what's right and what's wrong

[M&C]

Been following this thread with interest. We must have broken many taboos then! Have to be more careful next time...

As red wine (we make our own) and coffee lovers following our first visit to Italy some years ago we bought an electric coffee maker - one side normal filter, the other side does espresso! The filter side gets hardly any use, the espresso gets used virtually every morning - doubles! We only use Lavazza (which in the UK you can buy in any supermarket) which we developed a taste for over there, but I think we're going to get a stove-top espresso maker this weekend as ours is now taking for EVER to get up to pressure. I used to be a bit of a French wine snob, but before our 1st visit needed to do lots of 'research' (like you do) and discovered a whole new world of taste! Just a shame the supermarkets here are all starting to favour New World wines, and Morrissons Italian wine slection is dropping. And yes, some reds can benefit from chilling down, but I'm not sure about 'cold' red wine. It prevents the flavour from reaching it's peak.

Anyway - sorry to waffle - back to topic - I heard it once said that public drunkenness is a social no-no in Italy. Can anyone confirm this? As is anti-social behaviour (except at football matches).

(Now off to try the custard thing out...... )

[Gala Placidia]

You are right, Torchiarolan, it all relates to attitude. I tried to find a very interesting article on the subject which I read some time ago also on the subject of binge drinking, but I could not find it; however, I found this one which basically says the same although in a shorter version:
Italian Teens Frown on Binge Drinking
And I also agree, I have not seen a drunken Italian as yet and, as we all know, they do drink and enjoy alcohol.

[Robert Stoner]

I have always understood that the milkier the coffee, the earlier in the day it should be taken. So that Latte Macchiata comes before Cappucinos that comes before Caffee Macchiata.The reason for not drinking milky coffee after dinner apparently is to do with the digestion of milk on top of food. Nor sure about the reasoning about that but a good Espresso after dinner is wonderful. The only trouble comes in Uk in finding a decent Espresso to drink, after many years trying I have three UK places where it is good.