Antipasto: The Best Part of Any Italian Meal

Discover the small bites that kick off Sunday lunch or any special dinner at the Italian table.

Food is another religion for Italians. Gathering around the table for a meal is sacred, and antipasto, the appetizer portion, sets the blessed tone. Before coronavirus (and God willing after the darkness turns to light again), our extended family, including cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents, joined us for four- or five-course meals that lasted for hours but it always began with antipasto.

Indeed, our love of family can be traced back to nonna’s embrace and Prosciutto di Parma. If you’d like a piece of Italy and what is akin to a warm hug on your table, you can easily recreate antipasto at your next meal. Here’s how:

Pick your small bites.

The Italian word “sfizioso” is translated into English as “delicious.” But it is more than that and it is the perfect way to describe what you should look for in an antipasto item. Each appetizer should be the kind of food that calls your name and makes your mouth literally water. You should long for the item long after the meal is over. This should be a measuring stick when…