Italian eating.

I. Never eat cheese with fish or seafood. Exceptions is if you are Sicilian and even then cheese is used sparsely. iI you do want cheese with fish use breadcrumbs the poor man's cheese.

2. Do not order a coke after 10 a.m.

3. Do not eat anywhere where they herd you to come in.

4. Be suspect of green bits in gelato They may not be for real.

5. Expect only a simple salad dressing of some variation of oil and vinegar.

6. Expect good dinners to take a while. So do not rush it. Eat slowly

7. Do not expect more than a simple bread and a drink for breakfast. That is right no eggs. talian breakfasts consist of yogurt, bread, cereal, fruit and sometimes local cheeses.

8. Pasta is not a side dish.

9. Never cut pasta, except if you are subject to choling.

10, Pasta should never be over cooked.I.e like mashed potatoes.

11. Ketchup/catsup is not a sauce but is a condiment.

12  Meat and pasta should not be eaten together except as part of a baked dish where the meat is part of the sauce.

0DH. Pizza is like a sandwich, so use your hands to eat it.

14. Other rules.

• Don't expect everything to be the same as "home"—if it was the same, it would be no fun!
• Don't order food/drink from the counter and take it and sit at the table.  Table service is just that, its service at the table.  Or, if you prefer, you can stand and eat at the counter and order the same food for less money.
• Don't speak and laugh loudly in restaurants.  This is considered very disrespectful.
• Don't be demanding--it may actually get you less--not more.
• Don't raise your hand or snap your fingers at the waiters.  Fast service is considered poor service in Italy.  Wait to make eye contact with your waiter if you need his attention.
• Don’t expect the first floor of the hotel to actually be the first floor.  In Italy, their first floor is actually our second floor and their second floor is actually our third floor.  You get the idea!
• Don’t believe that Americana coffee tastes like our coffee, as it is usually watered down espresso.  Rather try a cappuccino or drink tea if you don’t like espresso.