Spaghetti is one of the most popular dishes to come from Italy. Everybody likes eating them, as it is quite funny and , most importantly, they taste so good! But not many people know how spaghetti should be eaten, even if there are so many Italians living in the United States nowadays. And fewer people have learned about the existence of the Italian table manners when you are in front of a dish of spaghetti.



It is not very complicated, yet it is unfortunately not among the most well known things by the American people. So, let us revise the manners Italians care so much for! It will not take long, and the outcome will be very pleasant.

Well, the hands must be kept on the table during the meal. I said the hands and not elbows! This is not a very polite thing to do! You will also have to wait for everyone to be get their food before beginning to eat. When eating pasta, the fork must not be too overloaded, as this is a very frequent mistake people do. Should you see that it is too much pasta in the fork, or that the spaghetti are too long, you can always put it down and pick a smaller bunch! No one will look strangely at you! Roll it again until you form a precise bundle, just the right size to go into your mouth! It's good, isn't it?

Sounds are an absolute don't while having pasta, so never slurp! Even though spaghetti can sometimes splatter the sauce, pay attention so that napkins are not allowed, unless you are a small child. This is why spaghetti are not appropriate for large or formal parties. You can use short pasta instead, as rigatoni or penne are easier to serve at such an event.

Scarpetta, which means "little shoe", is not a good thing to do for a formal occasion. This word defines eating pasta sauce, which is so good, that every little bit must be wiped out of the dinner plate with a piece of fresh bread. The Scarpetta is allowed and even encouraged at an informal event. Everyone at the table will do the same, after, of course complimenting the cook for the great job he or she had done.

Is it hard to learn Italian table manners? I guess not and I hope you will have the opportunity to practice as soon a s possible!