All the words you need to know to live in Italy: food and beverages
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Cappuccino
It consists of coffee and milk, served in a large cup and finished with milk foam.
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Macchiato
It is coffee with the addition of a small amount of milk, which can be cold or hot.
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Ammazzacaffè
While coffee typically it enjoyed at the end of every Italian meal, the “ammazzacaffè” is a shot of liqueur to enjoy after coffee.
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Moka
A traditional Italian machine for making coffee at home.
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Contorno
Side. it can be served with the second course or on its own after the first course.
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Secondo piatto
Second course. It follows the first course and consists of meat or fish.
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Maccheroni
Maccheroni are a type of short pasta that can be dressed with various sauces.
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Primo piattoFirst course. The main course of Italian cuisine, normally a pasta dish.
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Antipasto
Appetizer. It precedes the first course and can be made up of a variety of bite size food samples for tasting. In restaurant menus, you can find “antipasti di mare” seafood-based or “antipasti di terra” meat-based appetizers.
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Stuzzichini
These are a variety of snacks served in small portions usually accompanied by alcoholic beverages.
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Aperitivo
Aperitif. It is an alcoholic beverage (spritz, prosecco, wine, or beer) enjoyed before meals to stimulate hunger and usually served with snacks. Aperitivo in Italy is a real social ritual.
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Tiramisù
It is perhaps the most famous of all Italian desserts, originating in the north-east and made with savoiardi cookies, coffee, mascarpone cream and cocoa powder.
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Osteria
A traditional tavern. It is the place where you can drink a glass of wine (bicchiere di vino) together with something to eat. Today's osteria can also be a restaurant in its own right.
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Trattoria
It is a word for a popular type of restaurant where you can eat simple, traditional dishes at a low price.
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Pastasciutta
It is a typical pasta dish, but it is also the way to refer to pasta without sauces (pasta - dry).