Destination: ITALY
Things To Know Bella Italia Diverse Regions The People Country of Contrasts Exploring Italy Culinary Traditions Pastimes The Etruscans	Culinary Traditions Italian cooking is regional and simple, relying on the superb quality of the ingredients, and you'll find wonderful dishes wherever you go. In a country where frozen food is practically nonexistent, menus are dictated by the seasons, with a rich variety of dishes punctuating the different months. The various types of restaurant can be confusing. The terms ristorante, osteria and trattoria are fairly interchangeable; tavola calda and pizzeria imply something a bit more humble. Lunch has traditionally been the main meal, but there is a trend toward making dinner the extravaganza. The evening menu often consists of antipasto (hors d'oeuvre), the first course (primo) of pasta, soup or rice, the meat or fish second course (secondo) with its accompanying contorni (vegetables) or insalata (salad), followed by formaggio, dolce or frutta (cheese, dessert or fruit). If a meal this size seems a bit daunting, choose just a couple of courses. Italians automatically drink wine with their meals. Denominazione d'Origine Controllata (DOC) is a method of classification that guarantees the origin of the wine, and that it has been made following the guidelines for a particular area. However, it is no indication of quality.	COUNTRY Introduction Things To Know Survival Guide TimeLine Essential Info REGION Tuscany & Florence CITIES Rome Florence Naples Venice MAPS World Europe TRAVEL BOOK