Italy Panorama

Aperitivi and Stuzzichini

It’s rather telling that in Italy, where la dolce vita is alive and well, there is no happy hour. No designated time for “getting happy” is needed in the bel paese. They do, however, enjoy their time-honored ritual of the aperitivo, when they gather in the piazza to meet with friends over pre-dinner drinks and snacks, which are said to stimulate the appetite for the upcoming meal.

Ready for an aperativo?

Popular choices for aperitivi are liqueurs that are slightly-bitter yet slightly-sweet, like Campari or Aperol with soda, or nonalcoholic versions such as Crodino and SanBitter. If bitter isn’t your taste, you can always fall back on a glass of wine, which tends to be a smaller serving than you’d consume with a meal. Prosecco is also a perennial favorite.

Wine and a snack

Because all things in Italy revolve around food, the aperitivo is often served with tasty tidbits called stuzzichini alongside. In Roman dialect, stuzzichini are toothpicks, which are liberally used to serve the little snacks. The little nibbles help you sate your appetite while sipping your drink. They may be as simple as small rounds of bread topped with salami, but frequently include tastes of the local specialty items and serve to tide you over until the dinner hour. Now that’s something to be happy about.