2165 Pre-Dinner Drinks when in town - to eat or not to eat?

When we try and have a few drinks (at a bar) before going out to a restaurant, we always get 'free food' with our drinks. Bruschetta, olives, cheese, salami, crisps, corn snacks etc etc.

Whilst it is wonderful in one respect, in another it poses a problem......

If we eat the free food, then we get more with the next drink, and by the time you have had a couple of drinks, you have eaten enough food to spoil your dinner.

If you don't eat any at all - is that rude??????

Sometimes you are brought so much 'free' food that I feel I ought to order a second drink. This can often result in more food being brought out!!!!

All I want is a couple of beers/glasses of wine before my dinner. In terms of social ettiquette, what is the 'done' thing regarding these freebies? :confused:

Category
Food & Drink

[QUOTE=Ric]When we try and have a few drinks (at a bar) before going out to a restaurant, we always get 'free food' with our drinks. Bruschetta, olives, cheese, salami, crisps, corn snacks etc etc.

Whilst it is wonderful in one respect, in another it poses a problem......

If we eat the free food, then we get more with the next drink, and by the time you have had a couple of drinks, you have eaten enough food to spoil your dinner.

If you don't eat any at all - is that rude??????

Sometimes you are brought so much 'free' food that I feel I ought to order a second drink. This can often result in more food being brought out!!!!

All I want is a couple of beers/glasses of wine before my dinner. In terms of social ettiquette, what is the 'done' thing regarding these freebies? :confused:[/QUOTE]

Actually the free edibles are there to balance the alcohol intake as Italians know its dangerous to drink on an empty stomach. Just take a few olives or a bruschetta and leave the rest. It would be considered impolite to devour everything set before you.

This doesnt happen everywhere in Italy, I'd troff the lot and forget about lunch if you get that much :p

[QUOTE=elainecraig]This doesnt happen everywhere in Italy, I'd troff the lot and forget about lunch if you get that much :p[/QUOTE]

Seems to happen everywhere I go in Carovigno and Ostuni..... not the same for you Elaine? :p