How to translate an Italian menu
“arrosto” = roasted “manzo” = beef
“alla griglia” = grilled “pollo” = chicken
“lessate” = boiled “vitello” = veal
“fritte/fritto” = deep-fried “maiale”= pork
“in padella” = pan-fried “agnello”= lamb
“brasato” = braised “anatra” = duck
“umido” = stewed “oca” = goose
“allo spiedo” = spit-roasted “pesce” = fish
“affumicato” = smoked “frutta di mare” = seafood
“caldi/caldo” = hot “uova” = egg
“freddi/freddo” = cold
| Italian | English | ||
| ANTIPASTI | STARTERS | ||
| AFFETTATI | COLD CUTS | ||
| Bresaola | Raw dried beef | ||
| Coppa | Raw pork salami | ||
| Culatello | The finest cured ham | ||
| Mortadella | Mortadella | ||
| Mortadella con pistacchi | Mortadella with pistachio, black pepper, and coriander | ||
| Pancetta | Bacon | ||
| Porchetta | Roast pork | ||
| Prosciutto | Prosciutto/Ham | ||
| Prosciutto arrosto | Roasted ham | ||
| Prosciutto cotto | Cooked ham | ||
| Prosciutto crudo di Parma DOP | Parma ham | ||
| Prosciutto crudo di San Daniele | San Daniele ham | ||
| Salame | Salami | ||
| Salame di Felino | Pork salami from Parma | ||
| Salame Milano | Pork and beef salami from Milano and Brianza | ||
| Salame Napoli | Veal and pork salami from Campania | ||
| Speck | Smoked ham | ||
| ANTIPASTI | STARTERS | ||
| Arancini | Breaded deep-fried risotto balls filled with meat or cheese | ||
| Bruschetta | Grilled bread perfumed with garlic and topped with tomatoes or other vegetables | ||
| Fritelle di baccalà | Salt cod often deep-fried into a cake | ||
| Gnocco | Fried bread served with ham or cheese | ||
| Insalata di fagioli con tonno | Cannellini bean and preserved tuna salad | ||
| Insalata di mare | Seafood salad | ||
| Insalata di rucolo con Parmigiano-Reggiono | Rocket salad with Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese | ||
| Insalata di stagione con pomodorini, finocchi e carote | Mix green salad with tomato, fennel, and carrot | ||
| Mozzarella di bufala con pomodori / Insalata caprese | Buffalo mozzarella, tomato, and basil salad | ||
| Olive marinate | Marinated olives | ||
| Parmigiana di melanzane | Baked aubergine layered with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese | ||
| Piadina | Grilled flat bread served with ham | ||
| Prosciutto melone | Prosciutto with melon | ||
| Schiacciata | A flat bread served drizzled with olive oil | ||
| Verdure grigliate | Grilled vegetables | ||
| Vitello tonnato | Roast veal served with tuna sauce | ||
| PRIMI | FIRST COURSE | ||
| PASTA | PASTA | ||
| Bucatini all’amatriciana con pecorino | Rigatoni with tomato,’guanciale’ bacon, onion & pecorino cheese | ||
| Canneloni | Pasta tubes filled with meat and cheese and baked with meat sauce and béchamel sauce | ||
| Cappelletti in brodo | Stuffed pasta in broth | ||
| Capellini con pomodoro | Angel hair pasta with raw tomato | ||
| Fettucine alla coda di bue | Fettucine with oxtail sauce | ||
| Lasagne bolognese | Lasagna | ||
| Linguine con granchio | Linguini pasta with crab | ||
| Linguine alle vongole | Linguine with clams | ||
| Paccheri all’astice e pomodoro fresco | Paccheri with lobster & fresh tomato sauce | ||
| Pappardelle al ragù di agnello | Homemade ribbon pasta with lamb ragù | ||
| Pappardelle alle melanzane con ricotta fresca, basilico, e pomodoro | Pappardelle with aubergine, ricotta cheese, basil, and tomato | ||
| Penne arrabbiata | Penne with spicy tomato sauce | ||
| Ravioli | Square dumplings with various stuffings- meat, ham, vegetables such as spinach or pumpkin, and cheese | ||
| Rigatoni con salsiccia | Rigatoni with sausage | ||
| Spaghetti aglio olio | Spaghetti with garlic infused olive oil | ||
| Spaghetti ai frutta di mare | Spaghetti with seafood | ||
| Spaghetti al sugo di pomodoro e basilico | Spaghetti with tomato basil sauce | ||
| Spaghetti alla norcina | Long round wheat noodles served with a sauce of black truffles, garlic, and anchovies | ||
| Spaghetti alla puttanesca | Spaghetti with tomato, olive, caper, garlic, and anchovy | ||
| Spaghetti alla carbonara | Spaghetti with eggs, guanciale (pork cheek bacon), pecorino cheese, and parmigiano-reggiano cheese | ||
| Tagliatelle con ragù | Thick fresh pasta usually served with meat sauce | ||
| Tortellini o Tortelli | A triangular pasta filled with either meat, ham, or spinach and ricotta cheese | ||
| Trofie al pesto con fagiolini e patate | Trofie with pesto sauce, green beans and potatoes | ||
| RISOTTO | RISOTTO | ||
| Risotto ai porcini | Rice with porcini mushroom and Parmigiana-Reggiano cheese | ||
| Risotto al Barolo | Risotto cooked in red wine | ||
| Risotto al granchio | Crab risotto | ||
| Risotto alla milanese | Saffron risotto, Milanese Style | ||
| Risotto alla pescatora | Risotto with seafood | ||
| Risotto con tartufo bianco | Risotto with white truffle | ||
| Risotto nero | Risotto with cuttlefish and ink | ||
| Risotto primavera | Risotto with spring vegetables such as asparagus, peas, string beans, and artichokes | ||
| Risotto al radicchio Trevigiano | Risotto with radicchio | ||
| POLENTA | POLENTA | ||
| Polenta con sugo di funghi porcini | Polenta with porcini mushroom sauce | ||
| PIZZA | PIZZA | ||
| Calabria | Spicy salami, buffalo mozzarella, and tomato sauce pizza | ||
| Calzone | Folded pizza with mozzarella, tomato sauce and a choice of filling | ||
| Campagnola | Asparagus, zucchini, eggplant, bell peppers, buffalo mozzarella, and tomato sauce pizza | ||
| Capricciosa | Tomato, mushroom, artichokes, ham, and mozzarella cheese pizza | ||
| Cotto e funghi | Fresh mushroom, ham, tomato sauce, and mozzarella cheese pizza | ||
| Diavola | Spicy salami, tomato sauce, and mozzarella cheese pizza | ||
| La bufala | Tomato, buffalo mozzarella cheese, and basil pizza | ||
| Margherita | Tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and basil pizza | ||
| Marinara | A cheeseless pizza topped with tomato sauce and basil | ||
| Norcina | Pork sausage, buffalo mozzarella, mushrooms, and red onion pizza | ||
| Pizza alla napoletana | A cheeseless pizza topped with tomato sauce, anchovies and capers | ||
| Prosciutto di Parma e rucola | Parma ham, rocket, and mozzarella cheese pizza | ||
| Quattro formaggi | Four cheese pizza | ||
| Quattro stagioni | Smoked ham, mushroom, artichoke, olives, grilled vegetables, tuna, capers and onion pizza | ||
| Salsiccia e broccoli/friarelli | Sausage, broccoli or greens, and mozzarella cheese pizza | ||
| ZUPPA | SOUP | ||
| Minestra di fagioli | Italian borlotti beans and pancetta soup | ||
| Minestrone alla Genovese | Vegetable soup with pesto and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese | ||
| Stracciatella | Chicken broth with Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, parsley, and egg | ||
| Zuppa di fagioli cannellini, verza | Cannellini bean soup, savoy cabbage | ||
| SECONDI | MAIN COURSE | ||
| CARNE | MEAT | ||
| Arista | Pork roasted with garlic and rosemary | ||
| Arrosto | Roast beef | ||
| Bistecca fiorentina | T-bone steak- fantastic! | ||
| Carbonada | Veal or beef stew | ||
| Cotoletta alla milanese | Veal chop Milanese style | ||
| Filetto di manzo con funghi | Beef tenderloin with mushrooms | ||
| Fritto misto | Tempura fried meat, fish, or vegetables or a combination of these | ||
| Maiale al latte | Pork loin cooked in milk | ||
| Maialino da latte | Suckling pig | ||
| Osso buco | Braised veal shank | ||
| Pollo all diavola | Grilled chicken | ||
| Pollo al mattone | Flattened grilled chicken with herbs | ||
| Porchetta | Suckling baby pig baked with fennel, garlic, and herbs | ||
| Stracotto | Pot roast | ||
| Trippa | Tripe | ||
| PESCE | FISH | ||
| Branzino in sale | Sea salt sea bass | ||
| Branzino intero al forno | Baked whole seabass | ||
| Fritto misto | Deep fried mixed seafood | ||
| Gamberi grigliati | Grilled prawns | ||
| Grigliata di mare | Grilled seafood | ||
| Grigliata di pesce | Grilled mixed fish platter | ||
| Pesce al cartoccio | Fish steamed in paper | ||
| Pesce spada con caponata | Pan-fried swordfishwith Sicilian caponata vegetable, olive, capers and eggplant | ||
| CONTORNI | SIDE DISHES | ||
| Asparagi grigliati | Grilled asparagus | ||
| Fagioli | Beans | ||
| Insalata mista | Mixed salad | ||
| Panzanella | A bread salad with tomato, and basil | ||
| Patate al forno | Roasted potatoes | ||
| Spinaci | Spinach | ||
| Broccoli con aglio, olio, e peperoncino | Sauteed broccoli with garlic and chilli | ||
| DOLCI | DESSERT | ||
| Bugie/ Chiacchere | Fried dough covered with sugar | ||
| Cannoli | Crisp tubular pastry filled with pastry cream or sweet ricotta with candied fruit and chocolate | ||
| Cassata | Sponge cake and almond paste filled with sweet ricotta, chocolate, and candied fruit | ||
| Fritelle | Fritters of rice or fruit like apples | ||
| Gelato alla caffè | Coffee ice cream | ||
| Gelato ciocciolato | Chocolate ice cream | ||
| Gelato alla fragola | Strawberry ice cream | ||
| Gelato alla crema affogato al caffe | Vanilla ice cream ”drowned” with espresso coffee |
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| Gelato alla nocciola | Hazelnut ice cream | ||
| Gelato stracciatella | Vanilla ice cream with chocolate flakes | ||
| Macedonia | Fresh fruit salad | ||
| Panna cotta | A cold cream gelatin topped with either caramel or fruit | ||
| Pere cotta al vino rosso | Wine poached pear | ||
| Semifreddo | Frozen mousse | ||
| Sorbetti | Sicilian citrus sorbet | ||
| Tartelletta di ricotta | Ricotta cheese tart | ||
| Tiramisù | Tiramisù | ||
| Zabaione | A hot creamy soup made of egg, sugar and wine | ||
| Zuccotto | Chocolate and cream filled sponge cake | ||
| Zuppa inglese | Rum soaked cake layered with custard, stewed fruit and chocolate | ||
| FORMAGGI | CHEESES | ||
| Gorgonzola | A creamy blue cow cheese, quite strong tasting. Nice with fruit or sweet wine. | ||
| Grana Padano | A hard nutty cow milk cheese | ||
| Parmigiano- Reggiano | A hard nutty cow milk cheese | ||
| Pecorino | A hard cheese made from sheep’s milk | ||
| Stracchino | A smooth soft cow milk cheese | ||
| Robiola | A soft creamy cheese | ||
| Taleggio | A smooth soft cheese | ||
| Toma | Goat or cow milk or a mixture and ranges from strong tasting to bland |
| BEVANDE | DRINKS |
| Cioccolata fondente | Italian thick hot chocolate |
| Bicerin | Mocha |
| DIGESTIVI | DIGESTIVES |
| Limoncello | Lemon Liqueur |
| Grappa | Grappa |