Aperitivo 101
Last night Umbra students and staff sat down at a café in Perugia’s main street, Corso Vannucci, and enjoyed that quintessential Italian evening activity, the aperitivo.An aperitivo is a small drink that is usually served to stimulate the appetite before a meal. It is often served with something small to eat, such as crackers, cheese, pâté, olives, and various kinds of finger food. Some records show that the aperitivo may have first appeared in 1786, when Antonio Benedetto Carpano invented though aperitivi were definitely widespread in the 19th century in Italy.
Nowadays the aperitivo is an opportunity to get together with friends for a drink, often in a streetside café, before dinner or going out.
Students learned both the history of the aperitivo and the common drink selections. Some hadprosecco, the Italian version of champaigne, while others tried Campari Orange, a light cocktailmade with the famous red Italian bitter, Campari. A second Aperitivo 101 will be held next week. Il dolce far niente!