With so many Americans being weight conscious these days, quite often it means forgoing eating favorite foods that were once practically a staple in many homes. Yet as people are concerned about their waistline, restaurants in many American cities continue to do well. Part of it is due to changes made in foods served such as serving leaner meats and making vegetarian options available. But just as important are the choices that patrons make when eating at a restaurant. Some may forgo eating gourmet appetizers and head straight to the main course selections while others will eat a variety of appetizers in lieu of a main course. A fine example of a gourmet appetizer that can be eaten as a meal is antipasti, typically served in an Italian restaurant or café.
Antipasti means “before the pasta” which already gives you an idea of a sizeable meal about to be served. Some may not consider it a gourmet appetizer since appetizers are normally served in informal settings where portions are small and people eat standing up. However, one important similarity antipasti and appetizers share is that they are not the main meal but are served to extend socializing throughout the meal rather than eat-and-run.
For all intents and purposes, antipasti is a gourmet appetizer in America. At some dinner parties however, antipasti might be served as the main gourmet appetizer on a tray where guests may serve themselves before eating dinner. At a café, antipasti is often served as a salad with soup as a simple meal rather than the traditional Italian meal. At an Italian restaurant, one can choose to eat antipsati and a soup or salad and skip the main course. For the weight conscious, this is not a bad option. So why would a gourmet appetizer such as antipasti make a good meal substitute? Here’s why.
Antipasti is a mixture of a variety of meats and cheeses. The meats may include salami, mortadella, and smoked ham. The cheeses often consist of provolone and mozzarella. Mixed in are a variety of vegetables. Most common are slices of tomatoes. Sometimes, prosciutto is used in antipasti – a favorite meat when making gourmet appetizers. With antipasti, a salad, and bread, you can have a nutritious light meal. The quality of antipasti, however, may vary from one restaurant to the next. It would be wise to ask before ordering what ingredients are used and if they’re fresh. Some restaurants may serve this gourmet appetizer as nothing more than meats and cheeses. In that case, it would be best to order an entrée that would be more satisfying.