Discover la lingua della mangia!
Not understanding a language can be tricky, especially when it comes to ordering food.
Don't let the Italian terms on our menu scare you off! First and foremost, we welcome and encourage you to ask any of our servers about any item on our menu should you have any questions. Furthermore, you will find detailed descriptions of each dish on our menu, translated into English.
However, if you still find yourself scratching your head, below are some Italian dining and food terms to help you out during your next visit to La Piazza Dario.
Italian Dining Terms:
- Antipasto: Antipasti are appetizer dishes.
- Bufala: Water buffalo; this term is used to describe the type of mozzarella.
- Funghi: Mushrooms
- Insalata: This term refers to a salad course; it is generally eaten between the main course and dessert.
- Polpette: Meatballs
- Prosciutto: Cured ham
- Tagliatelle: Noodles
Tonight, why not make your dining experience an truly Italian one! Come visit us in East Vancouver and put your new knowledge to the test. In the mean time, have a look at our menu.
We look forward to seeing you!
(Image via Pixabay)
Discover how to eat like a true Italian!
Eat like an Italian & indulge in the traditional Italian meal structure.
With so many courses, it's no wonder that the meal structure of a traditional Italian meal remains a mystery to many of whom are not of Italian descent! However, although a traditional Italian meal can seem overwhelming on paper (or on a menu!), each course is perfectly balanced to compliment the next. So, come visit us at La Piazza Dario and dine like a true Italian with our guide to a traditional Italian meal below!
The Traditional Italian Meal Structure
Aperitivo: The aperitivo is close to the equivalent of the North American appetizer. Examples of an aperitivo are olives, cheese, etc. and are often accompanied with wine or other alcoholic drinks, such as prosecco.
Antipasto: An antipasto is a starter that follows the aperitivo. It is a lighter course than the first course and is often served cold.
Primo: As the first course, the primo usually consists of a non-meat dish, such as risotto, pasta, gnocchi, or soup.
Secondo: The secondo is the second course dish and includes different types of poultry, fish and/or red meat.
Contorno: A contorno is a side dish that is usually served alongside the secondo, however, each dish is always served on two separate plates. More often than not, a contorno is made up of vegetables.
Insalata: The insalata is normally a fresh garden salad.
Formaggi e frutta: Litterally, formaggi e frutta means cheese and fruit and is a dish that consists of locally made cheeses and whatever fresh fruit is in season.
Dolce: Dolce is the dessert of the meal, with popular dessert dishes being tiramisù, panna cotta, gelato or sorbetto, or cannoli.
Caffè: A caffè is traditionally had at the end of an Italian meal. The caffè of choice is, more often than not, an espresso.
Digestivo: The digestivo are drinks consumed at the end of the meal to help aid digestion. Popular digestivo drinks are grappa, amaro and limoncello.
(Image via Pixabay)
