Born and raised in Castelli Romani, (a name given to the group of small hillside towns in the Colli Albani hills), I have always held Italian cuisine, culture and style close to my heart. Spending my early years living close to Rome, meant appreciating Italian traditions, one of which was the aperitif. Highly respected in Italy, the aperitif is an opportunity to relax with friends and family before a meal, whether it’s lunch or dinner. Spending time with loved ones as a child, and watching the adults slowly sip their drinks formed a fond childhood memory for me. And now, I also keep this Italian tradition alive whenever I meet up with friends in Rome. 

The History Behind The Aperitif 

When I meet up with friends, we always choose a bar with tables outside and we order the classic aperitif to start. Generally, we drink an alcoholic drink like Camparisoda (which is my favourite!), or a non-alcoholic drink such as the legendary Crodino which is typically served alongside snacks like green olives, peanuts or chips.

While friends drinking together before a meal seems pretty commonplace on the streets of Rome, this tradition dates back to ancient times. In Ancient Rome, Mulsum, a honey flavoured drink, similar to wine was enjoyed before eating. This is thought to be where the aperitif originates from. In its true meaning, it was born in Turin from Mr. Carpano who invented the vermouth (the famous Martini) in 1786. A spicy and herbal liqueur made from a combination of 30 different types of plants, it is a key component in many cocktails today. In 1800, the popularity of this liqueur spread across the country, and from there the aperitif was born.

An Aperitif After Work

After a long day of work, there is nothing quite like sitting down and sipping on an aperitif. As a widespread social phenomenon since 2010, we no longer use the word aperitif, but instead apericena, which literally means a little aperitif and a little cena (dinner). Rather than serve snacks with this drink, you will often be given a wide range of appertisers, or small plates of Italian cuisine. You’ll find that you’ll have enough food on the table to forget about any dinner reservations you had made for later than night, or heading home early to eat. 

Not only is this affordable, but it creates the perfect opportunity to appreciate different types of Italian cuisine and take a moment to enjoy each mouthful. It’s another the best excuse to go out with friends and pass up on cooking at home. It’s also the perfect way to spend time with loved ones, and simply be in the moment! So, put down those devices!! While you might think that a bar or pub in Rome would be cheaper, this style of dining and drinking is actually much better for your bank account and will allow you to have more fun!

Host An Aperitif Party

Or why not host your own Italian themed party and serve Italian cuisine and an aperitif to your guests at home! Create an effortlessly elegant atmosphere with a white tablecloth, napkins, silverware, plates and candles. On Amazon, there is a wide range of eco-friendly and sturdy dinnerware sets and cutlery which are disposable and biodegradable. Ideal if you don’t want to wash dishes after your guests have gone home!

An example of apericena could be as follow:

Prepare the room with drinks (alcoholic and soft drinks, including water), and arrange the food nicely (which you prepared in advance) on the decorated table/s. 

To nibble: Peanuts, crisps, marinated pitted olives with herbs.

Appetisers: A mix of savoury mini snacks which can include cocktail sausage rolls, cheese and onion rolls and cream cheese stuffed sweet peppers, platters of charcuterie which can include mortadella, Italian salami, bresaola, and chorizo, with aged cheeses like pecorino sardo or romano, and parmesan. You could then prepare a selection of bruschette with tomato and basil, creamed-artichoke, and creamed mushroom. A plate of crudites with sour cream with herbs or small skewers with mozzarella pearls, melon, speck ham and basil, are always a hit!

First courses: Rice (Arborio or Baldo) salad with anything you like. This can include peas, gruyere cheese, pickled veggies, wurstel, tomatoes, and chickpeas seasoned with lemon juice and olive oil. Cous-cous with roasted yellow and red peppers, courgettes, and mint is a palate pleaser and pasta with pesto, mozzarella, and cherry tomatoes is a classic.

Second courses: Chicken nuggets, scampi bites, a selection of mini deep-dish pizzas, mini cheeseburgers, sweetcorn fritters, mini quiches, or a platter of smoked salmon with lemon juice, black pepper and fresh chives and dill. I would accompany the salmon with mild gorgonzola cheese and small slices of toasted bread or if you want to impress, try “focaccia Genovese croccante (crispy Genoese focaccia) instead. You can find it online or at any delicatessen, including Eataly. The type with Taggiasche olives is simply divine!

Salads: Any salad of your choice with toasted garlic and herb flatbread. Tuna (high-quality) salad with green beans, cherry tomatoes, fresh chive, and red onion, is delicious!

Desserts: Mini chocolate eclairs or profiteroles, brownies, apple pie, tiramisu`, mini cheesecakes, or to make your life easier, you could just buy (all from Iceland) a couple of dessert platter mix.

For sushi lovers, you can organise an aperisushi with platters of different kinds of sushi, chicken, or prawns gyoza dumplings (or the veggie version), tempura king prawns, matcha ice cream, a selection of green tea, and any other Japanese food of your choice. 

As aperitivo, with food, I strongly recommend the following cocktails which are loved by Italians:

• Garibaldi with bitter and fresh orange juice

• Aperol Spritz with Aperol, prosecco, soda water, and a slice of orange
• Mojito with white rum, lime juice, sugar, mint, soda, and a slice of lime
• Caipirinha with cachaça, brown sugar, and lots of lime
• Bellini with peach nectar, brut sparkling wine or Prosecco, and a slice of fresh peach
• Flavoured gin & tonic with tonic water and your favourite gin flavour (grapefruit gin and orange gin are totally my favourites).
• Cuba Libre with Cuban white rum, cola, lime juice, and a slice of lime
• Pina Colada with white rum, pineapple juice, lime juice, coconut milk, and a slice of pineapple
• Campari Spritz with Campari, prosecco, soda water, and a slice of orange
• Campari & Gin with Camparisoda (not to be confused with Campari as they are two different things), gin, and a slice of lemon which I squeeze a little to let some of the juice in.
• Negroni with Campari, gin, red vermouth, and a slice of orange

If you love Campari as much as I do, you can find more cocktail inspiration here https://www.campari.com/our-cocktails.

Visit Rome And Try An Aperitif 

Planning a trip to Rome to admire Castelli Romani? I highly recommend a restaurant and lounge bar called La Quintessa, situated at Castel Gandolfo. This town has around 8,900 people and is the famous summer residence of the popes. It also features breathtaking views of the volcanic lake of Albano (also called lake of Castel Gandolfo). The perfect place for a drink and indulge in some Italian cuisine! Plus you can walk off the meal among spectacular views!

Another place that deserves a mention is called I Quadri and emanates calm and tranquillity. Or, if you’re searching for more atmosphere, perhaps La Playa and Wunderkammer are a better fit for you. I also enjoy visiting Nemi’s Bar delle Fragole and Bar Belvedere which overlooks Nemi’s lake and has panoramic views! This hidden gem can be reached by walking the gardens of the Ruspoli palace and is totally worth exploring. Famous for strawberries, visit this city and make sure to visit the discovery of Caligula’s ships and the Temple of Diana Nemorensis – an ancient Roman sanctuary dedicated to the Goddess Diana. Just make sure to bring a jacket, as due to its position it can start to get a little cool in the evening! 

Aperitivo will always be Italian’s number one choice when it comes to dining out with friends and family, and I’m sure that if you visit the Castelli Romani, it will quickly become your favourite thing to do too! Just bear in mind that often Italians don’t use a measuring cup to prepare drinks so they can be quite strong! Always drink responsibly and most of all enjoy your aperitivo experience. Cheers! 🍸

By for now,

Lilia 😊