Cucina Toscana has been Salt Lake City's finest Italian restaurant for over 10 years!
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L’appetito vien mangiando.
As this popular Italian food saying goes,
“the appetite comes while you are eating.”
With Italian meals, there is a specific structure cultivated over centuries of eating that is a master class in how to best enjoy food and company. Not all dinner meals – known as cena – consist of all of these courses; often times, the numerous courses are reserved for festivities or celebratory occasions. At Cucina Toscana, we structure our menu to closely resemble the courses of a traditional Italian meal. We hope this guide whets your appetite for dinner.
Aperitivo
The aperitivo begins the meal. Like the French aperitif, this course may consist of bubbly beverages such as spumante, prosecco, or champagne, or wine. The aperitivo is also the appetizer course; small dishes of olives, nuts or cheeses may be available for diners to nibble on while they wait for the next course.
Antipasti
This course is commonly considered the “starter.” The antipasti dish will be slighter heavier than the aperitivo. Often times, the antipasti may consist of a charcuterie platter such as salame, mortadella, or prosciutto, served with cheeses and bread; other times, you may find a cold salmon or tuna antipasto, or a bruschetta.
Primi
Primi is the first course to contain hot food and is often heavier than antipasti dishes. Generally, primi dishes do not consist of any meat. At the same time, primi dishes may contain fine and luxurious ingredients, such as truffle or seafood. Risotto, gnocchi, soup, lasagne, pasta, or broth are all common primi dishes.
Secondi
In this course, you will encounter different meat and seafood options. Depending on the region, you may have chicken, beef, pork, lamb, or turkey prepared in a variety of different ways, from a sausage to a roast to a grilled meat. In terms of seafood, you might find fish, shrimp, lobster, or some other kind of “meaty” seafood. If there are two dishes in the secondi, a sorbet palate cleanser is served between them.
Contorni
Contorni dishes are served alongside secondi dishes. Common cotorni dishes are vegetable-based, whether raw or cooked. They are served on a different plate than the meat or seafood of the secondi, so as to not mix on a plate and allow for the preservation of the integrity of flavors.
Insalata
If there are many leafy green vegetables in the contorni, an insalata, or salad, might not be served. If not, then a salad will follow the secondi.
Formaggi e frutta
Now, as we near the end of the meal, there is an entire course dedicated to cheese and fruit. A selection of regional cheese will be presented, with seasonal fruits that complement the flavors of the cheese.
Dolce
Dessert! Options range from tiramisu to cake or pie to panna cotta. You may also consider a sorbetto or gelato for something lighter and more palate-cleansing. Certain regional specialty desserts such as zeppole or cannoli may be served.
Caffe
A strong espresso is served after dolce, often served very warm and without any milk or sugar.
Digestivo
To close out this intricate, decadent Italian meal, the final item is a digestive alcoholic drink, such as limoncello, amaro, or grappa, which aids with digestion.
Buon appetito!
FAQs
Italians do not put different foods together on one plate, instead they eat in courses. So, the salad ofter comes after the first course and the meat, not the other way around. Bread or paneis a dietary staple, but not a whole side dish, in Italy.
How do Italians structure their meals? ›
Italians do not put different foods together on one plate, instead they eat in courses. So, the salad ofter comes after the first course and the meat, not the other way around. Bread or paneis a dietary staple, but not a whole side dish, in Italy.
What is the correct order of an Italian meal? ›
The Traditional Italian Meal Structure
- Aperitivo. The Aperitivio is a pre-meal drink designed to cleanse and wet your palate before beginning the first course. ...
- Antipasto. This traditional Italian meal starts with something to nibble on before the main courses commence. ...
- Primo. ...
- Secondo. ...
- Dolce. ...
- Digestivo.
An Italian meal usually consists of four courses (starter, first course, main course, and dessert). However, this can be extended to eight or more (starter, first course, main fish course, main meat course, cheese, and dessert).
What is the eating pattern in Italy? ›
A typical Italian diet consists of three meals in a day. The most common foods in the Italian diet include pasta, cheese, vegetables, olive oil, meats, and wine. Italians give a lot of importance to fresh ingredients. They use seasonal ingredients to prepare meals.
Do Italians eat salad first or last? ›
Serving salad after the main course of a meal is an older tradition in Italy, and nowadays it is usually observed at large and formal dinners rather than during everyday meals. Eating a salad after a meal can help digestion, while eating one before a meal may help discourage overeating.
Do Italians eat pasta or salad first? ›
You eat pasta and then you eat the salad. It's a primo piatto, meaning it's a first course, which you can't translate as an appetizer.
Do Italians eat cheese before or after dinner? ›
Italian restaurants never serve cheese before meals. In my country there is a strong tradition that concerns this dish. At the end of the meal , before dessert ( = sweets or dolci ) you can choose some kinds of cheese, the waiter brings them to the table on a trolley. they are often served with honey or jams .
Do Italians eat both primi and secondi? ›
It's not uncommon for Italians to eat all the courses listed above in a restaurant, although many will go for an antipasto and a primo or an antipasto and secondo if it's not a special occasion.
What is a true Italian dinner? ›
What is a typical Italian dinner? Typically, Italian dinner dishes include a variety of pasta, soups, risottos, and seafood. With an Italian-inspired dinner menu, you'll find dishes like pizza, spaghetti, ravioli, and desserts such as tiramisu.
Mealtimes can vary slightly, but Italians typically eat lunch between 1 and 2:30 p.m. and dinner between 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Many restaurants will open for lunch around 12:30 or 1 p.m. and close the kitchen from 2:30 or 3 p.m. until 7 or 7:30 p.m. Restaurants that serve dinner before 7 p.m. are catering to tourists.
What do Italian eat for breakfast? ›
Other sweet options include maritozzi, the famous Italian sweet bread often found in Rome, or biscotti to go with your coffee. A healthy Italian breakfast might consist of some bread, butter, jam, some yogurt, and fruit. Italians also eat muesli and cereal in the mornings with yogurt or milk.
Why do Italians eat dinner so late? ›
Italy is known for it's very late meals - lunch is about 1.30pm (earliest!) and dinner depends on the season - it can be as late at 11pm! One of the reasons for such late dinners, is so that the members of the family can wait for each other to come back from work and sit down at the table all together.
What is the most eaten food in Italy? ›
Top 10 Traditional Foods in Italy
- Pizza.
- Pasta.
- Arancini.
- Focaccia.
- Italian Cheese.
- Lasagna.
- Ossobuco.
- Risotto.
Based on my understanding, pasta is considered a primo and has to be eaten separate before the meat dish. I don't think it makes sense. I think the rule was created during times of scarcity when the main goal to fill the stomach with cheap starch.
What is a true Italian meal? ›
What is a typical Italian dinner? Typically, Italian dinner dishes include a variety of pasta, soups, risottos, and seafood. With an Italian-inspired dinner menu, you'll find dishes like pizza, spaghetti, ravioli, and desserts such as tiramisu.
Are you supposed to eat primi and secondi? ›
You don't have to order every single course, but the general rule of thumb is to order at least two (and you can split one of them). So a couple, for example, might share one antipasto, order individual primi, and then share a secondo.
The aperitivo begins the meal. Like the French aperitif, this course may consist of bubbly beverages such as spumante, prosecco, or champagne, or wine. The aperitivo is also the appetizer course; small dishes of olives, nuts or cheeses may be available for diners to nibble on while they wait for the next course.
In this course, you will encounter different meat and seafood options. Depending on the region, you may have chicken, beef, pork, lamb, or turkey prepared in a variety of different ways, from a sausage to a roast to a grilled meat. In terms of seafood, you might find fish, shrimp, lobster, or some other kind of “meaty” seafood. If there are two dishes in the secondi, a sorbet palate cleanser is served between them.
Dessert! Options range from tiramisu to cake or pie to panna cotta. You may also consider a sorbetto or gelato for something lighter and more palate-cleansing. Certain regional specialty desserts such as zeppole or cannoli may be served.
A strong espresso is served after dolce, often served very warm and without any milk or sugar.