When planning a trip to Italy, or any destination outside of the comfort of your own home, one thing that you should always consider even before picking the most cost effective airline and hotel, or the best spots to visit, is the various types of food that your destination is best known for. Embedded, however, in the fine food is the customs you should become aware of, particularly before arriving in the country.
When I traveled to Italy in December 2016, I found that it’s not just which utensil to use for the right dish, it’s also how you eat that matters. In many cultures, manners DO matter.
In Italy, you are supposed to drink your coffee after your entire meal, not before. Unless otherwise noted, you are not to tip your waiter as they are paid based on the service fee already included in your bill. Water is provided by the bottle and not the glass, which you can choose either sparkling or distilled. Bread is a desert and should be enjoyed as such. It shouldn’t be dipped in olive oil like we are accustomed in the United States. You should also be aware that it is custom for the customer to inform their waiter that they are done with their meal as waiters aren’t expected to take dishes off your table, or provide you with your bill until you indicate to them that you are ready for either something more or to complete your time at the restaurant.
Had I not known some of the above customs, I, as an American, would probably get dirty looks from those surrounding me, particularly the expected “that American” when American customs and culture intrude on the customs of the destination outside the U.S.
Website such as Walks of Italy, Reveal Drome and Never Ending Voyage provide good insight on the do’s and don’ts of eating in Italy, but there few resources available that provide a journalistic viewpoint on what to do and what not to do when visiting the foreign destination. I’m looking to provide a mix of firsthand perspective and interviews with Italian Americans, and Italians living in the country, alongside those who have visited the country themselves and have had both good and bad experiences to determine if there is truly a culture clash or just particular destinations within Italy that creates the stigma of eating culture.
— Errol L.
Sources: