Delicious Italian food is an art but eating it correctly is too, that’s why today we want to explain to you about etiquette and protocol in Italy. For that when you go to your favorite Italian restaurant savor a good plate of spaghetti in the correct way, as dictated by the italian protocol.
Because the Italian culture is one of the most jealous with respect to the manners and rules that must be followed at the table. But none of this should worry you, because we will give you some good tips so that you are up to the task, even if you share a table with real Italians.
So, stay with us until the end of this article and become an expert in compliance with italian restaurant etiquette. Let’s go there!
What etiquette to follow in Italian restaurants interesting facts!
The rules dictated by Italian etiquette when consuming their exquisite dishes in a restaurant, they are very punctual.
Take note! We detail it below:
How to eat spaghetti
Italians are very traditional people, and even the way of eating the famous spaghetti is already a deep-rooted custom. That is why you will never see an Italian use a fork and spoon to consume pasta. Here are some tips on how to eat pasta like italians do:
- Place your fork on the pasta plate and begin to roll up a small portion of spaghetti. To roll them you must always turn the fork clockwise.
- It is important that do not stick your fork in the center of the plate to roll up the pasta bites. Because in the center there is usually a greater amount of food and it is most likely that an exaggerated amount of pasta will be rolled up.
- It is advisable that you select the portions of pasta, always from the edges of the plate. grabbing moderate amounts, that you can easily put in your mouth.
- So that the portions that will be rolled up are not exaggerated, it will suffice to take a few spaghetti with a fork and separate them from the rest before rolling them.
- Make sure that all the strings of pasta are wrapped around the fork, and that they are not hanging. well it is very frowned upon to cut these strands of pasta with your teeth, so that they fall back onto the plate. And much less absorb them until they fully enter the mouth.
- Do not even think about cutting the pasta with the knife or with the fork itself. Just never chop it up. The Italians don’t break the dough not even when cooking it.
- Finally, enjoy your plate, eating slowly, like this you will avoid small accidents such as sauce spills or drips on your clothes.
Parmesan cheese, what you should not do
Another important detail when eating italy food, is that they never add Parmesan cheese to recipes that contain fish or shellfish. In fact, they don’t even add cheese to the “fruit of the sea” pizza, since, as its name indicates, it contains marine products.
So if you’re at an Italian restaurant and order a succulent stewed fish fillet, don’t add Parmesan cheese.
What to do with leftover sauce
If you go to any restaurant, you would certainly never clean up your plate residue using a piece of bread, and if you do you risk criticism. But when it comes to an Italian restaurant, things are different.
In Italy, consuming the remains of sauce that remain on the plate after consuming the pasta, collecting it with a piece of bread, is well seen. Even this action is a compliment or tribute to the chef, as it indicates that you loved the preparation.
coffee after dessert
It is a deep-rooted custom in Italy to ask for a good cup of coffee after having savored the food and the dessert. It is usually espresso but it can also be a creamy cappuccino.
For this reason, in Italy coffee is not consumed after ten in the morning. Since lunch time is approaching and therefore the obligatory cup of coffee after lunch.
Eat fruit with cutlery
Other usual custom of etiquette in Italy is to consume the fruits with cutlery. So you should use the knife and fork to chop the fruits before eating them. That is, cut them little by little, as you consume them and never chop them completely from the beginning.
Although, when it comes to grapes, cherries or tangerines, then it is correct to take them with your hands to bring them to your mouth.
Don’t ask for children’s menu
If you are accompanied by your small children to an Italian restaurant, do not waste time asking the waiter for the children’s menu. It turns out that in Italy, they don’t have this deference to their bambinos or children.
Children eat the same dishes as their parents. A good way for Italians to familiarize the little ones with their traditional dishes.
Italian table manners
In Italy as in any other part of the world, manners are signs of good manners.
Therefore, good manners are a fundamental part of label in italyso we have included them to make this article more complete:
- If you have been invited to eat, don’t sit at the table before the host does.
- The same rule is followed to start eating. Namely, don’t start eating before the host does.
- At the time of use the cutlery, grab them in the oriental style, that is, the knife with the right and the fork with the left. Although doing it the other way is not an offense, it will make a difference.
- while you eat, don’t put your elbows on the table.
- Also, you must keep your hands on the table while you eat and do not place them on your lap or legs.
- Uses knife and fork to cut and eat the fruits and cheese, doing it with your fingers is rude. Only grapes, cherries and tangerines can be eaten directly with the fingers.
- If you are at a table with several diners, avoid rubbing your elbows against people sitting next to you Try to keep your elbows close to your body.
- When you have finished eating, place the cutlery diagonally on the plate. This is the way to indicate that you finished eating and that they can remove the plate.
- You can only leave the table until the host does. So Wait for him to get up so you can leave.
Now that you know all the etiquettes to follow in italian restaurantsyou are ready to go and enjoy their best recipes.
Luckily, you don’t have to travel to Italy to do this, as Spain is full of excellent restaurants specializing in this type of food.