Food & Nightlife

Food is an important part of Italian life. Italians usually take their time when eating lunch and dinner. Traditional Italian meals consist of many courses: first there's an antipasto (appetizers, or "before the meal"), then il primo (first dish), il secondo (second dish) with un contorno (a vegetable side dish), and then il dolce (the dessert). The antipasto usually consists of cold cuts and crostini or bruschetta, the primo consists of soup or a pasta or rice dish, the secondo consists of a meat or fish dish, the contorno consists of a vegetable dish or salad. Cheese and fruit may be served before or instead of dessert.  Italians tend to eat lunch at around 1pm, and dinner is after 8pm. A full traditional meal is usually accompanied by a good glass of wine. In Italy, breakfast is not considered an important meal, and if anything, Italians usually just eat a few fette biscottate (a cross between a sweet cracker and toast) with jam, or a pastry (like a brioche, which is similar to a croissant) and a cappuccino. On that note, a cappuccino is never consumed after breakfast and definitely never after lunch or dinner.  In the middle of the day, Italians drink caffè(espresso), usually standing at the coffee bar.  You will never see Italians sipping a large disposable cup of caffè americano or eating while they are walking down the street.  If people are in a rush, they will eat standing up.

These are student recommendations.  Let us know if this list should change!