I took my son to volleyball practice today on the other side of town, and there just wasn't enough time to go home and get back by 8:00. So I headed to the auditorium instead, Rome's newest wonder by architect Renzo Piano, where I sat at a very chic bar with an ice tea and concentrated on my "Italian composition". When I looked back up, the tables were occupied with....happy hour. WHAT! yes, happy hour has conquered Rome. 
But with a difference. Food accompanies the booze. After 6:30, for 10 euros, you can get a drink with a plate of buffet food - not just chips and peanuts, real food, pasta and rice salads, little shrimps, sandwiches and such. It's not called "supper", although that is what it is for those off to a concert, but an "aperativo", thereby circumventing the "non si fa" rule about never putting all of your food on one plate, which is ok for an aperativo but not for a meal -- marketing genius.
Eating and drinking still go hand in hand. They haven't been separated into eating and then going out with friends to drink (at a bar) or drinking (happy hour) and then going on to eat.
THe question is, will we learn from them or will they (unfortunately) learn from us......see you in 10 years!
a domani,
E
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1 comment:
Yes, the aperitivo scene in roma has been present for about 3-5 years now. it's actually a milanese thing. they've been doing this is milan for ages, you pay 5-10 euro and can eat all you want at the buffet! in fact, when they first started doing it here in rome they called it "aperitivo milanese".
i looooove it!
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