For all Sicilians, seating at the dining table is a ritual. Lunch or dinner, we like to be in good company and share the pleasures of dining with our family and friends. But we Sicilians can also be very fussy, this is well known! There are a large number of “rules”, but we narrowed it down to 5 things that drive a Sicilian crazy when at the dining table!
Every country has its own traditions in the kitchen and at the table: what to eat, how much to eat and how to eat are rules that are handed down from generation to generation, and obviously, the vast majority of these are unwritten rules! If you are planning to have dinner at your Sicilian friends’ house or inviting them to your home, then this nice advice will surely come in handy!
5 things that drive a Sicilian crazy when at the dining table
1. Crossing the cutlery
Sicilians make sure that cutlery at the table or on the plate is never placed in the shape of a cross – we can assume that this custom is somewhat linked to faith, and it seems to be really felt in all Sicily!
2. Showing up to dinner as empty-handed guests
This “rule” has a very contradictory premise. All Sicilians, despite repeating over and over again to their guest not to bring anything, are very disappointed if the guest shows up empty-handed!
3. Refuse an Encore
If you are a guest, refusing an encore is something that should not be done at all! To a Sicilian, you are clearly telling them that there is something wrong, whether it is in the food cooked or in the company. The trick to solving this problem is easy: you have to eat a lot and with taste, praising the kitchen and the cook!
4. Leave food on the plate
We can say that this rule is part of common sense, but for Sicilians, it is a matter of honour and that’s why is part of our “5 things that drive a Sicilian crazy when at the dining table” list. You must eat all the food on your plate and do not waste even a crumb of food either to make it clear that you all have enjoyed the food, in case you are guests. This also applies if you are the host of the lunch/dinner: you will show that you do not throw away the food that you have purchased and prepared with such care!
5. There is no bread at the table
There is little to do, we Sicilians love bread and we cannot do without it. Whether it is a one-course meal or a twenty-course meal (knowing us Sicilians, it is much more likely to be twenty courses), you must always fill the table with fresh bread!
So, did you know these 5 things that drive a Sicilian crazy when at the dining table? Let us know if you can think of anything else and leave a message in the comments!
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#6. What about the ,”VINO”? Always
The right type if pasta must be used for the dish!!
Never never, ask for ketchup to put on your Italian sausage!
OMG, my mother in law did this to me AND my husband warned her. Not good.
Hey even worse: ketchup on freshly fried chicken cutlets 😣
If some bread accidently fell off the table onto the floor, my mother would pick it up, kiss it, give thanks to our Lord, and put it back on the table.
Love that! Jacques Pepin said his father did something similar.
Never put the bread bottom side up either 😒
I could not agree more! Especially the empy handed guest who should know better!!
My dad called this showing up “Pancia e Presenza”.
Never ask for salt or pepper! Every Sicilian cook knows exactly how much seasoning their dish needs. My mother-in-law always kept her salt & pepper near her stove.
Don’t forget the vino
I never knew the one about crossing the cutlery!
Never “ cut” your spaghetti
or break it before cooking!
Always bring a treat for the host and hostess.
All pasta should be cooked al dente!
Hmmm crossing cutlery?
Make sure your grated cheese is on the table
Cool
Despite what this says, DON’T eat every bite of food on your plate, or you will get another serving of food. Leaving just a little on the plate is like saying “I can’t eat another bite, please do not give me more.”
Don’t take all the food off the plane take one pass it around if more then you can take it. No elbows on the table
eating all the food on your plate is a given but…what of those who will not take the last piece of anything from a serving platter or bowl, with the notion of leaving it for the next person who may want it … (& not being gluttonous)
Yup! NEVER take the last item on the serving platter.
Yup!
My great grandmother “Mamadoni” always made the “Sign of the Cross” in the spaghetti before serving it.
Never wear ahat at the Dinner table
I cut my spaghetti. My grandfather was horrified 🍝🔪
Go Gloria – Where is the Vino
Never put the loaf of bread on the table upside-down. My grandma would say that it was the face of god. To which I would say, but I wanns see his butt. I never knew what she said after that but it went on for a long time and making crosses.
Never tear a piece of bread off a loaf with your hands, it’s disrespectful to God. Bread should be sliced with a knife, then you can break it apart as you eat. (From my nonna Paola and my mother).
My MIL showed up for 5 days at Christmas “without so much as a Mrs. Smiths pie”. Will go down in infamy!!!
never say gravy, its always sauce.
My grandmother never are with grandpap. When grandpap was done eating, grandma would sit and eat. They only ate at the same table on family dinners on Sundays and holidays. And why did my grandma and grandpap refer to raisin pie as ‘funeral’ pie?
Never ever forget to help doing the dishes
Never put grated cheese on a fish dish
Always asking do you want more
Have more
the cook putting a “little” on your plate, even if you didn’t want it
🤣 the article was hilarious! So true, so true! What about “The Gravey” vs Spaghetti Sauce? And….no matter what is bieng served, be it a Sirloin Roast or a Broiled Bird or fish, there better be huge plate of Speghetti to accompany it…with The Gravey❣️
My Nanu always held the whole loaf of bread to his chest when slicing it towards his body for the first cut.
Great article! Also, the table wine should be served in a carafe please ☺️
Always make cuccidatti at Christmas 🤌
Table manners. My Papa was a stickler about this. And polite convetsation