Dining in Italy

[wryter2000]

I'm leaving tomorrow and have a dinner reservation at a good restaurant. The menu lists four courses. Is it customary to eat all that food, or should I skip the appetizer as I would here?

Another question--the courses are antipasto, primi, secondi, and something else I couldn't make out. It appears to be salad. I didn't notice dessert. Is that customary?

[safeinOhio]

1. Go hungry

and take your time. Don't miss tasting everything.

[wryter2000]

3. Thanks

I guess I will. It's going to be pretty expensive, so I don't want to eat every meal like this. A light breakfast is free. Maybe I'll skip lunch.

[OnDoutside]

2. It's probably quality over quantity.

[wryter2000]

4. So I gather

I'm wondering of the portions are small.

[OnDoutside]

5. You'll probably be full at the end of it. For me, the best

Thing about the food in Italy is the flavour of the food. And you don't have to go to a fancy restaurant to get that. I've been in very simple restaurants in the middle of nowhere, in Italy, and left raving about the place. Stay away from the touristy places and you won't go far wrong. Enjoy !!!

[OnDoutside]

6. Where are you headed to in Italy ?

[wryter2000]

12. Montecatini and Florence

It's a tour of Tuscany

[OnDoutside]

19. Fantastico ! You'll have a great time :)

[kimbutgar]

26. We got back from Florence in March

Beautiful place. I barely ever made it to the last course. But the deserts were delicious. One of my deserts was a sweet type of cheese that had a wine taste.

If you are up to it climb the Duomo the stairs are long but the view upstairs is spectacular. You have to make reservations in the ticket office and the newly opened museum has some gorgeous pieces. Take the elevator to the roof view also.

[FakeNoose]

7. Beware of jet-lag

Jet-lag is real and it won't matter if you sleep on the plane or not.

You'll still have it for the first day that you're on the ground. It affects your appetite too.
The first day is hard so don't plan a lot of activities. Stay awake if you can at least until sundown.
(Taking a nap doesn't help.)

Go to bed early, get a good night's sleep. When you wake up you'll be on Italy-time and you should be fine.
I say this from experience, I've flown to Germany 7 or 8 times and the first day is always hard.
If you're under 40 it won't affect you as much but you'll still feel it.

Have a great trip!

[wryter2000]

13. Thanks

The restaurant is in my hotels. I chose it because I'll be right there.

[greymattermom]

8. Those courses are not huge

take a good look at portion size while you're there.

[elleng]

9. Thanks SO MUCH for the excuse to get back into it!

It's now the 33rd anniversary of my wedding and HONEYMOON, in Italy, and as I'm home alone, I 'only' have memories! We drove around Italy.

il primo (pasta, rice or similar), a second-course il secondo (meat or fish) served together with a side dish il contorno (vegetable or salad) and fruit.

Obviously it's not necessary to eat ALL that food, but taste from each course. And tell us ALL ABOUT IT!

[wryter2000]

14. Contorno

That's what that is. Thanks.

[elleng]

15. Glad you got it!

Salad's very important in Italy, often antipasto might be 'confused' for salad, depending on what you're used to. And FRUIT course often IS desert!

[zipplewrath]

10. Got a pointer

We could probably review the menu and explain better.

Italy considers a meal to be a long event, could be a couple of hours. And also, outside of tourist areas, I wouldn't plan on eating until 7:30 at the earliest. Some places have only one sitting. In tourist areas they might squeeze in two or three. I generally didn't order 4 courses but outside of tourist areas they'll be smaller than you might be used to in America. This will be particularly true of desserts.

[wryter2000]

16. They don't seat until 7:00

It's in Montecatini Terme, a resort town, I gather.

[elleng]

18. an Italian municipality of 21,095 inhabitants within the province of Pistoia in Tuscany,

Montecatini Terme is an Italian municipality of 21,095 inhabitants within the province of Pistoia in Tuscany, Italy. It is the most important center in Valdinievole. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montecatini_Terme

The town is located at the eastern end of Piana di Lucca and has a strong vocation for tourism, as well as industrial and commercial industries related to the spa, which in turn has increased the interest for hotel accommodation in the region.


I didn't get there, so again I ask PLEASE keep us informed!

[wryter2000]

20. Thanks

If there's a spa, I guess I'll pack a bathing suit.

[JohnnyLib2]

27. We're going there in September, so will really appreciate more comments.

(Gate 1 Tours)

[JustAnotherGen]

11. Remember - Portions are much smaller

When I want to lose 5 pounds I go to Italyl. Especially my late mother in - everything was fresh fresh fresh - and you only have a few bites of everything.

Are you going to Rome?

[wryter2000]

17. Not Rome

The area around Florence.

[JustAnotherGen]

23. You there yet?

One of my SILs is there.

[wryter2000]

24. Been here several days

Been to Florence, Lucca, Siena, and Pisa. I'll be returning to Florence for a few days after the tour ends. Having an amazing time!!

[elleng]

25. Great!

Thought you would!

[OnDoutside]

21. It does depend on the restaurant though. I used to order a Fiorentina in a restaurant near

Rome. It was a steak, well actually it was more like a dinosaur steak, it was that big.

[JI7]

22. so that's how they stay thin even with all the pasta .............