3686 Italian Etiquette Advice

tea and scones are perfect!
I mean, it depends at what time of day you will be entertaining... before lunch and before dinner is good to offer an aperitivo, that is a glass of wine and some snacks, or a crodino, the drink that looks like irn-bru but is very bitter, with no alcool, and perfect with savoury snacks.
At all other times a slice of cake, scones or buiscuits and tea are perfect. Or a cup of coffee, if you feel confident enough to make one for an Italian!

Paola

...I've always found that offering a caffe is fine, but that has to be followed with an offer of a bicchiere di rosso :D

[QUOTE=manopello][FONT="Book Antiqua"][SIZE="3"]Please give me some advice on what drinks and food to offer Italian visitors.I'm really looking forward to spending some time in Italy although our house will not be in much of a state to entertain I feel that I should be prepared for any neighbours who drop in.

If the neighbour is working in his olive grove what drinks do I offer? If I offer some wine will I be considered an alcholic ! And is tea too British?

Help please anyone

Becky[/SIZE][/FONT][/QUOTE]

A nice cool beer or an expresso would be appreciated.

Don't panic Becky, they wont be worried about a coffee or a glass of wine. They will be coming to find out who you are.. make friends and to invite you to their house.

My neighbours left me alone for the first few days, as they could see I was busy trying to get organised and eventually, curiousity got the better of them. There was then a constant stream of neighbours, now friends.. and all the local children running in and out all day.

My immediate neighbour, Paola, now comes every morning I'm there to have a coffee, (or so she tells her husband) but what really happens is she has a sly cigarette while I keep dixie and then we sit down and have a good gossip.

Strange thing is.. her hubby sometimes arrives about an hour later, accepts a coffee and picks up his wifes pack of cigarettes from the kitchen table and hands them to her as they are about to leave.. :D

Much better than buying any newspaper! :)

[QUOTE=manopello][FONT="Book Antiqua"][SIZE="3"]Please give me some advice on what drinks and food to offer Italian visitors.I'm really looking forward to spending some time in Italy although our house will not be in much of a state to entertain I feel that I should be prepared for any neighbours who drop in.

If the neighbour is working in his olive grove what drinks do I offer? If I offer some wine will I be considered an alcholic ! And is tea too British?

Help please anyone

Becky[/SIZE][/FONT][/QUOTE]

If you were invited for dinner at the home of an Italian living in the UK would you expect to be given Italian cuisine or would you be expecting traditional British fare? I'm betting you'd be pretty disappointed if you arrived and got served steak and kidney pie and jam roly poly with custard.

Tea is not too British, and most Italians will not have tasted British tea before. (There is a very good reason why expats in Italy always stock up on tea bags when they return home to Blighty.)

Don't be embarrassed about being British. Expat Italians are certainly not embarrassed about being Italian and act as fantastic ambassadors for their country. Give your guests a British treat.

Slightly related issue - what little present to take to an Italian household as a thank you for dinner, or help?
Wine isn't much use - they probably make their own, a pot plant or a bunch of flowers is always acceptable, but if I'm thanking a really self-sufficient rural Italian I have found the most appreciated little gift is a box of chocs: sounds weird, but it is something they can't grow in their orto! If you happen to have brought some from the UK, a tin of shortbread biscuits is another eye opening wonder for Italians :) similar enough to an Italian delicacy to be unsuspicious, but different enough to be an adventure!

[FONT="Book Antiqua"][SIZE="3"]I think some good teabags possibly Earl grey and shortbread.I have no electricity yet so any cold drinks are out!If I get time I may make a big fruit cake which will keep us going for 2 weeks and will do for guests.

Becky[/SIZE][/FONT]

[QUOTE=manopello][FONT="Book Antiqua"][SIZE="3"]I think some good teabags possibly Earl grey and shortbread.

Becky[/SIZE][/FONT][/QUOTE]

Ah, trusty shortbread. I've travelled the world with shortbread in my suitcase ready to hand out as gifts to people we've stayed with and it never fails. I make fruit cake quite regularly now as Italian friends can't eat enough of that either. At Christmas I have to make two, one for ourselves and another for visitors. Best ever story though on English cakes was when I lived in Paris. We had an M&S then and a French girlfriend dragged me in one afternoon to buy - wait for it - CRUMPETS! She (and many other French friends) reckoned they were the best thing on earth, much preferring them to those heavenly little pastries I used to treat myself to occasionally from Hediard. She was distraught when M&S closed and her supply dried up.

[FONT="Book Antiqua"][SIZE="3"]I've heard about crumpets but the thought of packing these in my case and them getting all sweaty in the June heat doesn't appeal.They are easy to make but you need these little metal rings to pour the batter into when you cook them in a pan.And they do need salted butter!And golden syrup!

Becky[/SIZE][/FONT]

Around here homemade fruit cake always goes down well, but have trouble getting the mixed spices! Not many Italians seem to want to risk the English version of coffee and will often ask for water or wine. Tea? No takers yet, though there is a reasonable choice of tea in one of the larger supermarkets, so who drinks it!?!

[FONT="Book Antiqua"][SIZE="3"]Thanks to you all for your advice.I popped into good old M&S today and bought shortbread!Very impressed as its packed in good quality card which should withstand my rail trip to London and Ryanair flight!
:)
Becky[/SIZE][/FONT]

Do you lot mind not doing this to me please!!!! I'm sitting here drooling at the thought of a piece of shortbread and a glass of Irn Bru------like crodino my foot!!!:(

Dreamy,

Make some shortbread.. tis easy! Butter, sugar, flour.. then press it all together and bake for half an hour. Cant help on the Irn Bru.. sorry. Crodino isn't so bad if you pinch your nose while drinking it!

:D :D

I don't mind crodino but give me my "girders" anytime!!!!
Make shortbread!!!!!! No you need the right water, the butter from our highland "coos" etc etc.

[QUOTE=neilmcn]If you were invited for dinner at the home of an Italian living in the UK would you expect to be given Italian cuisine or would you be expecting traditional British fare? I'm betting you'd be pretty disappointed if you arrived and got served steak and kidney pie and jam roly poly with custard.

Tea is not too British, and most Italians will not have tasted British tea before. (There is a very good reason why expats in Italy always stock up on tea bags when they return home to Blighty.)

Don't be embarrassed about being British. Expat Italians are certainly not embarrassed about being Italian and act as fantastic ambassadors for their country. Give your guests a British treat.[/QUOTE]

Exactly right, I think there is always some give and take. I would say that you could suggest traditional English tea but also mention that you LOVE Italian espresso and that is available as well, the mokka is also ready.
Italians like lots of British things. Now that I have lived in the UK for a few years, every time I go to visit family and friends in Italy, the Italians ask me for Scottish Shorbread (they say it's expensive in Italy), or quality tea, smoked saumon, cashmere, wool, and so on.
Italians are always impressed by your command of the Italian language, mistakes are not important, they are just so amazed and appreciative that you can say a few Italian words. The main thing is to have something to offer and a great smile.

[QUOTE=Dream Academy]Do you lot mind not doing this to me please!!!! I'm sitting here drooling at the thought of a piece of shortbread and a glass of Irn Bru------like crodino my foot!!!:([/QUOTE]

Awww poor you!! A bit of Googling Therapy might help there...

[url]http://www.scottishgourmetfood.co.uk/food/food_shopping_online.htm[/url]

Searched for shortbread here...

[url]http://www.scottishfoodanddrink.com/view_item.aspx?item_id=13337&add_cat=Bakery+and+Cereals+(BG)&add_cat=Shortbread[/url]

I'm sure your neighbours & friends might appreciate it... ;)

PS - perhaps I should start up a food parcel exchange service???

Matron.

That is a very good idea!

:) :)

[QUOTE=Tanny]Around here homemade fruit cake always goes down well, but have trouble getting the mixed spices! Not many Italians seem to want to risk the English version of coffee and will often ask for water or wine. Tea? No takers yet, though there is a reasonable choice of tea in one of the larger supermarkets, so who drinks it!?![/QUOTE]

Lipton yellow label seems to be popular in Italy

Twinings Tea is very famous and considered very fine English Tea.
Italians prefer to drink tea black or with lemon not milk.

Come on Dream Academy - even me (hopeless in the kitchen!!) can manage shortbread :) ...but I'll pass on the IrnBru, thanks!.....now Vimto, or Tizer could tempt me.....

Did you hear about the dyslexic drunk who choked on his own Vimpto?

For me I always find I miss a good curry so this time I will be taking out my own ingredients!

Jackie