FROM FRATELLI'S WITH LOVE
ITALIAN PROVERBS AND FOOD EXPRESSIONS:
"Chi rispetta sara rispettato"
Respect others and you will be respected.
"A tavola non si invecchia"
We do not age at the dinner table.
"Uva cattiva non fa buon vino!"
You can't make good wine from bad grapes.
"La aritmetica non e opinione!"
Arithmetic is not an opinion!
"Amicizie e maccheroni sono meglio caldi"
Friendship and macaroni are best when warm.
"Nulla si fa senza volonta!"
Without commitment, nothing gets done!
"L'amicizia rimane un ancora fedele"
Friendship remains a faithful anchor.
"Il riso e la migliore medicina"
Laughter is the best medicine.
"Chi mangia bene, vive bene"
Who eats well, lives well.
"Come semini, cosi raccogli"
As ye sow, so shall ye reap.
"Buona salute e la vera richezza"
Good health is true wealth.
"Amici e vini sono meglio vecchie"
Old friends and old wine are best.
"Dire pane al pane e vino al vino"
Basically means a spade is a spade. In Italian, we call bread bread and wine wine, meaning to speak plainly and describe things just as they are. Kinda like Fratelli's and good food.
"Essere buono come il pane"
To be as good as bread means to be a really good person. If you say someone is a “piece of bread” you mean that they’re good. It’s often used regarding children or to tell someone that they can trust another person.
"Essere come il prezzemolo"
Literally “to be like parsley,” this expression means that a particular person can be found everywhere, just like parsley. Parsley is an omnipresent ingredient in Italian cuisine that goes just about everywhere. If you’re like parsley, it means you pop up everywhere or get in the way lol. Kinda like Jennifer Dibrani.
"Tutto fa brodo"
Literally: Everything makes broth, this means every little bit helps.
"A tavola non s'Invecchia"
There are few Italian food proverbs that express Italian values better than this one. "A tavola non si invecchia" literally translates as “you don’t get old at the table.” With good company and good food, time doesn’t pass. You can spend hours chatting over a meal with friends and it will never be time wasted. At Fratelli's we agree with this 100%.
"Andare liscio come l’olio"
To “go smooth like oil” means when something goes smoothly, without any problems. Kind of like when Kesi Dibrani founder of Fratelli's goes an hour without yelling at someone.
"Non c’è trippa per gatti"
Tripe is the stomach of a cow and though strange for most Americans today, it was once hugely popular and still served today. Literally, “there’s no tripe for cats,” is a way to say that there’s no chance of you getting what you want. Or like Kesi Dibrani owner of Fratelli's says " there’s no chance in hell ", but this is certainly a more kind way to say it, perfect for i nonni.
"Essere pieno come un uovo"
If there’s one thing you should learn to say before coming to Italy it might as well be “I’m so full.” You can of course say sono pienissimo but that would be too boring. Instead, try saying that you’re as full as an egg: sono pieno come un uovo. Then everyone will know that you’re stuffed and can’t eat anything else — and that you enjoyed your meal!
"Non puoi avere la botte piena e moglie ubriaca"
Our absolute favorites! Italian's way of saying “you can’t have your cake and eat it too,” it’s literally translated as: “You can’t have a full wine barrel and a drunk wife.” If that’s not perfect Italian, I don’t know what is!
"Tutto finisce a tarallucci e vino"
And finally, “it all ends with biscuits and wine.” Just another foodie way to say “all’s well that ends well.” Cheers!
Italian traditions, of course center around food and eating. Whether with family or friends, at a funeral or a celebration, if you want to "fare bella figura" ( make a good impression " or simply have a good time, you can bet that there will be food involved! And Lots of it.