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LEARN
Italian At Meal Time
For Every Meal
Buon appetito (have a good meal): (boo-on app-èt-it-oh) before a dinner with friends say this to the whole company and expect the same answer in return. it is a blessing for the meal to come.
Complimenti alla cuoca (compliments to the cook): (com-plee-men-tee alla coo-oka)after enjoying an excellent meal, say this to compliment your hostess and (female) to demonstrate your appreciation of her efforts. The male version is "com-plee-men-tee al coo-oko".
Apri il vino (open the wine bottle): (ah-pree il vee-noh) a good glass of wine to accompany your meal.
Cin! or Alla Salute!: (cen) (alla sa-loo-teh) the Italiantoast, like saying "Cheers!"
Un pugno di sale (literally, a fistful of salt): (un poo-nee-oh dee sah-leh)this is the most common measure for adding salt to the water for the pasta.
La Pasta é scotta (the pasta is too cooked): (la pa-stah è sko-ttah) this is the common expression to say that the pasta is overcooked and has become too soft.
Gira il sugo (literally, turn the sauce): (gee-rah il soo-goh) say this when making a sauce which needs to be stirred with a spoon.
Scola la pasta (let the water drain away from the pasta): (sko-lah la pa-stah) this is done using a utensil common in the Italian kitchen, a colander.
Apparecchia la tavola (set the table): (ah-ppah-re-kee-ah la ta-vo-lah)to prepare the table that will receive yours friends.
Passami l'olio (give me the olive oil bottle): (pas-sam-ee loh-lio): Say it when the Bertolli olive oil bottle is too far away for you to reach it.
Taglia il pane (cut the bread): (ta-liah il pa-neh) Bread is the best accompaniment to yourfoods
Ne voglio ancora: (neh voh-lio an-ko-rah) Is there any seconds?
Bistecca al sangue (rare steak), bistecca ben cotta (well cooked steak): (bee-steh-ka al san-goo-eh) (bee-steh-ka ben koh-ttah) Your guests can choose how they would like their meat.
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At the Restaurant
La specialita' della casa (the restaurant specialty): (le speh-cee-ah-lee-tah della ka-sah) use this expression to ask for the dishes characteristic of the restaurant.
Cameriere, il conto per favore (waiter, please the bill): (ka-meh-ree-eh-reh il kon-toh per fa-voh-reh) after a good meal you can use this expression to call the waiter and ask for the bill.
La lista dei vini (the wine menu): (la lee-sta dei vee-nih) ask it to choose the wine most suited to your meal.
Trattoria: (tra-tto-ree-ah)a particular type of restaurant where you can enjoy the local, traditional dishes of the area. Trattoria are less formal and less expensive than a traditional restaurant.
Osteria (tavern): (oh-steh-ree-ah) similar to the trattoria, in older times these typical restaurants also had some cheap rooms where travellers often spent the night. Some Osteria's that give this "hostelling" service are still open even now.
Aperitivo (the aperitif): (ah-peh-ree-tih-voh) this is the best way to introduce the meal.
Pizzeria: (pee-zzeh-ree-ah) very common restaurant where you eat the most famous Italian dish, pizza. We especially recommend pizza margherita, pizza quattro stagioni and pizza capricciosa.
Ristorante Italiano (Italian restaurant): (ree-stoh-ran-teh ee-ta-leea-noh) has an elegant atmosphere where one can enjoy typical soups, pastas, gnocchi, risotti and interesting meat and fish dishes, and where every dish is accompanied by the appropriate wine.
Agriturismo (farm resort): (agree-too-ree-smoh)taste the most genuine Italian dishes here in the countryside surrounded by nature.
Enoteca (the wine shop): (eh-noh-teh-ka)here you can taste a great variety of Italian wines.
Antipasto (the appetizer): (an-tee-pah-stoh)it's an excellent idea to begin the dinner in the best way.
Primo piatto (the first course): (pree-moh peea-ttoh), generally it consists of pasta, soup or rice.
Secondo piatto (the second course): (she-kon-doh peea-ttoh), generally it consists of meat or fish.
Contorno (side dish): (kon-tor-noh)i is the food usually served with second course, and is usually vegetables.
Coperto (the cover): (ko-per-toh)i is the cost of the service and of the bread. This is a traditional habit of all Italian Restaurants and you will always find it on Italian menus.
Mancia (the tip): (man-cee-ah)in Italy there are no rules for tipping the waiters in a Restaurant. After you pay the bill, before leaving the restaurant, leave 5.000 or 10.000 Lire on the table for the waiter if you have enjoyed your meal.
Prenotazione (reservation): (preh-no-ta-zio-neh) to be sure to get a table it is better to reserve one in advance. |
Sayings
Cena a lume di candela (light candle dinner): (Ce-nah a loo-meh dee can-deh-la) a romantic tête-à-tête with a special person…
Ho una fame da lupi (literally I'm hungry like a wolf): (oh oo-nah fah-meh dah loo-pih)) if you feel especially hungry, say this as a little joke about how hungry you are.
E' una buona forchetta (literally he is a good fork): (éh oo-na boo-oh-na fork-eh-ttah)an expression used to describe a gourmet, someone who enjoys eating well and appreciates high quality dishes.
Sono pieno come un uovo (literally I'm full like an egg): (soh-no pee-eh-no ko-meh un oo-oh-voh) say this when you've just finished eating and you want no more food, as an excuse for not eating anymore. It actually means that you are full, literally, "as full as an egg".
Ho l'acquolina in bocca (my mouth is watering): (hoh lah-ck-ooh-oh-lih-nah in boh-kah) say this when you see a particularly inviting dish.
Pasta al dente: (pas-tah al den-teh)when pasta is well cooked and seems almost hard and dense. This is the best way to eat pasta. |
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