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Benvenuti to Cositutti
Miei Amici
Even though school has started and the Labor Day weekend is just around the corner, Italian's are still enjoying a summertime Campari and soda along the shores of Lake Como. That means that summers not over yet and there's still plenty of time for a SUMMER APERTIVO PARTY!
In Italy, l'apertivo is a drink designed to accompany the Italian l'antipasto, the opening to a meal that prepares your palate for the courses to come. But in Italy today the traditional pre-dinner apertivo or aperitif can also mean a stop at one of the many cafes or bars that serve l'apertivi, usually accompanied by complimentary appetizers called struzzichini. Here is where Italians do some serious grazing and why not, the array of "small bites" that are served at apertivo bars is the ultimate nibble. What is offered depends on the cafe or bar but in most cases it is far better than a typical "bar appetizer"in the States. Here are examples from various l'apertivi bars I've been to in Milano, the "Capital of Apertivo" in Italy.
- Green and Black Olives served individually or as a crema, an Italian vegetable spread
- Caprese with mozzarella di buffala and fresh basil
- Grilled vegetables like eggplant and zucchini
- An assortment of Italian cheese
- Afettati misti, an assortment of sliced cured regional meats
You can take inspiration from this list to create your own Italian Apertivo Menu and . . . Read More for Summer Apertivo Party recipes from Cositutti.
As for the drinks, whether it's a Campari in Como, Prosecco in the Veneto or a Negroni in Milano, Italian apertivi are the perfect way to make summertime last a little longer.
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