Ordering in a Deli
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ordering in a Deli
I will be in Bologna and Rome next month and would love to order food for take out - cheese and/or meat. Can anyone tell me how to order (in Italian) a quarter pound or a half pound? For example - a half pound of pecorino cheese? Or - a quarter pound of mortadella? Thanks!
#2
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,214
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You don't order in pounds in Italy.
Either use 500 g ("cinquecento grammi") or 1/2 kg ("mezzo chilo") for a pound. The common unit to use for smaller amounts would be the etto, which is 100 grams: "un' etto" = 100 g, "due etti" = 200 g etc.
Either use 500 g ("cinquecento grammi") or 1/2 kg ("mezzo chilo") for a pound. The common unit to use for smaller amounts would be the etto, which is 100 grams: "un' etto" = 100 g, "due etti" = 200 g etc.
#7
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,893
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
<i><font color=#555555>"LOL pounds."</font></i>
I fail to see what is so funny. The OP specifically asked for pound figures "(in Italian)."
Many tourists don't know what an <i>etto</i> is, and they don't don't know how to convert ounces to <i>etti</i>. For smaller weights of food items in Italy, it helps to know your numbers in <i>etti</i>. Here is my approximate breakdown:
uno etto = 3.5 ounces
due etti = 7 ounces
tre etti = 10.5 ounces
quattro etti = 14 ounces
I fail to see what is so funny. The OP specifically asked for pound figures "(in Italian)."
Many tourists don't know what an <i>etto</i> is, and they don't don't know how to convert ounces to <i>etti</i>. For smaller weights of food items in Italy, it helps to know your numbers in <i>etti</i>. Here is my approximate breakdown:
uno etto = 3.5 ounces
due etti = 7 ounces
tre etti = 10.5 ounces
quattro etti = 14 ounces
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
NYCFoodSnob - Thanks so much! This is exactly what I was looking for. I do understand that food is not weighed by the pound in Europe. But I was confused by units of measure less than one pound. So if I wanted 7 ounces of mortadella - I would ask for due etti mortadella! Thanks!
#9
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,561
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
BomDia: it's mootzarell or mortadel and riggut, not rigot.
At least that's how my neighbors pronounced it. But I'd not use the Sicilian-emigre-in-America pronunciation in Bologna.
Bab: check out this site for more info. It works for etto/etti (note, Italian plurals don't end in s).
http://www.convertunits.com/
At least that's how my neighbors pronounced it. But I'd not use the Sicilian-emigre-in-America pronunciation in Bologna.
Bab: check out this site for more info. It works for etto/etti (note, Italian plurals don't end in s).
http://www.convertunits.com/
#11
My trick when I don't know the measurements is to say (in Italian or Spanish or whatever) "enough for 2 people" or hold my fingers to show the size of the stack I'm after. that's always worked for me.
#12
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,212
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This is an interesting thread.
I would write the amount on a piece of paper and hand it to the person so you don't get 4 pounds of whatever!
Is there a word for portion or slice? Such as if you want to buy a slice or portion of quiche or tart?
I would write the amount on a piece of paper and hand it to the person so you don't get 4 pounds of whatever!
Is there a word for portion or slice? Such as if you want to buy a slice or portion of quiche or tart?
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks everybody for your comments and feedback. I'm going to add the following to my trip notes and want to make sure I have it right. Can someone confirm?
Ordering Cheese/Meat
100 grams = 3 ounces (un etto)
200 grams = 7 ounces (due etti)
300 grams = 10 ounces (tre etti)
500 grams = 1 pound (cinque etti)
Ordering Cheese/Meat
100 grams = 3 ounces (un etto)
200 grams = 7 ounces (due etti)
300 grams = 10 ounces (tre etti)
500 grams = 1 pound (cinque etti)
#16
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,214
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A pound is 500 g to Europeans. The American pound is lighter.
And saying "mezzo chilo" is more common than "cinque etti", but the latter will be understood.
When ordering for example prosciutto, asking for x slices ("fettine") is not uncommon, and makes sense if you want it for a takeaway picnic because it will be cut and ready to put on bread. Take into account that they usually cut it very very thin so you may need a couple more than you estimated.
And saying "mezzo chilo" is more common than "cinque etti", but the latter will be understood.
When ordering for example prosciutto, asking for x slices ("fettine") is not uncommon, and makes sense if you want it for a takeaway picnic because it will be cut and ready to put on bread. Take into account that they usually cut it very very thin so you may need a couple more than you estimated.