Italy: menu translation guide
 

I'm looking for a (preferably free) list of food in Italian that is alphabetized with the English translation next to it.

All the guidebooks I have list the English first, or list it by category with Italian first.

I've found these methods to be so difficult to use because if I am "reading" the menu, I see the word in Italian and need to know what it is in English. I don't necessarily know if it is a vegetable, meat, soup etc.

If push comes to shove I realize I could make my own spreadsheet, but I'm hoping someone else has already done it. :)

I know you asked for a "free" list. However, for about $7 you can buy "The Marling Menu Master for Italy."

I would venture to say it's exactly what you want, plus it's indexed by food category, course by course.

Hopefully, someone else will provide you with exactly what you asked for. Good luck.

we could start one here

Italian English
pizza pizza
spaghetti spaghetti
etc.

I don't know of a free one. I use "Eating and Drinking in Italy" by Herbach and Dillon. It is under $10 and available in bookstores - online or in store. There are very few menu items I've found that were not listed in this book. For me, this is the most valuable book on my trips and has paid for itself many times over.

I found the Marling Menu master to be of limited use. One has to know the category of food to look up the term. If one doesn't know that, there is no index to help one out.

I didn't know that Missypie - that makes me appreciate my book even more! It is alphabetical! More people recommend the Marling book and I've been wondering if I am missing something but I guess not.

bkm

Slow travel has a free one.
Its extensive.

That's www.slowtrav.com

I prefer straight alpha listings over the categorized by courses listings... those "Eat and Drink.." books are good, and fit in a pocket or purse. Don't like the Marling Menu Master for Paris, not 'user friendly' IMO.
(ipod Robbie - - - :)) )

Berlitz has a pocket size menu reader which has not only the Italian dishes names translated but often describes the main ingredients. It also has all the language necessary for reservations, getting the table you want etc.

Mine has about 15 different languages and was very cheap when I got it - but that was at least 5/6 years ago, Perhaps you can find an Italian only version.

I had bought the "Marling Menu Master for Spain" before traveling to Argentina and thought it was decent although not totally user friendly. What was good? The small size, light weight and alphabetical listing of items within certain categories. What was bad? You had to know the meaning of the categories in Spanish, e.g., verduras/vegetables, postres/desserts.

I'm also looking for an alphabetized listing in Italian and, based on cls2paris's recommendation, I'm going to Amazon.com to see if I can find it and order the "Eating & Drinking in Italy" instead.

Buon appetito/hearty appetite !!

~o)