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
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
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 !!
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 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!
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.
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...
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.
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. 😉
What a wonderful detailed video! Thank you. We don't drink alcohol, & we take our large filtered water bottles with us. We never order or pay for water. I enjoyed the little history stories linked to the food!
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.
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.
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).
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!
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. 👋
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.
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.
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.
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.
Please, if at the end of the meal you want a coffee with some milk ask for a macchiato (caldo with frothy milk and freddo with cold milk), it isn't a problem, plenty of Italians do it.
You can try to ask if they can do separate checks, it'll depend on your luck but it's becaming much more common (when I go out with friends we almost always ask for separate checks nowaydas). You'll have much better odds in north italy than in the center/south and depending on the owner/staff it may be seen as something sligtly rude to ask but it's a totally legit question, screw them and don't be afraid to ask. Lovely video, very accurate!
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!
Great video! I disagree on separate checks in my own experience (I'm from the south), I almost never have problems with just paying my own food when I'm with friends and when it happens we tend to avoid those places, but I guess it depends on the type of restaurants you go to. Modern restaurants with younger staff shouldn't have any issue with it because they use tablets for the orders and the "cassa software" they use can handle it pretty easily, places with older staff still using paper for taking orders might find the process slow and complicated, or simply refuse because...that's the rule of the restaurant since forever. There is also the tradition/culture involved though, older people here rarely split bills because...it is/was seen as kinda unfriendly and a bit distasteful. If possible they prefer to just take turns on who's gonna pay that day as an act of courtesy, or simply collect the money at the table and then pay everything at once at the cashier. Young people however don't care, we're poor lol
For business trips, to obtain reimbursement for meal expenses, it is necessary to provide separate receipts for each diner. Therefore, it is becoming increasingly common to ask the cashier to split the bill.
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 video! I was shocked in the USA, people ask for cocktails and drink them with meal. I had a Piña colada, but they didnt wait for us to finish our aperitivi, and I was supposed to drink it while eating my ravioli ! Just terrible! So I decided that in US, I will only ask for wine as aperitif.
Unfortunately, even Italian restaurants (some of them) are starting to adopt a more "American style", to rush customers, with time slots for reservations, for example from 12pm to 2pm, where 2 hours is the maximum time to eat and stay at the table.
@@OurBigItalianAdventure Maybe it's because of the "lightness" of the Bolognese cuisine...If you are still seated after two hours they better check the pulse! (not dissing Bologna, I'm Bolognese, and a stroll under the magnificent portici will resuscitate you readily...)
@OurBigItalianAdventure la cucina di Bologna città ha una brutta fama fra gli italiani. Si è sempre mangiato male. Forse ora con il turismo è migliorata, ma lo lascio provare agli altri.
You made me lsugh so much about the thing to don't order pineapple pizza cauz it doesn't exist.So FKG true.I'm italian and i subscribe whole vid.Congratz.
I’m not so much worried about splitting the bill in half, thirds, etc. In the US, separate checks means every person’s meal is calculated separately: mine has a hamburger and fries, yours has a steak and some wine. It makes things very complicated.
Don't forget to take off your hat\baseball cap too... Well mannered Italian adults are perfectly capable to eat with a fork without the assistance of a piece of bread. Doing the scarpetta is ok almost everywhere, and in familiar restaurants or trattorias it's even considered a token of appreciation for the cook\chef, but in a "high class" or posh venue it is considered a "peasant move". Also doing the "switcheroo" with fork and knife (in Italian table manners, e.g. when you are eating a steak, you are expected to use the right for the knife and the left for the fork and when the piece of meat is cut you bring it to the mouth with the left/fork without doing the "switcheroo" ) is considered a childish move (not to talk about rolling the spaghetti inside a spoon...) A certain degree of latitude for the medium American tourist is however always left because of their different customs and because overall just yesterday we were a peasant people...
The thing about milk and coffee or cappuccino has to be debunked: it has been studied by doctors that to drink milk along with coffee helps out the synthetization of certain nutrients present into the coffee itself, and also none prevents you to order a cappuccino after 12 o'clock if you want to... But culturally it is a custom to have it in the morning, after waking up to go work... That sounds only "weird", than, if you order it after certain hours, but only for a cultural habit or point of view... Is more or less like to order a pineapple on pizza and such things... It is not used in Italy but maybe you find it good for you or for your tastes... Which differ from europeans or italian ones in particular...
Yes, we understood it was cultural and no scientific, but I’ve seen it arouse some passions among Italian. Now, where are you on the risk of going outside with wet hair? 😉
Just a little detail. Italy has a huge bread culture, countrwide. Tuscan bread is specifically bland and tasteless and it's enjoyed like that literally only in Tuscany and bsaically only by locals who are very proud of their traditions. Since Tuscany is a very popular location for foreign tourists, it's important to note that, but please do not take Tuscan bread as the standard of italian bread, because it's more like the (crappy) exception.
italian here: “vino della casa” is the worst wine you can order in an Italian restaurant because it is usually a cheap supermarket wine passed off as “from the area.” Never order “vino della casa” in Italy 🙂
Dipende da dove vivi, qui in Veneto ad esempio può essere molto buono perché ci sono delle cantine specializzate che riforniscono i ristoranti di vini della casa genuini ed accattivanti.
Excellent points. We will cover both of those things in a new video about what not to do in a restaurant in Italy, with suggestions of what to do. Probably out 3-4 weeks from now.
Don't worry about 'embarrassing yourself'. Just go and have a good time. The Italians already know that you don't speak the language. I know because I live here.
Non ho mai capito perché pagare il “coperto” sembra strano agli stranieri. Il costo per un ristoratore di lavare, stirare tovaglia e tovaglioli, il costo dei piatti, delle posate, dei bicchieri da lavare ogni volta, oltre il costo del pane (e talvolta dell’acqua, se viene offerta gratuitamente) è lo stesso sia che il cliente ordini un pranzo completo o una semplice insalata. Il prezzo di una semplice insalata non potrebbe compensare il costo. Quindi si applica un piccolo extra costo al conto, a prescindere dalla quantità di portate che uno ha ordinato. A me sembra logico
Hai ragione. È molto logico. Grazie! Ma per gli americani sembra strano, proprio con il nostro sistema di tasse e tipping che aggiornano 20-30% al prezzo di una cena è strano e forse noioso per gli italiani. Le differenze culturali.
Not totally true about pineapple pizza (hawaii), some pizzeria even has it on the menu 🤷♂ Much more difficult is having a pizza tropical (with bananas), but there was a pizzeria in Apulia who made it for me "off the menu" (I just ask, I don't care what they think) 😂
Minute 5 more or less... Beware with that oil or winegar and its small cardboard attached!!! It ended up into your salad and it could have been touched by thousands of people!!! Not so much hygienic... Just keep it with an hand when you drop it into your salad; so to avoid contamination!!!
I noticed that, too, as I was finishing the video. I looked for a clip to substitute, but couldn’t find one and just hoped it wouldn’t get noticed. But you caught me!
I would say that given the stratospheric offer of places where you can eat in Italy what you have done is a minimum vocabulary to understand each other with the waiter, the quality of the dishes however is another thing and I doubt that a foreign tourist will ever understand it!
@@OurBigItalianAdventure I can point one thing that a lot of American do and I can spot they are American IMMEDIATELY. Guess what? The way they use fork and knife!!! If I would use fork and knife like that my parents would slap me right there!! However, your husband use fork 99% correctly. 😀
NEVER, NEVER use the bread to mop up your pasta as you show in this video!!! It is a very rude and barbaric way to eat... It is better to avoid the "scarpetta" too... Since it is also seen as a bad habit...
It is a pleasure to have you in our Country, as ambassadors of our culture. Thank you.
Grazie mille!
I'm Italian and this is the most accurate video explanation of our way of eating out I watched on RUclips
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
Concordo con gli altri italiani qui che apprezzano questo video fantastico, chiaro, accurato, utile e interessante. Grazie
Good explanation of lots of things which are obvious to an Italian resident but perhaps mysterious for a visitor or tourist.
What an incredible video! Packed with amazing info. Thanks a lot.
I'm Italian. This is an excellent starting guide for a tourist.
Thanks! We appreciate it.
Complimenti. Ottimo video.
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.
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 !!
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 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!
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.
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...
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.
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.
What a wonderful detailed video! Thank you. We don't drink alcohol, & we take our large filtered water bottles with us. We never order or pay for water. I enjoyed the little history stories linked to the food!
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 !❤
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.
Brava! Good job!
Thanks! We appreciate it.
Great empathy with Italian habits. Bravissimi! 😊
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).
Well done.
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!
Se venite a Venezia sono felice di ospitarvi e guidarvi nella vostra gita.
Siete molto carini.
Bravi
Grazie. Molto apprezzato.
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. 👋
Thank you so much for your clear, concise and useful information. Love your posts❤
Thanks! We appreciate it.
This was spot on! I always drink wine with pizza.
Thanks! Wine vs beer with pizza seems to invoke passions!
Me too- I am not crazy about beer
This is the most comprehensive Italian food do/don't lists I've ever seen. Well done!
Wow! That makes us feel good.
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.
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.
Sei stata impeccabile! Grazie!
Wow! Veramente un complimento da ricordare.
Brava
Grazie!
great explanation from an Italian point of view
Thanks! We appreciate it.
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.
Bravissima veramente!!!!❤
Grazie! Molto gentile.
Very informative
Thanks! We appreciate it.
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.
Please, if at the end of the meal you want a coffee with some milk ask for a macchiato (caldo with frothy milk and freddo with cold milk), it isn't a problem, plenty of Italians do it.
Yes, that’s Anne usual order. I’m normale, senza zucchero.
Grazie mille!
Prego!
You can try to ask if they can do separate checks, it'll depend on your luck but it's becaming much more common (when I go out with friends we almost always ask for separate checks nowaydas). You'll have much better odds in north italy than in the center/south and depending on the owner/staff it may be seen as something sligtly rude to ask but it's a totally legit question, screw them and don't be afraid to ask. Lovely video, very accurate!
Good info. Thanks!
È da cafoni, morti di fame. I conti separati vai a farli da Burger King.
9:30 if you don’t like plain espresso after dinner, you should go with a caffè corretto!
I agree, but Anne says she needs a spot of milk with her coffee. I usually just have caffè normale senza zucchero.
@ i need my splash of sambuca in my caffè. Anis+coffee ends up tasting like licorice 😋
@conigliostressato Sambucca is not for me, but you enjoy!
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
Great video! I disagree on separate checks in my own experience (I'm from the south), I almost never have problems with just paying my own food when I'm with friends and when it happens we tend to avoid those places, but I guess it depends on the type of restaurants you go to. Modern restaurants with younger staff shouldn't have any issue with it because they use tablets for the orders and the "cassa software" they use can handle it pretty easily, places with older staff still using paper for taking orders might find the process slow and complicated, or simply refuse because...that's the rule of the restaurant since forever.
There is also the tradition/culture involved though, older people here rarely split bills because...it is/was seen as kinda unfriendly and a bit distasteful. If possible they prefer to just take turns on who's gonna pay that day as an act of courtesy, or simply collect the money at the table and then pay everything at once at the cashier. Young people however don't care, we're poor lol
This is great info about today and the history. Thanks!
You can actually ask for separate check, expecially at dinner
Interesting. A separate check where each person’s items are listed or only to divide the bill in half, thirds, etc?
@@OurBigItalianAdventure both are possible
For business trips, to obtain reimbursement for meal expenses, it is necessary to provide separate receipts for each diner. Therefore, it is becoming increasingly common to ask the cashier to split the bill.
Very interesting. In the US, business meals are paid for by the host who then generally gets reimbursed by his/her company.
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.
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.
Good video!
I was shocked in the USA, people ask for cocktails and drink them with meal.
I had a Piña colada, but they didnt wait for us to finish our aperitivi, and I was supposed to drink it while eating my ravioli ! Just terrible!
So I decided that in US, I will only ask for wine as aperitif.
I agree entirely.
You didn't talk about the "servizio" which is typically 20% and covers the service
Ah ah ah....exactly ! 👍😁
Thanks!
Unfortunately, even Italian restaurants (some of them) are starting to adopt a more "American style", to rush customers, with time slots for reservations, for example from 12pm to 2pm, where 2 hours is the maximum time to eat and stay at the table.
Yes, I have noticed that recently, particularly in Bologna where it often seems hard to get a reservation.
@@OurBigItalianAdventure Maybe it's because of the "lightness" of the Bolognese cuisine...If you are still seated after two hours they better check the pulse! (not dissing Bologna, I'm Bolognese, and a stroll under the magnificent portici will resuscitate you readily...)
@OurBigItalianAdventure la cucina di Bologna città ha una brutta fama fra gli italiani. Si è sempre mangiato male. Forse ora con il turismo è migliorata, ma lo lascio provare agli altri.
@@panterone1769 perché menti?
qui in italia è così.. :-)
👍
You made me lsugh so much about the thing to don't order pineapple pizza cauz it doesn't exist.So FKG true.I'm italian and i subscribe whole vid.Congratz.
Excellent! Thanks.
Bravissima ottima spiegazione:)
Grazie!
Grazie ❤ ,hai spiegato tutto benissimo 👏👏 , But please 🙏 spiega agli americani che Olive Garden NON è cibo italiano
I know- it's sad that people think that is Italian food. Yuck!
don't be worried of asking for separate bills, they have a calculator just for that :)
I’m not so much worried about splitting the bill in half, thirds, etc. In the US, separate checks means every person’s meal is calculated separately: mine has a hamburger and fries, yours has a steak and some wine. It makes things very complicated.
Negroni is pleasant but don't overdo it with it 😁
Excellent advice which I’ve always followed except for one evening. It taught me a lesson!
@@OurBigItalianAdventure I know the effects as well😅. Have a nice one!
@michelepannacci8520 👍
Don't forget to take off your hat\baseball cap too...
Well mannered Italian adults are perfectly capable to eat with a fork without the assistance of a piece of bread.
Doing the scarpetta is ok almost everywhere, and in familiar restaurants or trattorias it's even considered a token of appreciation for the cook\chef, but in a "high class" or posh venue it is considered a "peasant move". Also doing the "switcheroo" with fork and knife (in Italian table manners, e.g. when you are eating a steak, you are expected to use the right for the knife and the left for the fork and when the piece of meat is cut you bring it to the mouth with the left/fork without doing the "switcheroo" ) is considered a childish move (not to talk about rolling the spaghetti inside a spoon...) A certain degree of latitude for the medium American tourist is however always left because of their different customs and because overall just yesterday we were a peasant people...
👍
The thing about milk and coffee or cappuccino has to be debunked: it has been studied by doctors that to drink milk along with coffee helps out the synthetization of certain nutrients present into the coffee itself, and also none prevents you to order a cappuccino after 12 o'clock if you want to... But culturally it is a custom to have it in the morning, after waking up to go work... That sounds only "weird", than, if you order it after certain hours, but only for a cultural habit or point of view... Is more or less like to order a pineapple on pizza and such things...
It is not used in Italy but maybe you find it good for you or for your tastes... Which differ from europeans or italian ones in particular...
Yes, we understood it was cultural and no scientific, but I’ve seen it arouse some passions among Italian.
Now, where are you on the risk of going outside with wet hair? 😉
Who told you that cappuccino thing about not ordering it after 11am?
Every Italian I know...but nowadays with all the American tourists it is probably more common
@@OurBigItalianAdventure Never heard in my life, only on iternet by many Americans.
Just a little detail. Italy has a huge bread culture, countrwide. Tuscan bread is specifically bland and tasteless and it's enjoyed like that literally only in Tuscany and bsaically only by locals who are very proud of their traditions. Since Tuscany is a very popular location for foreign tourists, it's important to note that, but please do not take Tuscan bread as the standard of italian bread, because it's more like the (crappy) exception.
italian here: “vino della casa” is the worst wine you can order in an Italian restaurant because it is usually a cheap supermarket wine passed off as “from the area.” Never order “vino della casa” in Italy 🙂
Interesting. We’ve generally not been disappointed by vino della casa, but maybe we’re not discerning enough.
Dipende da dove vivi, qui in Veneto ad esempio può essere molto buono perché ci sono delle cantine specializzate che riforniscono i ristoranti di vini della casa genuini ed accattivanti.
@@OurBigItalianAdventurehai ragione, dove c'è più tradizione enologica i vini della casa possono essere buoni.
And one important thing , NO MEATBALLS in Italy . No FETUCCINE ALFREDO in Italy . lol .
Excellent points. We will cover both of those things in a new video about what not to do in a restaurant in Italy, with suggestions of what to do. Probably out 3-4 weeks from now.
Don't worry about 'embarrassing yourself'. Just go and have a good time. The Italians already know that you don't speak the language. I know because I live here.
You are so right! It's not as if we're going to fool anyone into thinking we're Italian!
Non ho mai capito perché pagare il “coperto” sembra strano agli stranieri.
Il costo per un ristoratore di lavare, stirare tovaglia e tovaglioli, il costo dei piatti, delle posate, dei bicchieri da lavare ogni volta, oltre il costo del pane (e talvolta dell’acqua, se viene offerta gratuitamente) è lo stesso sia che il cliente ordini un pranzo completo o una semplice insalata.
Il prezzo di una semplice insalata non potrebbe compensare il costo. Quindi si applica un piccolo extra costo al conto, a prescindere dalla quantità di portate che uno ha ordinato. A me sembra logico
Hai ragione. È molto logico. Grazie! Ma per gli americani sembra strano, proprio con il nostro sistema di tasse e tipping che aggiornano 20-30% al prezzo di una cena è strano e forse noioso per gli italiani. Le differenze culturali.
Ottima spiegazione perfetta brava
Grazie! Molto apprezzato.
Scarpetta only at home or in a very simple trattoria! That is a rule,never do it in a good restaurant
Cazzata detta da uno non abituato a vivere bene con se stesso.
Not totally true about pineapple pizza (hawaii), some pizzeria even has it on the menu 🤷♂
Much more difficult is having a pizza tropical (with bananas), but there was a pizzeria in Apulia who made it for me "off the menu" (I just ask, I don't care what they think) 😂
Interesting. Banana sound even worse than pineapple to me, but maybe I should try it.
Minute 5 more or less... Beware with that oil or winegar and its small cardboard attached!!! It ended up into your salad and it could have been touched by thousands of people!!! Not so much hygienic... Just keep it with an hand when you drop it into your salad; so to avoid contamination!!!
I noticed that, too, as I was finishing the video. I looked for a clip to substitute, but couldn’t find one and just hoped it wouldn’t get noticed. But you caught me!
Well done. But please don't eat bread with pasta. It's bad!
È brutto per te che mangi male ed hai problemi di personalità. Se il sugo è buono cosa fai, lo butti?
I would say that given the stratospheric offer of places where you can eat in Italy what you have done is a minimum vocabulary to understand each other with the waiter, the quality of the dishes however is another thing and I doubt that a foreign tourist will ever understand it!
Yes, you are likely right.
And remember: dont use your hands to eat pizza in a pizzeria. It is very rude. Use knife and fork, we are civilized peoples, not barbarians. 😂
what the heck is stressful about ordering food? you ppl find stress in everything. common.
I think Americans are afraid of doling something wrong or looking stupid.
@@OurBigItalianAdventure I can point one thing that a lot of American do and I can spot they are American IMMEDIATELY. Guess what? The way they use fork and knife!!! If I would use fork and knife like that my parents would slap me right there!! However, your husband use fork 99% correctly. 😀
@yeshetsogyalling That’s very interesting. Of all the ways Americans are easy to spot, I’d never have thought about the knife and fork!
Wonderful and informative video. Presented very well. Thank you.
@KathrynMueller-d8x Thanks! We appreciate it.
Most southern Europeans are lactose intolerant.
Not true.
I’ve never heard that. Interesting.
Chissà. Non io.
Hai dei problemi😂😂😂😂😂
@@OurBigItalianAdventurequesto tizio ha dei problemi
NEVER, NEVER use the bread to mop up your pasta as you show in this video!!! It is a very rude and barbaric way to eat... It is better to avoid the "scarpetta" too... Since it is also seen as a bad habit...
It might be rude for you. I consider scarpetta a great thing: the plate gets cleaned and there is no food wasted.
This seems to be quite a controversial subject for our Italian viewers. I’m glad to hear both sides.
And it tastes good!