How to eat Italian food gracefully
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Let's Eat
Italian food, it should be enjoyed, savored, and shared. If your favorite is a linguine in clam sauce or a nice zuppa di pesce, then, oh my, should you bring a bib?
Some Italian foods are messy, life is messy. Most Italians don't care if you get messy eating their food. They just want to see you eat. If you're Italian, or know Italians, than you know what I'm talking about.
It is easy to get by with the messy finger-food appetizers. No one is going to stare as you try to maneuver a piece of bruschetta in and out of your mouth without dropping the toppings. And eating pizza either by hand or by cutting it with a fork and knife are both acceptable means. Though I do advise holding a napkin in case you decide at the last minute that calamari isn't your idea of an appetizing appetizer.
However, I'm not one in favor of gravy juices running down my chin and neck while enjoying my favorite stringy macaroni. For clarification I do believe that all pasta is macaroni and all sauce is gravy to an Italian (correct me if I'm wrong as I married into an Italian family on the East Coast so my terminology may be regional and also influenced by South Philly near where we live).
Now, growing up in a German-Irish household I was not privy to the proper way to eat spaghetti, my dad's favorite dish. Yes, as a child it hung out my mouth and I slurped it in. What would I know?
I can't remember how or when I was introduced to the proper way to eat my macaroni, but it is my preferred method. I highly recommend it to anyone wishing to avoid splattering their date while strands of pasta fly up into your mouth at varying speeds so you're not caught with stranglers dangling from your lips.
The method, a fork and a spoon, one in each hand are your weapons of choice. The fork goes in your preferred hand and the spoon in the other. Lift a few strands of pasta with the fork and apply fork tines to spoon and twirl. Simple...yes? Exactly!
I know, I know, but what about the seafood? Why does seafood require two hands? What to do with the silverware? Now if you have clams or mussels you will have to hold the shell and with your fork work the muscle until it loosens, stick your pinky out if it makes you feel better. Then there is the shrimp, if there is a tail, slip fork under the shell, press down on the flesh and pull the tail away. Don't eat the squid....no I'm just kidding.
Now I confess, I've read no books to back up my Italian eatery etiquette. So, you'll just have to trust me. When all else fails, just enjoy yourself, it is only food. I promise not to give you any advice on brain surgery though.
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Italian food wasn't made to be Graceful! It was made to be Enjoyed, Eaten heartily. Someone that truely enjoys Italian food will be seen wearing as much as they've eaten! HA They'd be called a pig to! But that's another subject all together :)
This was a fun hub and good response! It reminded me of the time in my youth when I had the audacity to order a Fetuccine Alfredo for a lunch interview! Thank heavens the tablespoon was enormous, and of course the sauce white. BTW- no regrets! I got the job and it was probably the best Fetuccine Alfredo I've ever had!
Thanks folks. Of course I never had as embarrassing a moment as when I had a Vietnamese soup with baby squids in it....he fit on the spoon but I couldn't get all the tentacles in one bite. LOL
Good write,love the picture,I agree all children love to slurp the noodles,great memories of childhood I guess.Thank you
Like Kat07 noted, I always figured this is why all those old Italians you see in photos always wear black! The better to enjoy the sauce with! Fun hub! Yeah, and that photo! At least he's not worrying about spills!
Why is my husband always wearing white shirts????? LOL
Thanks desert blondie
I love italian food, its such a comforting food and fun to make too!
Great photo for a clever article! I have always wondered how to eat pasta without making a scene. Thanks!
Hi Violette,
Love your post on eating italian food gracefully. I love all kinds of pasta dishes, but I always use a fork, I didn't know you can use a spoon to. I used to slurp my macaroni when I was a child, but learned to chew and swallow more quitely. But as most commenters said, Italian food is to be enjoyed, so if it gets a little messy sometimes, well who cares? Unless you're wearing something that might get ruined with tomatoe sauce. So wear a bib if not to embarrassed to be seen with one.
Thanks Glenda!
Very cute...and so true!
What to say? It's just a question of time. I married an Italian and came to live in Italy.At the beginning I felt quite the same...but after a while, I have MY method to eat pasta and now I feel comfortable and do not splash sugo (oh, sometimes it happens :-).
Seafood need hands - even if I still eat my prawns using fork and knife:-)
Buon appetito and remember...eat is a pleasure,so keep the etiquette into the good maners boundary - and enjoy!
It always is a challenge eating the yummy tastings of Italian cuisine. That is the problem, Italian food is so darn flavorful with the natural ingredients including the staining tomato sauces. I like your article to help one prepare for the possibility of something happening. I am going to Tweet about this article for you at http://twitter.com/ItalianRecipeTV .
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Kat07 4 years ago
Very well written! I always seem to be wearing light colors when I eat spaghetti, and inevitably end up wearing the sauce somehow!