txt: Cicchetti and Spritz From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cicchetti (pronounced chi-KET-tee) are small snacks or side dishes, typically served in cicchetti bars [bacaro] in Venice, Italy. Common cicchetti include small servings of fish, tiny sandwiches, plates of olives, and very small servings of typical full-course plates. Like Spanish tapas, one can also make a meal of cicchetti by ordering many different plates. Venice’s many cicchetti bars are quite active during the day, as Venetians (and tourists) typically eat cicchetti in the late morning, for lunch, or as afternoon snacks. Cicchetti is usually accompanied by a small glass of white wine, which the locals refer to as an “ombra” (shadow).
The Spritz is a wine-based cocktail commonly served as an aperitif in northern Italy, especially in the Veneto region and surrounding areas. The drink is prepared with white wine or Prosecco wine, a dash of some bitter liqueur such as Aperol, Campari, Select or Cynar. The glass is then topped off with sparkling mineral water. It is usually served over ice in a lowball glass (or sometimes a martini glass or wine glass) and garnished a slice of orange, or sometimes an olive, depending on the liqueur. The drink originated in Venice while it was part of the Austrian Empire, and is based on the Austrian Spritzer, a combination of equal parts white wine and soda water.
img: A coffee please – oddtag on flickr
