Are You Able To Eat An Entire Traditional Italian Meal?

Rosie

Rosie

Community Member
Apr 6, 2013
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Italy
A typical Italian meal structure consist of:

aperitivo: an aperitivo drink + snacks: olives, cheese, small pizzas
antipasto: salami, prosciutto, cheese, small paninis and other finger foods
primo: pasta, rice, soup and so on (no meat is served)
secondo: meat is served :)
contorno: the side dish served with the secondo
dolce: dessert, of course, and/or cheese and fruit
coffee: no Italian meal is finished without the coffee!

Ok, this is a typical meal many and Italians still take these aspects into account.
However, I just can't figure out how are they able to eat so much?
I can't even eat the second course, if I have soup! Or, if I have a dish of pasta... that's it, that's my lunch, no more meat, no more anything (except for dessert.... there's always room for Italian dessert!)

I was wondering, are any of you guys able to eat an entire meal?

The most typical meal I can think of: appetizers, followed by pasta, followed by meat with vegetables, followed by cheese and fruit, followed by coffee.
I'd end up in the ER after eating so much :D
 
This is a typical holiday meal, something we have twice a year.

In common life when you have guests or parents at home you offer either aperitivo or antipasto, and they are seldom seen on italian tables when guests are not expected.

Primo and Secondo in theory should be half the size of main dishes found in other countries. So in other words Primo and Secondo toghether should make the size of a normal main.

Dolce is another thing we serve when guests are at home, but actually most meals end with fruit.
 
That sounds amazing. I probably couldn't eat the entire meal, but I would definitely eat as much of each as I can. I love the Italian cuisine, and I'll definitely try and eat as many different Italian meals when I visit, but I still don't know which ones. Anyhow, no, I wouldn't be able to eat all that. I would probably eat a bit of everything, if that's possible.
 
I am very happy to say I have manged this once or twice, but these types of meals tend to be eaten over several hours, so you don't have to cram it all in at once! This is linked to the very sociable side of eating in Italy - a meal like this is an event, an occasion to be savoured and enjoyed with family and friends.
 
No, I've never managed it, buy have come close. It also takes time so I can only do in company that I really enjoy. As a vegetarian I don't have a secondo, but an extra portion of cortoni and I usually share a dessert, but I do love my coffee at the end and to finish the wine.
 
@Hermann yes, this is more of a social event than a dinner :)
I was just curious to see if anyone has ever managed to eat all these courses! It's just so much food! In my family, a big meal is soup, followed by the main course, followed by dessert. And even that is too much :D

I have been to a few social dinners, just last year I attended 2 of them. But for someone who is used to eating one course, every day, so much food all of a sudden is intimidating! :D

It's true that such a big meal goes on for hours, and it's really a shame not to try out everything that is served, especially if you're at someone's house and not in a restaurant. Someone who will cook for a few guests will put more effort into it than the employees at a restaurant :P
 
I'm actually not a social or a highly skilled eater. :p Eating while talking makes me nervous, and I have very little space for soup and salad or starters before I could go on to the entree and main course. I try to make sure I have enough space for main course, and I usually have liquid desserts. If I have liquid starters, then solid desserts. :) Anything too chunky should be in the main course. And I always, always need to have lots of water in between meals.
 
I am only ever able to eat half a plate of the main dish. Starchy food does not agree with me very much. That's why I always opt for a salad with olives and goats cheese and some baked vegetables, or I order a seafood dish. The traditional Italian diet is generally heavy and rich. But as you go further south of the country, you will find a different, more Mediterranean diet. At least, that's my experience.
 
This does sound like an extremely wonderful evening of eating. I wouldn't be able to eat all those courses. I would to give it a try though. Once in my life I would like to say I survived this.
 
Once in a year i go with friends to a osteria hidden between Romagna hills.
We drive all morning to get there, sit at 12.30 - 13.00 , end the meal around 17.00
Then every time the owner tells us he could cook dinner too if we stay some more time, we refuse cause the way back home is long.
 
When Italian food is as good as it is, heck yes, I can eat an entire meal with all the courses. It may take me a while to finish, but I love to eat and love every bit of Italian meals. I usually start with soup, then pasta, meat, desert. I only indulge in Italian food when I'm dining out, so I make sure I'm hungry.
 
Maybe if I started off completely hungry and ate very slowly! Every time I went over to my Italian friends family's house, I always make sure NOT to eat first, since I know both her mother and grandmother will try and usually succeed, to stuff me full of food! Delicious food, but man I would never leave hungry leaving their place!
 
Oh.my days. My mouth is watering. I don't know about finishing it but I would certainly give it a good shot. Maybe if the portions are small I'd be able to eat it all. Them I'd hit the gym hard
 
Thankfully, this is not a regular occurrence at Italian dinner tables. I am proud to report to the forum that I have survived two 7 course Italian holiday dinners. I didn't think I'd make it to tell the tale after the second course but I survived and could barely eat lunch the next day.
 
Well, when I was Italy the dishes were pretty small and the people tended to eat very slowly. Dinner could last several hours. Luckily, tourists get a free pass.
 
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