Being Italian, we do things a little differently than you're typical family. Here are 15 signs that you are having an Italian dinner.
1. Your "dinner" starts at 2.
By Sunday "dinner," we mean afternoon brunch that will keep you full for about two days.
2. There's yelling.
Lots of yelling. Half English, half Italian. There is no such thing as an indoor voice.
3. The table feels like 100 feet long.
Your family is colossal, and only keeps getting bigger.
4. Everyone's first thought is "Where's the bread?"
And then your cousins proceed to fight over who gets the extra sauce to dunk their Italian bread in.
5. You're eating pasta first.
Pasta is the appetizer and there is no such thing as "one serving."
6. Salad comes last with the main dish.
Yes, feasting upon Cesar salad and bread sticks before our meal is a myth.Our salad is topped with oil and vinegar (what is dressing?)
7. When you think the food stops coming out the oven - it doesn't.
Magic
8. There is constant worry that there is not enough food.
However, you will leave with enough leftovers to feed a small nation.
9. Stuffed artichokes are a gift from God.
And there is constant bickering on who takes the rest home.
10. You are never full.
Even when you think you are, you're not. No one will let you leave the table without taking a last bite of food.
11. Espresso.
What could be commonly confused to the average person as meth - is prepared on the stove.
12. The vino is homemade.
And this process partakes in the basement of someone at the dinner table.
13. The basil is straight from Nonna's garden.
As fresh as it gets.
14. Desert starts with clementines and chestnuts.
And ends with zeppole and struffoli.
15. It takes about a half hour to say goodbye to everyone after dinner.
And another half hour to actually enter your vehicle and exit the driveway, but you would have it no other way.