Eating Italian Food in Seattle the Italian Way

There are numbers of Italian restaurants in the world, especially in the US. Individuals and families in the US go to Italian restaurants and eat just like normal Americans do. Although the place is Italian, they do not require you to follow the Italian dining etiquette strictly. Do you want to know how people in Italy eat? Do you want to eat Italian food in Seattle the Italian way? Here are some of the common practices of Italians when they eat. Check them out below.

Using utensils and coming on time

When dining in, the feast officially starts only when the host has started eating.  On that note, everybody can pick their utensils, usually knives and forks. Italians do not switch their knives and forks from left to right or right to left. The fork is always on the left hand and the knife on the right. When you are invited to eat out or at somebody’s home, guests don’t usually have to worry too much about being late. Most of the dinner hosts are usually still cooking during the agreed time. So, it would be okay for you to be a tad late.

Eating Spaghetti in Italy

Spaghetti are eaten using only fork in Italy. You don’t use a spoon to eat the pasta. You get the fork and spear few strands of the pasta. You can then twist until  you get a good-sized bundle enough so you can place everything in your mouth. It is improper to slurp  a long strand. Make sure that when you twist the pasta, nothing is out of the bundle.

Eating Pizza in Italy

Americans usually do the fold and hold with pizza, but in Italy, they use knives to slice a part of the pizza and pick the slice with a fork. They do that because their pizzas are usually served uncut. You will definitely need a knife to cut the pizza the way you want it. This is however true or required during formal meals or when you are dining out. However, if you are at home, you can be more causal by picking the pizza and take a bite.

Drinking Coffee

Coffee is drunk during the mornings only in Italy. Most residents, stand by the counter when they drink their espresso. The  café usually gives a service charge if you take a seat. The fee is often more expensive than the price of the espresso itself. Although caffe latte and latte macchiato both have milk and coffee, there is a big difference between the two. Caffe latte is Coffee stain with a little milk, while latte macchiato is milk stained with a little coffee.

Eating in Public and at Home

It is quite unacceptable if you eat while you are walking in the streets of Italy. Even a simple sandwich, you have to be seated in a dining area or in a restaurant and eat properly. However, eating gelato on the road is accepted.

You are not required to everything when you are eating Italian food in Seattle. However, you travel to Italy and would want to know the culture, the points above will be very helpful.