Blog Post #3: Meal Structure

Eating with Italians is diverse compared to eating with Filipinos. Italians treats each meal as a family reunion. We eat a lot and spend hours on the table just talking about everything. The main difference between Italians and Filipinos when it comes to meal structures is the way food is served. In the Philippines, everything is served all at once, but in Italy there is a sequence to follow.

Searching for blogs about Italian food, I found this web post entitled " The Classic Italian Meal Structure " which is featured on the website "An Italian Canadian Life".

During a traditional Italian meal, the first thing served is called antipasto which means "before the meal". These are different cheeses, sausages, salami and salad. It's like a small buffet before the real deal. Then, there is the primo which is the "first course". It can be pasta or soup. Third, we have the secondo or "second course" which mainly consists of fish or meat. After that, the dolce is served. It is the dessert and it usually ends the lunch or dinner. The coffee is given with the desserts or after.

The key to survive an Italian meal is to eat in moderation. There are so many courses, so it is important to not put a lot of food in your mouth during one course. My favorite course is the primo because pasta is my number one Italian dish. However, most Italians prefer the antipasto or dolce with coffee.

" Coffee and its permutations are a must with the dolce. ", said Mangia which the username of the person who wrote the article. 

Another blog that had detailed information on the meal structure in Italy is the following entitled " Italian Cooking Styles " by Alasdair Smith. The post did not just have information on cooking techniques but also on the proper Italian menu.

In addition to the courses mentioned above, there are other minor ones that some restaurants offer. The first one is called aperitivo and it consists of a small dose of liqueur that you drink before the meal. The next one is called contorno and it means "side dish", so there are cooked vegetables or a small portion of salad. The cheese and fruits also form their own course in some restaurants and they are called formaggio and frutta. The type offered depends on the season. Lastly, there is the digestivo or "digestive" which is given after the meal to help you digest what you've eaten. Usually, it is just a light liqueur.

From the minor courses I listed, the only one I often have when we eat outside are the contorno and formaggio e frutta. I cannot have aperitivo or digestivo yet because I'm a minor and they obviously do not offer them to me. In addition, not every restaurant in Italy has this kind of structure. This just describes the traditional and typical Italian meal.

" I’m not suggesting that any Italian eats like this everyday. But you can probably see at least two courses at the regular Italian table. ", said Alasdair Smith.

In conclusion, whenever you find yourself in Italy, the typical Italian meal follows the flow I've enlisted above. It is a strict order for some but there are others who do not follow it at all. However, to experience the Italian culture, it should be the way the lunch or dinner is served to fully immerse yourself.