It is said that Italy is synonymous with great cooking. Well, there's nothing truer than this! The delicacies of Italian cuisine have always been known and appreciated all over the world. Every region of the peninsula offers recipes and typical local dishes, but they're all different variants of the Mediterranean diet, based on simple and natural products. Most popular recipes have been written by mothers and grandmothers, that's why people also talk about home cooking, to emphasize the concept of traditions and nutritious food.
In Italy there are four main meals, but not all of them have the same importance.
Breakfast
Breakfast is generally eaten between 7.00 and 10.00 in the morning. It is very similar to that of other European countries but what really makes the difference is espresso and cappuccino, both a must for Italians! You usually find also hot or cold milk and fresh orange juice served with traditional sweets, such as cookies, pies, croissants, bundt cakes or bread and jam. In some special occasions, for example on Sunday or holiday mornings, there could be also some variants of pastry products.
Lunch
Lunch is one of the main meals usually eaten between 12.00 and 14.00. It's really very substantial and begins with the classical Italian starter with toasts, cold meats, cheeses and crescia, a unique egg and cheese bread. The first course consists of fresh homemade pasta, then followed by a second course of meat or fish products with vegetables and finally a dessert accompanied by seasonal fruit. After meal, people are usually served a cup of coffee and the so popular 'ammazzacaffè', a small glass of liqueur which is supposed to dull the caffeine effect. A complete lunch as described so far is mostly served on holidays or very special occasions; during ordinary days one-course lunch is preferred.
Aperitivo
In the afternoon between 16.00 and 17.00, there's a snack time, especially for kids. It's a fast and light meal based on sweets, such as bread and chocolate, ice cream or milk and cookies. Widely popular for adults instead is the happy hour, between 18.00 and 19.00; it's a snack accompanied with a cocktail or a good glass of wine.
Dinner
Dinner - which is supposed to be the lightest meal of the day - is very similar to lunch in Italy. It's eaten between 19.00 and 21.00 often with friends and relatives. That's why there're always so many courses.
Don't wait any further, have a trip to Italy and taste all specialties of Italian cooking!