Buzz
Have you been to Italy, or perhaps know someone who has? They’ve likely mentioned aperitivo. It’s a beloved tradition, a rite of passage for travelers—from students just back from their semester abroad to experienced globetrotters. Much like tapas, happy hour, or a buffet, aperitivo is a social experience that brings people together after work, or sometimes even after lunch, during those relaxing moments.
While often centered around an assortment of meats and cheeses, aperitivo is much more than a simple cheese platter or charcuterie board; it’s an entire mood, a way of life. In bustling Italian cities, it’s part of the culture—meant to stimulate the appetite before dinner, offering light bites that can vary depending on your hunger or the timing of your evening meal. If you’re feeling frugal, you can even indulge in 'apericena,' enjoying enough snacks to skip dinner altogether.
Aperitivo has roots in Ancient Rome but took its modern form during the Industrial Revolution in Northern Italy. Today, it’s typically a complimentary offering with your drink, where small snacks like arancini, mini sandwiches, or a spread of cheeses and preserved veggies are served with your beverage. Expect to see classic Italian drinks like Negroni, Aperol Spritz, and Americano, all designed to open the appetite, served in abundance in the lively squares of Italy’s major cities.
In the United States, finding aperitivo in its authentic form is rare. Instead of receiving a complimentary snack with your drink, you end up paying for everything you order, even the small bites. If you're looking to recreate the magic of 'appy hour,' it’s actually cheaper to do it at home. Prepare everything in advance, and when your guests arrive, you can easily serve snacks and drinks while you finish dinner, or let the snacks stand as a full meal.
Start with the Drinks
Bitter beverages set the stage for a larger meal, as Italians believe these drinks help stimulate the appetite. As spring arrives, feel free to enjoy a spritz, but don't just settle for Aperol if it's not to your liking. Swap it out for Campari for a more bitter twist, or try a fortified citrus wine for a lower-alcohol option that still feels like a spritz. You can also use fortified wines in a Negroni instead of Campari. Experiment until you find your perfect aperitivo cocktail.
Prefer not to drink alcohol? No problem! There are Italian alternatives that offer the same vibe. Non-alcoholic beverages like Ghia or Sanbitter capture the essence of aperitivo cocktails, with herbal flavors similar to those found in complex Italian liqueurs, but without the alcohol.
Keep Your Meat Costs in Check
If you were to buy a cheese plate, charcuterie board, a few fried bites, and a sandwich or two at most restaurants in America, you'd be looking at over $100. And that’s before drinks, which can cost $16 to $20 each in this writer’s city. For the price of a dinner bill for two, you could host four to six people at home, serving up an authentic Italian-style spread.
While four ounces of prosciutto might cost you $16-$20 at a restaurant, you can grab a full pound of it at your local butcher for the same price. Pistachio-studded Mortadella on bread is another classic aperitivo bite. Just like prosciutto, this fancy bologna is far more affordable when bought from a grocery store. Even vegan cold cuts are cheaper in-store than at the deli. Craft mini sandwiches and charcuterie boards tailored to your tastes, dietary preferences, and budget for the best experience.
Opt for Sheep's Milk Cheeses
Aged pecorino is a popular grating cheese, but don’t overlook other varieties. Younger pecorino is creamy, sweet, and pairs wonderfully with fatty meats like mortadella or soppressata. For something sharper and saltier, try mature pecorino, which isn’t just for pasta—it pairs beautifully with fruits like fresh strawberries or dried apricots, far better than cheddar ever could.
Cheese plates are a great way to serve formaggio, but you can also get creative. Try skewering blanched vegetables with cheese for an elegant crudité, serving it on top of jam for mini bruschettas, or making a spread with fresh, milky cheeses like ricotta—often made from sheep’s milk—or stracciatella for a creamy touch.
Cheese is a key player in the aperitivo, whether it’s tucked inside a rice ball or generously shaved over panelle, a Sicilian chickpea fritter. Not into dairy? You can still capture the essence with tangy pickled veggies or bold spreads like vegan bagna cauda. A dash of acidity also goes a long way—squeeze fresh lemon over anything fried for a quick burst of zesty flavor.
Fry at Home for a Fraction of the Cost
In Southern Italy, small fried and grilled bites are the stars of their unofficial aperitivo. From panelle (chickpea fritters) and arancini (rice balls) to potato croquettes, dough balls, artichokes, and even offal, there’s no shortage of delicious options. Mini calzones, scaccia (rolled pizza breads), and other bready delights are slathered with red sauce and cooked quickly and hot.
A hidden gem in the world of small bites is mozzarella en carozza, a breaded and fried grilled cheese sandwich, sometimes with anchovies tucked inside. To make it, simply create a mozzarella sandwich using white bread, dip it in egg and breadcrumbs, fry it up, and enjoy with a bitter soda called Chinotto—it’s the perfect way to keep your appetite primed for the next snack.
There’s no better deal than the authentic Italian aperitivo, but until we have spacious piazzas dedicated to social gatherings or some relief from inflation, your charming patio or porch will do just fine for the time being.
