Aperitivo

Well....what is apritivo....The experience of the aperitivo is a consolidated Italian tradition. Literally, aperitivo is a pre-meal drink whose scope is to stimulate appetite, but it has come to signify the ritual of going out for a drink at one of the many bars that offer it throughout the peninsula, or of course to have it at home. "Facciamoci un aperitivo” (Let’s have an aperitivo) is what you hear all the time the most casual way to meet up with friends. It is like having a coffee in many other places....It gives you a chance to socialize and relax while snacking before dinner- often spoiling dinner altogether!

What drinks are fit for an aperitivo? Well, first of all there are the classic ones: bitter carbonated drinks like like Crodino (non-alcoholic), Campari Soda and Sanbitter (non-alcoholic) come already bottled as soda drinks. Aperol and Campari are mixed in with different sodas and spirits to create an aperitivo. Another all-time classic is Martini, which in Italy refers to white Vermouth (Martini is the brand) served on the rocks with a twist of lemon. Many more mixed drinks are always available.

In recent years, Italians have been switching to wine as an aperitivo. You will see bars that offer a wide variety of wines by the glass. Wonderful reds like Brunello, vino nobile di Montepulciano and Chianti are offered alongside light and breezy whites like Vermentino and Pignoletto, with Prosecco being the favorite pre-dinner sparkler. Wines have become an acceptable alternative to the more traditional drinks.

Italian bars serve a wide variety of finger food during aperitivo time. Most commen are nuts, chips or olives...but sometimes even a little bit cheese or salami or puff pastry snacks.....Bars will charge for the wine or drinks, but not for the food, which is supposed to complement the bar offering.

For many Italians, Campari is their drink of choice for aperitivo, and it forms the base of many traditional Italian aperitivo drinks....some “traditional” aperitivo drinks based on bitter alcohols like Campari and Aperol: the Americano, the Spritz, and the Negroni.

A Negroni is gin, vermouth and Campari, and garnished with an orange peel...see pic below:

Negroni

The Americano starts out like the Negroni but instead of using gin, soda is added to the cocktail in a tall glass that lightens up the cocktail quite a bit....see pic below:

Americano

Aperol Spritz: Soda, prosecco / sparkling white wine and Aperol, one of my favourite.....see pic below:

Aperol Spritz

The Bellini, invented at Harry’s Bar in Venice, is a good choice if you like prosecco and peaches but it is not always widely available if the bar doesn’t stock peach juice or puree....see pic:

Bellini

Now you might be asking yourself and....well...first of all I just thought I would give you an introduction to aperitivo and secondly....it amazed me...when i was at the supermarket (Coop)...i actually found half an isle (and the isles are long) dedicated to aperitivo....that I have never seen before...so what exactly was there....well...exactly the ingredients that I have been mentioning...Sanbitter, Crodino, Aperol, Martini, salted peanuts, various chips, various marinated olives....etc etc....it was there....absoloutely amazing...i just loved it....and guess what....i even took a pic...cause I thought that some of you might not believe me...here is the proof....

Aperitivo isle

The second half of the isle was all chips...so actually an entire isle dedicated to aperitivo.....so...that is it from me for tonight...hope you enjoyed the educational blog...i guess many of you might of already known this...but for those that did not...well I guess you learnt something new...hahaha....soo goodnite...chat soon....

 

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