Day 6: Meal Time

As I was staring down my tea this morning, I decided I should make a post about the meals in Italy. So, here you go: Meal time in Italy!

All meals are taken with the family; some members may be missing due to work or school, but meals are never taken alone.

Merenda, or snack time, can happen during school during a designated break between classes or after a person has just come home after work/gym/wherever and it is not time for the meal; the snacks I have seen range from chips/crisps to cookies.

Breakfast: Anybody who's afraid to change your meals, don't worry! Cereal exists in Italy. It, however, does not seem to be the main choice for breakfast. Usually, breakfast is something light and a little sweet; croissants with jam, various kinds of shortbread cookies, and sweet breads. This is accompanied by milk (warmed, and sometimes with cocoa, in the winter), tea, or juice. Breakfast takes place before school/church, about seven in the morning.

Lunch: This meal is a bit more flexible. Risotto (with vegetables, meat, or fruit, surprisingly), types of vegetable pies, filled pasta...Water (natural and carbonated) and pop may be present at the table, along with several cheeses. Lunch usually happens around one or two in the afternoon, depending on when people come home from school. (Note: From what I know, people who work and cannot come home for lunch will go out for lunch with colleagues.)

Dinner: Pasta, pasta, pasta...or maybe pizza. Vegetables may be present as a side to your meal. Meat (salami or prosciutto) and cheese (whatever type the family is fond of -- here asiago, grana padano, and parmesan) will be on the table for extra snacking. Fresh bread will be cut to accompany the cheese and meat. After the meal there will be dessert, something fruit based. Macedonia, or fruit salad, is a common dessert. For drinks: water (natural and carbonated), pop, and, of course, wine. Dinner occurs between seven and eight in the evening. It can last about two (or more) hours.

Note: Television may be on during breakfast and lunch, when the meal is only for a few people of the family. Dinner, however, is about conversation. This is the time when family relaxes and catches up with each other.