Small bites may comprise taralli, savory pies, cold cuts, homemade bread, pizza, olives, pickles, and much more, all the perfect companions to a glass of wine or classic cocktails such as the Negroni Sbagliato or Spritz. The U.S. has a penchant for aperitivo, too. According to USA Today, 45% of millennials prefer low-alcohol drinks.
Full Answer
What is l aperitivo?
An aperitivo is a pre-meal drink; the experience of aperitivo is a cultural ritual. Derived from the Latin aperire, the tradition is meant “to open” the stomach before dining. Accordingly, for centuries Italians have said cheers – cin cin – over drinks and appetizers in the early evening hours between work and dinner.
What drinks are aperitivo?
Traditionally, an aperitivo is a carbonated, bitter, and low-alcohol beverage, such as the Aperol spritz, which is made with Prosecco, Aperol, and a spritz of sparkling mineral water. More flexible today, orders range from wine to beer to a variety of mixed drinks.
What does aperitivo taste like?
Typically, the Aperitivo is somewhat dry and a little bitter, with a refreshing lightness and delicate fizziness. Full of flavour - it's optimised to stimulate your appetite after all - and highly aromatic, without dulling your taste buds, the Aperitivo is perfection in a glass.
How do you serve aperitivo drink?
Huff suggests starting with a bottle of Campari and a good-quality sweet vermouth, such as Cocchi Vermouth di Torino. To make the godfather of them all, the Mi-To, mix equal parts Campari and sweet vermouth over ice. Or top the drink with soda water and garnish it with an orange slice to make an Americano.
Is aperitivo sweet?
While the spritz and the Negroni have stepped into their leading roles with confidence, there's a supporting cast of aperitivo drinks you'll find in Italy built around a backbone of bitterness—ranging in style from sweet and bubbly to austere and dry—that are worthy of attention.
How do I order aperitivo?
Typically, someone will seat you and take your drink order. You don't have to drink alcohol in order to take part in the aperitivo, but you do have to order a beverage of some sort if you want to eat. Do yourself a favor and try something beyond a typical soda.
How much does aperitivo cost?
Prices range, of course, but in general, an aperitivo including food and a glass of wine costs between 8 and 10 euros in Italy's major cities.
Is aperitivo the same as Aperol?
Aperol is a lot lighter, both in alcohol and flavor, leaning more towards a slightly alcoholic soda syrup than a stiff drink. And Luxardo Aperitivo, the newest of the bunch to get into the U.S. (it only arrived at the beginning of the summer), is more on the Aperol side of the family, and perhaps a little bit sweeter.
The Italian aperitivo is a little tour of flavors that can be repeated every evening. Here are some easy recipes to make it distinctive
It’s not dinner, nor is it a snack. To understand the Italian aperitivo, imagine a table loaded with tasty tidbits and glasses full of hope, a way to savor the interlude between late afternoon and dinnertime. Everybody has a favorite drink to sip while taking life one nibble at a time, enjoying conversation around the table.
Drinks
Try a Spritz, a Sbagliato or a Bellini. Or simply a glass of prosecco, a white or red still wine. The important thing is to appreciate your drink while not overdoing the alcohol. Save the stronger stuff for after dinner.
Food
Naturally, eating is essential during an aperitivo. In Italy, where there is a glass, there is also a little dish of something simple but tempting. There will always be a selection of salumi and cheeses, little focaccias, bruschetta and taralli.
What is the Italian ritual of drinking?
Aperitivo, the quintessential Italian ritual, combines the lightheartedness of drinking, good food, and conviviality. In the fifth century BCE, Greek physician Hippocrates (history’s first mixologist), would prescribe Vinum Hippocraticum to patients suffering from appetite loss. The white wine remedy had been steeped in dittany flowers, wormwood, and rue.
Do Italians have aperitivos?
Today, 70% of Italians enjoy an aperitivo before dinner with some degree of frequency. A time for an after-work chat or a start for lunch or dinner, the aperitivo ritual slowed down during the lockdown period, but Italians found a solution by having virtual get-togethers at home via Zoom with a glass of wine in hand. Small bites may comprise taralli, savory pies, cold cuts, homemade bread, pizza, olives, pickles, and much more, all the perfect companions to a glass of wine or classic cocktails such as the Negroni Sbagliato or Spritz.
