- Team KSL learned Italian dining rules from Veneto owner Marco Stevanoni.
- Stevanoni shared five lessons: relax, no ice water, no bread first, eat in courses, and no cutting pasta.
- Stevanoni, a former Olympian, emphasized savoring the meal, and thus being immersed in Italian culture.
SALT LAKE CITY — As Team KSL prepares to head to Italy for the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina this February, the group decided to try out an authentic Italian meal. With help from Veneto owner Marco Stevanoni, Deannie, Mike, Matt, Alex and photographer Mark learn the five rules for an authentic Italian experience at a restaurant.
Stevanoni not only skied for the Winter Olympics in 2002, but he was the poster child for the Olympic spirit, with his picture projected on buildings.
"I came to train for the Olympics in 2002, and then I received a scholarship from the University of Utah for the ski team. Then when I was done skiing, I met my beautiful wife, and Utah became my home," Stevanoni said. "(They) did a photoshoot advertising the Olympics, and they picked me and just got a nice picture on a very large building in Salt Lake."
Italian food and traditions are a labor of love for Veneto owner Marco Stevanoni.
"There are a lot of things you can spot on a tourist rather than someone who really enjoys the Italian culture," Stevanoni said.
Lesson 1: Sit and relax
Italian dinners take time.
"For Italians, for dinner is like a moment to sit and relax, so nobody's in a hurry," Stevanoni said. "Dining should not take less than two hours."
Lesson 2: No ice
Some Italian restaurants don't have ice, even if you order it.
"The one thing you're not going to find in Italy is ice with water," Stevanoni said. "Room temperature water for Italians is the preference because … the cold, when you eat, if you eat (with) ice water, it stops your digestion."
Lesson 3: You don't start with bread
Authentic Italian meals don't start with bread.
"One of the pet peeves in Italy is someone sitting down and someone is like, 'Where's my bread? Where's my bread?' and well, the bread will come later," Stevanoni said.
Italians also don't dip the bread in olive oil, according to Stevanoni.
"There is a tradition of doing scarpetta. It means you take a little bit of the bread with your pasta, and you clean the plate with the sauce with the bread," Stevanoni said.
Lesson 4: The meal comes in courses
One of the biggest differences between the American experience and that in Italy is that the meal comes in courses. It gives you time to eat and talk, instead of eating one big entree and then leaving.
"In Italy, you never order all at the same time," Stevanoni said. "You want to sit down and you start with 'aperativo' or an appetizer, then you order the first course."
Lesson 5: Never cut the pasta
And finally, don't even think of cutting the pasta.
"Don't ever cut the pasta with a knife," Stevanoni said. "It's very disrespectful to the chef, to the tradition, and once you break the pasta, you change (the) texture."
But do savor the food, the company and the chance to experience more than just a meal.
