Up to one century ago, people in Italy and in the whole world fed on what they could produce. Only recently most of the population in the western countries have been able to choose what to eat, independently from what the land can produce.

CHANGES IN RESTAURANTS AND EATING HABITS

The 1950s are considered to be the period when our country was able to become one of the most industrialized countries in the world and therefore lived a period of amazing economic development. For the first time after the second world war people could afford buying and doing things they had never been able to afford before.

As a consequence, even the attitudes towards food and eating habits

changed deeply. The introduction of electric appliances, the most

important of which is the use of the fridge, contributed to these changes.

For the first time people also started eating out in family-run restaurants

called “TRATTORIE” on special occasions. Here they were served very tasty traditional dishes at cheap prices.

Many have been the changes in food attitudes in the last decades that witness important changes in society and culture in general: the access to the new means of communication and the opportunity of travelling all around the world are factors that can change the food attitudes of a whole population.

Italians love traditions, they are open to innovations, to the ethnic, but only moderately; they pay attention to calories, but not too much. They like eating typical local dishes, tasty food, slow food rather than fast food.In Italy, tradition and innovation in catering happily and harmoniously coexist and have given birth to many different types of catering.

Traditional Catering Despite the socio-cultural differences among the various Italian areas, it is still possible, wherever you may go to taste the traditional dishes of the Italian cuisine.

A typical example of this type of traditional restaurants are the so called TRATTORIE, generally small family-run establishments where you can enjoy the simple, genuine, tasty cuisine based on locally grown products. 

Pizzerie They are getting more and more similar to restaurants as they also serve a variety of starters, first courses, second courses and desserts.

Fast foods Especially loved by children and teenagers, it is becoming popular even among adults as it is convenient for those who don’t have much time to spend on their lunch during the break or for those who want to eat out without spending much money. 

Tavole Calde

A Tavola Calda is a typical Italian style fast-food, where you can taste already prepared dishes on a self-service basis. You can choose among first courses, stewed meat, cold dishes, mixed salads, vegetables and desserts of any kind. Very often they also offer a take-away service.

Ethnic Restaurants Migrations from different parts of the world towards our country have led to the introduction of customs previously unknown. Many ethnic restaurants (Chinese, Japanese, Arabian, Moroccan, Indian, Mexican) have been opened which offer specialties from many different cultures,

where together with new tastes you can also experiment different ways of preparing and presenting the same dish.

Vegetarian Restaurants

Trends, ideologies, but most of all the choice of following a healthy diet has led to the creation of many Vegetarian restaurants, where all the food served is based on vegetables.

Snack Bars and Pubs

Snack bars, generally located close to offices, malls, universities, once used to serve sandwiches only; today they also offer a variety of fast meals based on pre-cooked first courses, salads, vegetables and desserts.

PubsPubs are becoming more and more popular among young people that want to drink a beer or eat sandwiches, hamburgers, chips or salads.

Wine Bars and Osterias

A wine bar is the modern name for the antique Italian “Osteria”, where wine is at the centre of the whole business. Actually, many things have changed in comparison with the old Osterias: these used to sell local wine in carafes or in take-away containers brought by the customer himself.

In wine bars you can taste a full range of Italian and International types of wine, both bottled and by the glass. The wines are generally accompanied by a selection of sweet or savory snacks or light dishes.

Italian food:

Come, Taste,

Enjoy!!!