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The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. Discover terminology, definitions and pronunciations of all italian food terms: on La Cucina Italiana you can find the most complete italian food glossary online.
- arrosto: A roast. Can be used as an invariable adjective, as in patate arrosto, or roast potatoes, or a noun, as in arrosto di maiale, roast pork. A synonym, more or less, of al forno (q.v.)
- arrosto morto: A typical pan roasting technique for meats combining dry and wet cooking. The meat is initially browned in oil or butter, then braised in liquid.
- all’agro: A term that described a dish that features an ingredient, usually a vegetable such as green beans (pictured below), that is blanched and then dressed with olive oil and fresh lemon juice or, less often, vinegar.
- aromi: refers collectively to herbs and other flavoring ingredients like garlic or ginger.
- Buono!
- Che bontà!
- Squisito
- Buon Appetito
- È Delizioso
- Ottimo
- Eccellente
- Saporito
- Mangiamo!
- È Pronto
Also buona/buoni/buone This is the most important word you should learn to describe food that tastes good. You should use it to describe excellent foods, making sure to adjust based on if the food is masculine (buono), feminine singular (buona), masculine plural (buoni) or feminine plural (buone). To indicate that you really, really like something,...
Meaning “how good!”, you should use this phrase to share your enthusiasm for a dish. Use this for any food, masculine, feminine, plural or singular, no matter what you are eating. Che bontà! Potrei mangiare questo spezzatino tutti i giorni! How delicious! I could eat this stew everyday!
Also squisita/squisiti/squisite Meaning “excellent” or “exquisite” this is the best term to use if you are really blown away by a dish or food that someone has prepared for you. It’s most commonly used in exclamation right after trying something for the first time. È squisito questo pollo. Non l’ho mai visto preparato così. Posso chiedere la ricett...
You will hear this around the table quite frequently from friends, family and in restaurants right before you start your meal as a way to say “enjoy your meal”. Use it right after the food is served as people are about to dig in. Buon Appetito a tutti! Enjoy your meal everybody!
Also È Deliziosa/Sono deliziosi/Sono deliziose Another term to describe how delicious the food is, although it’s more commonly used to describe how wonderful a person is, Quella signora era deliziosa! (That woman was charming). To read more about how to say delicious in Italian, read Delicious In Italian – Italian Pronunciation + Audio. Wow, è deli...
Also Ottima/Ottimi/ottime Meaning “the best”, this term is commonly used in Italian to describe that whatever they are eating is simple at its best. Ottimi! Questi spaghetti sono perfetti conditi con questo sugo! The best! This spaghetti is perfect with this sauce!
Also eccellenti Meaning “excellent” to describe how good a food or meal is. This is not as commonly used as ottimo/buonissimo but you do hear it. Il pesce era eccellente stasera al ristorante. The fish was excellent at the restaurant tonight.
Also saporita/saporiti/saporite Meaning “flavorful”, this term may be used to indicate how well seasoned and tasty a dish is but unlike words like ottimo, it cannot be used standing alone. It must be used as an adjective. Le verdure sono molto più saporite quando sono fatte al forno. Vegetables are much more flavorful when roasted in the oven.
“Let’s eat!” is used when the food is ready and everyone should either start eating or head to the table. Mangiamo! Tutti a tavola per favore prima che si raffredda! Let’s eat! Everyone please come to the table before it gets cold!
Meaning “it’s ready” to let people know that the food or meal is ready. It’s often used in Italian households to call everyone to the table. When I prepare dinner at home, I always yell “It’s ready” and if the kids don’t come running my husband will give a second call “È pronto!” – usually one of them will get their attention! È pronto! Stasera man...
Apr 3, 2024 · Primi: Primi, or “first dishes,” usually include pasta, risotto (creamy rice) or soup. Pasta, of course, comes in an especially endless variety of shapes, sizes, textures, and sauces. As with everything else on the menu, of course, these dishes will very much depend on what region of Italy you’re in. Many restaurants serve al pomodoro ...
Americans got hold of the concept, added cream, and called it a “sauce.”. The next course on the menu – the secondi – is meat, poultry, or fish, the Italian words for which are carne, pollame, and pesce. First up, beef. The Italian word for beef is manzo, so an order of roast beef, for instance, would be arrosto di manzo.
Oct 10, 2020 · Aperitivo – pre-dinner drinks and snacks/food, usually between 7 and 8; Traditional Italian meal courses. The traditional Italian meal sees several courses. These are traditional in bigger meals at home and also what you see on Italian menus in restaurants. They are: Antipasti – starters / appetizers. You find a huge variety of these ...
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Jan 14, 2023 · Shutterstock. Classic proteins are easy to spot on Italian menus, like "pollo" (chicken) and "bistecca" (steak). But many Italian restaurants will carry a wide variety of meat, and there may be some that you do not immediately recognize if it is not spelled out in plain English. "Agnello," for example, is lamb, and may appear in the Secondi ...
