Are you going to be dining when you stay in Italy? Of course! Common sense can go a long way, but here is a list of useful tips that only the locals of Italy would know.
Italians are religious about eating so “when in Rome, eat like a Roman”! Lunch is at 1:00 pm, and dinner is generally at 8:00 pm. The more South you go, the later the hours, but it is nearly impossible to find a Restaurant open between 3 pm – 7:30, except for tourist joints and fast food.
Coffee: I could write a book about this subject. 100% of Italian families consume coffee daily in the form of espresso. Most consume at home, made in a moka also known as a caffettiera or macchinetta (popular; literally “small machine”), is a stove top espresso maker based on the principle of preparing coffee with steam pressurized water. First patented by Alfonso Bialetti in 1933, his company Bialetti continues to produce the same model known as the “Moka Express”.
Bar (all beverages are consumed here, not only alcoholic) lifestyle:
Italians take their coffee standing up. If you sit down, prepare yourself for a much larger bill.
Caffè = espresso; short and strong
macchiato= espresso with a spot of milk
Cappuccino= named after the Cappuchine Monk (first to shave the top of the head and leave the remaining hair underneath) = shot of espresso with milk foam and a bit of steamed milk
Caffè latte=shot of espresso in a large glass with lots of steamed milk
Corretto= espresso ‘corrected’ with a shot of liquor, usually with grappa or sambuca. “Un caffè corretto con sambuca” would be the proper order.
