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In Italy breakfast is considered a minor occasion. However as many children do not have school in the afternoon and some businesses close at midday, lunch is far more significant.

A typical Italian meal will consist of:

• A combination of starters called antipasti (the term antipasto meaning “before the pasta”). The antipasti could include cold meats (ham, salami, mortadella, or coppa), fish and various versions of seafood (anchovies, sardines, tuna fish), olives, mushrooms and other vegetables (peppers in olive oil, aubergines, artichokes). Small quiches, vegetable pies, stuffed vegetables, pieces of pizza, ham and melon, tomatoes and mozzarella may also be served
• A warm starter, called primo piatto, which may include: pasta in all its different shapes and tastes (for example with vegetables, fish, meat or sauce and cheese), or rice cooked as a risotto, gnocchi (small dumplings made of potatoes or flour or both), polenta which is made out of corn flour or some kind of soup or minestrone.
  • There are many types of pasta, each one usually named according to its shape. Each shape (due to it’s ability to hold a sauce) complements a specific sauce. Whether the pasta is fresh or dry, it has to be cooked in boiling water until it is al dente (”to the tooth”/firm). Some pastas such as spaghetti, tagliatelle, linguini, fettucini or vermicelli are long and thin whereas other ones have very different shapes: penne are hollow oblongs, conchiglie look like shells, farfalle look like butterflies, spirali like spirals. Some pasta (ravioli, lasagna or cannelloni) may be stuffed or garnished with meat or vegetables
• A main dish, the secondo piatto is generally fish or meat served with or without a side dish (contorno). In main courses, the most common meats will be veal, chicken and pork. Lamb is also served, especially during feasts such as Easter or Christmas, and beef is mainly served as steak (bistecca). Vegetables (potatoes, carrots, or beans) and salads may be served with the main dish
• A dessert, often fruit and/or ice-cream, is popular; the best known desserts include tiramisu, panna cotta, and zabaglione

   

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