometimes we leave someeuros just to round the sum and pay with whole banknotes, without having to carry change coins in the pocket.
Thanks! It’s a perennial topic for us, since tipping is so pervasive in the US. I know Italians who have come to America and saw a dish priced at $20 on the menu, and when they get the bill, there’s a 5-10% tax added, plus the expected 20% tip, so the $20 become almost $30!
Good explanation of lots of things which are obvious to an Italian resident but perhaps mysterious for a visitor or tourist.
Thanks! Every country has its own interesting habits with interesting histories.
Rarely seen such a thorough description of an essential topic for every visitor.
I was a skinny kid who'd been studying in France when I got invited to Milan for Easter. First time in my life that I put on weight.
The food was so fabulous. I had to taste everything, including the street vendors' offerings between meals.
At the end of 10 days, I had to suck in my stomach and tug on the waistband to button my pants. One of my best memories.
Thanks! We appreciate it.
Great story! The waistband problem in Italy is real.
Nice and accurate vid, kudos! As for round pizza size, some places in Rome offer "normal" and "giant". An old Italian proverb says "A tavola non si invecchia" (at table people don't get older), but bad habit of hurrying customers is common mostly at "all you can eat" places.
Just for you liking old stories: 1) in Italy, pouring someone a drink by holding the bottle with the palm of your hand facing up and the back of your hand facing down is considered rude due the ancient use of poison rings☠
2) An Italian verb for "to frame", "to scam" is INFINOCCHIARE (literally, DRESSING WITH FENNEL): its bulbs, previously eaten, can (and were used by dishonest innkeepers to) hide the taste of bad wine, and fruits to "fix" rancid meat...
That’s excellent information. I love to keep learning about Italy and modi da dire are always fun to know.
In tuscany finocchiona is a salame with fennel, also sausages have it there but fortunately they are not framing you and are excellent quality . Also sicily sausages can have it and there is a liquor too. But is true about infinocchiare
@@anarres1400 My fault, being myself a fan of finocchiona salami and fennel raw bulbs dipped in olive oil, salt and pepper (this sausage is called PINZIMONIO in Italian and CAZZIMPERIO in Rome's dialect) I had to be more precise
I'm very happy to find this video! You are clear and accurate. Very helpful.
Grazie!
Thank you so much for your clear, concise and useful information. Love your posts❤
Thanks! We appreciate it.
Perfect and useful explanation. Very clear. Thanks.
Thanks! We appreciate it.
Bravissima veramente!!!!❤
Grazie! Molto gentile.
your video is a real treasure !
we have to say that the quality of the food is better if you avoid the big cities.
Thanks! I agree about the quality. And the prices, too.
Brava! Good job!
Thanks! We appreciate it.
Just one addition to your very exhaustive and very correct and clear explanation: not all bars are open all day long: most bars close in the evening, around 19:00-19:30, so they are good for a quick bite at lunch or an aperitivo pre-dinner, or a tea break in the afternoon, but not for dinner.
Another clarification: a "tavola calda" (hot table) caters to working people, so it is also usually open just until 19:00, but if you go there after lunch hours probably you won't find all the variety of dishes you can find at lunch hours, most of all because they would be entirely consumed by all the people eating at lunch and usually they're not cooking in the afternoon, exactly because they're not open at dinner.
I would add also that, if you're not interested in eating "typical" italian dishes and you need to eat out of typical lunch or dinner hours, there are also a lot of american-style "fast food", mainly MacDonald, Burger King and KFC, and also a lot of "bangla-style" fast-food (mainly Chicken Hut and Broast, but there are many different franchises) or "japan style" fast food (Sushiko) where you can eat fried chicken and hamburgers, but also kebab, chicken biryani, sushi, tempura, etc.: they're usually open all day long and they can serve food at any hour. Italian street food places (like pizzerias where you buy pizza by the slice or like "paninerie" or the ubiquitous "trapizzini") are also open and serve food all day long (not at dinner, though).
All,excellent points. I hope many of our viewers read them.
Sono un cameriere italiano, complimenti video davvero molto ben fatto, ottimi consigli e aneddoti molto interessanti
Grazie! È davvero un onore ricevere un commento come questo da un cameriere. Saluti!
I am italian and I must say that I seldom understood a whole english/american video as good as this time. A part the fact that you are very clear I apreciate how accurate your explanations are. I have been in the USA several times and as your food customs are very different I think that every american tourist should inform himself about the italian customs befor starting to visit Italy. This will make your visit even more interesting and probably also cheaper. So thank you for your effort and have a nice day.
Thanks! We appreciate such a supportive comment.
As an Italian this in 99% accurate... But 1 pizza is for 1 person no doubt about it 😂😂
One size pizza is an unusual concept for most Americans.
@@gerardinapanceri4013 in America mangiano qualche pezzo a testa quindi una pizza la dividono in più persone... Però credo che le loro pizze intere siano più grandi delle nostre
Di solito è possibile ordinare una pizza in molte misure: small/piccola per una persona, medium/media per 2-3, large/grande per 3-4-5, extra large/super grande per 5-6.
Inoltre, a Chicago c’è la pizza “deep dish” in cui ci sono più sugo ed ingredienti, è pizza “stuffed”, con due livelli.
Thank you ….That is how I know my beloved Italian…..Grazie Mille
Thanks! We appreciate it.
The scarpetta is not elegant, but it’s the right thing to do!
👍
I did like this video, it s very accurate. I m Italian from Bologna but I live in Tuscany close to Livorno coast, I could add that the tasteless bred (very true, it is) is really good with salt and olio nuovo, the oil that every November comes from olives trees very common in this area. Sometimes we use to have degustazione with friends.
I learned myself to love it with time.
@betsy1789 We have a few olive trees and I concur that bread is better with the oil, especially fresh-pressed oil.
In nord Italia non si dice scarpetta ma “tociare” o almeno qui nel nord-est.
@@MrBubu1370 torciare è una forma dialettale, scarpetta è italiano " 2. Con sign. partic. nella locuz. fig. fam. fare la s., raccogliere il sugo rimasto nel piatto passandovi un pezzetto di pane infilzato nella forchetta, o più comunem. tenuto tra le dita." fonte Treccani
Thank you so much for this video! I’m planning a solo trip to Italy, and this was incredibly helpful. Grazie Mille
Thanks! We appreciate it. Glad it’s helpful.
lol everyone here in Italy claims that drinking "digestive" after dinner really helps digest while we all know very well that it's just an excuse to keep drinking!
I love it! You’re right.
And what is the problem in piccolo digestivo
@@jugoslavnamljidjiu9021 the problem is that one is not enough, for that it is better when the waiter leaves the bottle on the table, that's how you understand that you have come to the right place!
going to Rome this May for the Jubilee , thank you, its so informative.
Thanks! We appreciate it. Have a great trip.
Most Americans know exactly how to order food in Italy. Americans all say the same thing…”we want two cheeseburgers with fries and a Diet Coke”.
Do you want large fries with that?
lol
@boaslange 👍
I lived in Italy for three months and can honestly say that this is spot on! A great guide for people visiting Italy for the first time, although I would say that, in my experience, at restaurants I didn't normally see a cover charge - this might depend on the region/city/town you are in.
Thanks! We appreciate it.
The main meal is not the second, is the first .....simple.
Interesting. I never would have thought that. Thanks for letting us know.
@@OurBigItalianAdventure yes, usually when we have lunch and do not have enough time, we just eat a primo (pasta), not a second, so pasta is the main course for us.
@lucagarofani-ow8cl Aha! That makes sense.
sapete che vi dico!!! mi e' venuta fame🤤😜
buon appetito a tutti✌
Grazie! E ci dispiace aver creato fame!
I would say that the part about the chalkboard isn’t necessarily true, plenty of restaurants use those but don’t change the menu. And the fact that is both in English and Italian is more or less the norm, it’s not a marker of less authentic, on the contrary, really good (and pricy) restaurants all have both languages or two menus, one for each language (even more depending on the area).
Also, about vino della casa, it’s always the worst wine the restaurant has to offer, this doesn’t mean it can’t be ok, but don’t expect something particularly good
Good points. Thanks.
@@OurBigItalianAdventureil vino della casa conviene assaggiarlo, a volte è buonissimo e conveniente.
If the house wine is bad the meal will be even worse. Enough said.
Good point. Correlation makes sense. Thanks for the comment!
Very authentic, clear and precise explanation. Complimenti!
Grazie! Molto apprezzato.
I've only been abroad once, 1983 my honeymoon in Rome. It was divine and the dining an amazing experience. Our best meal was grilled fish at a seaside restaurant recommended to us by a friend who lived in Rome. We tried all the different types of eateries- none disappointed. I loved Rome.
Thanks for sharing your memories...I hope you are able to get back there one day.
I'm Italian myself and I couldn't have explained anything in this video better than you did. I hope I'll see you around one of these days!
You’re very kind. Maybe we’ll have that chance meeting. Thanks for the comment!
A lot of these points aren’t really Italian, they’re more rest of the world versus America lol. This is an excellent analysis of the cultural differences. The thing I’d say is don’t worry about getting it wrong, it’s Italy, it’s friendly, casual, non judgemental, they have a sense of humour. Life is an adventure, they know that, they appreciate that you love their culture but are not au fait with it.
Good point! Italians are very tolerant of our faux pas. No one has ever been snarky or rude to us when we mess up!
Well said!
Buongiorno signora! Prima di tutto mi unisco ai complimenti dei miei connazionali e ai ringraziamenti per questo fantastico e serio video che spiega finalmente in maniera reale, la nostra tradizione. Ma anche ironicamente mi fa pensare ad una sorta di contrapposizione tra noi italiani che apprezziamo e lo stupore dei suoi connazionali che si staranno chiedendo perché non hanno visto spaghetti con meatballs, pizze con "pepperoni", linguine Alfredo, lasagna mattina, mezzogiorno e sera, mozzarelle sparse qua e la, mandolini, fisarmoniche e persone di tutte le età con la pancia enorme che gesticolano con atteggiamenti da malavitosi!😂 ..per cui, ancora una volta, grazie. Per noi questo rappresenta la realtà. Per molti, dovrebbe essere un documentario.
Grazie per i complimenti! Molto apprezzati.
Stiamo lavorando sul video che discute, con altre cose, i cibi italo-americani che hai menzionato. È una sorpresa grande per molti che “spaghetti and meatballs” non è incluso in ogni menù.
A proposito della pancia, sfortunatamente, questa è diventata un simbolo di noi. Mangiamo troppi cibi pieni di carboidrati.
Non abbiamo mai pensato di poter produrre un documentario!
A thorough lesson in civilisation! I’m tempted to suggest, just one rule: respect, relax, enjoy. (I know that sounds like three, but it’s just one, really)
Yes. You have put it well. Thanks!
Thank you so much! Planning our first trip to Italy this fall and I took so many notes.
Thanks! We appreciate it. Have a great trip.
This video was so informative! Thank you for the vocabulary lessons- I feel way less intimidated now!
Thanks! We appreciate it. Enjoy your trip!
Excellent video; very relevant and accurate content
Thanks! We appreciate it.
Bravissima, tutto ineccepibile! Excellent ambassador of our culture, so informed.
Grazie! Molto apprezzato.
I listen very carefully to learn English. You speak slowly and I can understand everything. Grazie 🙏 mille! 😊💐🥰
Thanks! We’re glad it was helpful.
Come italiana sono contenta del vostro gradimento e rispetto verso la nostra cultura. Grazie 🙏💗🌟
Grazie! Molto apprezzato.
As italian I appreciate the accuracy of the video.
Only two little considerations:
- in the video you use a piece of bread to help you to "move" the pasta to the fork in your hand. In Italy we don't do it with pasta, never.
- the spritz is not only "aperol" spritz that's the most commercial and it's the less traditional in the region (Veneto) where it comes from.
Thanks! We appreciate it.
Very interesting about the bread. I’m sure I’ve seen it done, but maybe those times were outliers.
We simplified “spritz’ to Aperol for our US viewers, who might know the term but not know “spritz” by itself.
Original spritz is with campari , aperol now owned by campari company is more for women taste not macho alpha lol
@anarres1400 d’accordo.
As an Italian from Sicily, I must say that this video is 100% accurate!
Thanks! We appreciate it.
well explained, great kind delivery!!!
Thanks! We appreciate it.
Your videos are great. As someone who spends a great deal of time in Italy, I think they're pretty accurate. I will say that it's probably a little more polite to ask for the gabinetto rather than the bagno. It's like asking for the restroom as opposed to the bathroom.
I wouldn't say so. You can ask for the toilette, though.
Thanks. It might be regional. We usually hear “bagno”.
Toilette is an option, for sure.
That was so informative- Thank you!
Thanks! We appreciate it.
Ma daiii!! La tua spiegazione è perfetta❤
You talked about our culture, and about eating out, everything was perfectly explained, I'm really thankful.
I've subscribed immediately.
Greetings from Rome 💐
Grazie! Molto apprezzato. Speriamo che i prossimi video ti soddisfino allo stesso livello!
Saluti da South Carolina.
Certaldo Alto is home to one of the best authentic Italian cooking experiences - Cucina Giuseppina! As a bonus - the views from her cooking school are stunning 🙌🏼
Thanks! We’ll check it out.
Brilliant! Thank you.
Thanks! We appreciate it.
I find your video accurate and entertaining. Few comments. Saltless bread is tipically from Tuscany, which is actually in central Italy. One of the best food would be Tuscan saltless bread and salty cured ham. The only time Italians rush their food is at lunch break. Waiters get their salary so a tip is an additional income, always welcome though not compulsory. The round pizza is normally for one person, while cut pizza can be generally of any size. For round pizza, sometimes you can get it thick and softer (Neapolitan type) or thin and crunchier (Roman style). Up to your taste. Last advice: look for the local food. In Milan is risotto (rice), in Turin boiled meats with sauces and truffles, in all the north polenta (kind of corn porridge) with meats. And try the local varieties of cheeses. Though you can find carbonara in all places, that is tipically from Rome. Enjoy.
Thanks for the nice words and all the details. Very useful.
Thanks so much for this. Going to Italy soon and can’t wait to soak it all in. This seems like a fantastic video as the general flow is quite different from we in the USA are used to.
Thanks! We appreciate it. Enjoy your trip. Especially the food and wine!
This is probably the best video about restaurants in Italy!
If I may add my 2 cents:
1. Insalata (salad) as a side dish is really small and can be ordered before any other dish. There are 2 options: only lettuce or with some veggies, usually tomatoes.
Often one can find a salad as a main dish. In this case it is called INSALATONA and there is a description of the ingredients.
One should remember:
In Italy there are no "sauces". You get Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar (not always of the best quality but better than industrial mayo...).
2. Pizza can be easily eaten with the hands dividing it before into triangled slices. I personally always ask my pizza to be served already cut in 8 slices. No problems with that.
Peperoni Pizza does exist: one should ask for SALAME PICANTE.
In most of the "Trattorias" there are "set menus" including 1st,2nd and side dish + water + wine for a very convinient price.
Always reccomended!
4. If you see/hear italians eat in the place it is probably good.
Buon appetito
These are good additions! Thank you!
By far the most accurate video how deal in Italy with food! ❤
Wow! Thanks! We appreciate it.
This video was so good! It was well paced and I feel more confident about my upcoming trip to Italy. ❤
Thanks! We appreciate it. Enjoy your trip!
I really enjoyed your video. Great job.
Thanks so much!
Such a great video. Thank you. Will be back to Italy in a few months. FYI….You don’t have to screenshot the menu you can use your phone to actually read it with Google translate in real time.
Good information! Thanks for sharing it.
Very enjoyable!
A quick trick to spot expensive restaurants at a glance is to look at napkins: if they have fabric napkins, you're probably gonna pay a salty bill (un conto salato); if they have paper napkins, you'll probably pay a more moderate price. If the waiters are all dressed up, you might wanna check your balance before steppin' in 😀
Another trick: if you wanna ask for your bill, but the waiter is far from you, get in eye contact with him/her and perform the correct gesture: lift your open left hand, keeping it horizontal; with your right thumb and index finger tips joined, mime as if you were writing something on the palm of your left hand, smiling and optionally raising your eyebrows. Try this out (but not in super elegant restaurants) 🙂
One final word: feel free to eat pizza with your bare hands. You're actually expected to do so, and it will even taste much better 🙂
Thanks! Valuable clarifications.
Just to add: if you are in a business environment, they will split your bill without problem: you go up to the cashdesk and list what you order, they will make you a personal bill. I mean office/commercial areas, where typically people will go with colleagues to have their lunch break, or trattorie that offer "work lunch menu". Otherwise, as you explained, it is correct.
Makes sense! Thanks for pointing that out.