Italian people's food culture?!

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So far none of the Italians I know have anything specifically to do before eating except setting up the tables and have a cocktail / sparkling wine with appetizers.

Meat found in their supermarkets are pork, horse, cow, chicken, duck, turkey, rabbit, lamp, mutton, chevon and seafood.

Northern and Southern Italy have different preferences and every region has their own specialty and cuisine so its not easy to name all the differences.
Usually they will have pasta / risotto as 1st course, meat / salad / cheese as 2nd course follow by fruits / nuts and then desserts. The food / fruits served will most likely change accordingly to the season.

These are briefly what I know of.

1) Aperitivo
A glass of dry white wine or a light cocktail, served with an "antipasto" (starters, nibbles). It is a "must" for a formal dinner party, but not many people I know do it before an everyday meal (I do, sometimes).

2) Prayer
I don't come from a very religious background so in my family we did not pray before a meal, but I imagine some people actually do, at least before the Sunday lunch. The Lord's prayer has a line that goes: "Give us today our daily bread" so that's the one they would choose. Anyway, though the majority of Italians are catholics, not all of them are strict followers of religious rules and ceremonies.

3) Washing your hands
This simple yet fundamental rule of hygiene is drilled into you as a kid. In every family I know parents will always check that the kids have washed their hands before sitting at the table.

I'm Italian

WEll I'm of Italian American descent and I was never taught any particular rituals while cooking or eating except for saying grace. I think most Italians (or maybe Catholics in general) are big on saying a specific meal prayer. "Bless us oh Lord for these your gifts...).

I'd say that Italian American cuisine is far different than Italian cuisine though in that Italians eat a lot more seafood than is realized. It is, after all, a peninsula!!

Look beyond the pasta to find the delightful artisan foods of Italy! the charcuterie, the handmade sausages and wonderful Parma hams , Cave aged cheeses and bowls of plump juicy olives seved with the fine handmade breads and EV oil , Pickled artichokes and sundried tomatoes. the wines oh the wines! not just the Chianti but try a nice Piedemont Barolo , Then have it with your Spag Bol!?;-)

rustumlongpig

italians love to eat pasta

TACOS

drink wine, have fun, and dont forget the bread and olive oil :)