The Magic of the Italian Meal – Parte Due

Two weeks ago, we shared part one of our two part series — highlighting the magic of the Italian meal.  Today, it’s time for your second helping of Italian culinary traditions.

In case you missed the first half of the Italian meal, you can read up on it here. To recap, courses 1-5 are:

APERITIVO
ANTIPASTI
PRIMI
SECONDI
CONTORNI

Now that you’ve enjoyed the main part of your Italian meal, let’s move on to the closing dishes — including dessert and the ever-popular digestivo liqueur.

he Magic of the Italian Meal : Courses 5-10

INSALATA – The salad dish may be skipped if the contorni include vegetables.

FORMAGGI E FRUTTA – This dish is the beginning of the end of our meal. Dedicated solely to cheese and fruit you can expect to see selections such as gorgonzola, pecorino and parmgiano-reggiano alongside seasonal fruits.

DOLCI – So many delicious sweet dishes can be offered here — from decadent tiramisu to a lighter sorbetto.

CAFFE – A strong espresso pairs particularly well with a decadent dolce.

DIGESTIVO – The final touch to your authentic Italian meal is an alcoholic drink, which Italians think helps with digestion. Your drink might include grappa, limoncello or an amaro.

These are the final five courses which make up the traditional Italian meal. True to its culture, Italian food is rich in flavor and tradition. Don’t forget to read part 1 of our delectable series! You’ll want to enjoy the entire banquet deliciousness.

What is your favorite Italian dish? We’d love to hear from you. Explore Italian food first-hand on our next Old School Little Italy Food Tour. We’ll immerse you in the tastes of authentic Italian food in sunny San Diego.

Buon appetito!

P.S. Our tasty tours fill up fast so be sure to reserve your spot today.