As I have moved along through Milan and through my sketchbook, I have continued to observe the table and patterns that occur during mealtimes. One thing I have enjoyed noticing is the relationship Italians have with each mealtime. I have been able to see options for food for each meal and different behaviors regarding how and when they are eaten.
Breakfast for instance is not typically as big of a meal as it can be in the US. The people I have observed in the morning either do a grab and go with a pastry or stand at the coffee bar as they throw back their tiny coffees. This might have something to do with the fact that most of my observations are taken on business days, but I think it is true that traditionally, breakfast consists of coffee and something small in Italy. Now of course under the same circumstances in the US I would argue there is a large number of people who stop for coffee and a pastry in the morning before work. But even on the weekends, it seems that breakfast is not a leisurely event.
Another difference that I’m sure everyone notices right away in Italy is that there is no coffee to go. Yesterday I did see a to go cup in a coffee bar in the train station, but that was quite a rare siting. Like I said, most people who order coffee here stand at the bar as they order it, the barista makes it, they drink it: all in under 5 minutes.
