Your Guide to Traditional Italian Aperitivo
Source: The Evening Standard
Italy comes with all sort of traditions. One of which includes the pre-dinner ritual - “Aperitivo”. You can find all sorts of Italian regions doing performing this daily custom, it’s just part of everyday life. You can expect some drinks and nibbles passed around the table. In Hotel Miramonti, this ritual is no exception, in our bar, you can grab a cheese board and pair it with a side of Aperol Spritz. If you want to learn more about this traditional ritual, continue reading below.
WHAT IS IT?
Aperitivo is Italy’s take on ‘happy hour’, it is a casual and light-hearted get together with friends and family, just before you eat dinner. The purpose of an ‘aperitivo’ is to prepare your stomach and your taste buds for dinner. This is done through servings of light nibbles and drinks, so don’t expect a filling meal like Porcini Risotto or a whole Neapolitan Pizza. The affair typically occurs from 7 pm to 9 pm. The beverages tend to be alcoholic, with the most popular selections being; Negroni, Campari, Prosecco, Aperol Spritz. Regarding what to eat - that’s entirely up to you. Many Cicchetti (bars), you can order it along with your drink, and sometimes, you may have the choice to have a buffet.
NORTHERN ITALIAN TRADITION
To truly understand the tradition of ‘aperitivo’, you should first acknowledge its origins. Let’s begin at Northern Italy, where you can find the sprawling cities of Milan, Venice and the stunning scenery of the Italian Alps, as well as the Northern Italian Lakes. In Turin, Antonio Benedetto Carpano, in 1786, invented the ‘Negroni’, it is essentially a mixture of vermouth, gin and bitters. This glorious combination of herbs and white wine was said to have ‘opened’ up the taste buds and stimulate the appetite. Quickly, the drink became popular among the Torinese locals. One day, King Vittorio Emmanuele II established it as his pre-dinner beverage of choice, and vermouth suddenly exploded in popularity. All over Italy, the citizens begin to start drinking the vermouth and became the foundation of aperitivo culture.
THE ETIQUETTE
If you have never taken part in Aperitivo, don’t worry! Here, we will break down the basic rules and etiquette when doing your first pre-dinner ritual in Italy.
Entering any bar or restaurant, you should always ask “Fate aperitivo? A che ora?” (Do you have aperitivo? What time?) - not every restaurant does aperitivo.
Aperitivo plates are quite small because they are not meant to fill your stomach. It’s actually just to “whet” your appetite and prepare you for dinner.
But if you do decide to treat it as dinner, take one small plate at a time.
If you are going to a place where they serve both aperitivi and dinner, you are expected to leave right before the ‘dinner’ hours, unless the bar opens.
Check with the waiter if you’ve got any dietary restrictions because, in some places, they will automatically serve some light snacks on the side of your drink.
APERITIVO DRINKS TO TRY
nEGRONI
Aperol Spritz
Campari
Prosecco
Why not stay at Miramonti Boutique Hotel? We are located within the Alps, with a Hotel Spa, relaxing Cigar Lounge and an Italian Restaurant that serves local Valtellina Cuisine.
For more articles about the Italian Alps and Northern Italy, read the blog: