Italian IQ Test: Part I Food

October 31, 7:07 PMDC Italian Food ExaminerSusan Ciriello

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Apulian Nonna
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Make your nonna proud by refining your knowledge of Italians and their food fantastico. Answers are below...no cheating.

1. In comparison to the average American, the average Italian eats
    (a) _______ times as much pasta, bread and fresh fruit,
    (b) _______ times as much tomatoes and fish,
    (c) _______ times as much wine, and
    (d) _______ times more olive oil.

2. Put the courses of an Italian meal in the proper order: frutta, antipasto, primo, formaggio, dolce, secondo.

3. What does al dente mean?

4. Would an Italian have a cappuccino at dinner?

5. BONUS: Name the 20 regions of Italy (in Italian), all with distinct cuisines and food products.

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ANSWERS
1 (a). three
1 (b). two
1 (c). six
1 (d). one hundred

2. (a) antipasto or “before the meal”, can be served warm or cold 
    (b) primo or first course, may be soup, pasta or risotto, serving size of about one cup
    (c) secondo or second course, usually meat, fish or vegetable-based  main dish,          serving size of about four ounces
    (d) formaggio or cheese 
    (e) frutta or fruit, usually fresh
    (f) dolce or desserts such as gelato, cookies, cakes, tarts or other sweets

Italian meals are always finished with espresso and then may be followed by il digestivo such as grappa, limoncello, etc. to aid digestion.

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3. Al dente means “to the tooth,” that is, cooked until just done but still with some bite.

4. An Italian would only have cappuccino for breakfast. Named for the Cappuccine monks whose pointed hats were called cappuccio, this coffee drink has a similar color to the monks' hats. It consists of one-third espresso, one-third steamed milk and one-third foamed milk “hat” on top.


5. North (7 Regions): Fruili-Venezia Guilia, Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto, Lombardia, Piemonte,
    Valle d’Aosta, Liguria;
   Central (7 Regions): Emilia-Romagna, Toscana, Marche, Umbria, Lazio, Abruzzo, Molise;
   South (6 Regions): Campania, Apulia, Basilicata, Calabria, Sicilia, Sardegna.
 

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