DH and I have been in Rome twice, Florence and Pisa once. We are now terribly excited to be staying in Venice and in a couple of Tuscany locations this coming October.

Here's my really stupid question - how do italians deal with / eat shrimp?

I mean, I have always had shrimp served without those eyes staring at me! and as much as I would love to order seafood, I am reluctant to order any because of those dishes that have shrimp in them ....

Help!! Thanks...

Shrimp with heads would be served only as part of something like mixed seafood antipasti, and you are expected to peel and decapitate them with your fingers. In a pasta dish, for instance, they will be ready to eat with a fork, unless they are a decorative flourish on top!

The heads easily pop right off with your hands...just use your fingers!

You top and tail them and then remove their jackets.
The head comes off easily, but you have to be careful not to leave any meat behind when you remove the tail.
The legs are attached to the "jacket" and come away easily.
You should be given a finger-bowl to rinse your fingers afterwards.

The same way anyone else does? Take the head off peel and eat

Continuation...

Speaking of seafood in Venice, we had a wonderful meal at Algiubagio on Fondamente Nove looking over to San Michele. They have two delicious antipasti, one is cooked fish and seafood (sardines in saour for instance) and the other is raw, or cold, seafood. Next time I'll have both!

You could buy some whole shrimp at home before you go so you are familiar with peeling and decapitating them.

Most of those shrimp that you have been served without the eyes staring out at you, in other words, without the heads, have probably been frozen.

In Italy there is an emphasis placed on freshness and restaurants indicate which items have been previously frozen by an asterisk or other menu notation.



Note, too, that fresh shrimp/prawns in Italy is expensive.

In the US, we have become accustomed to frozen shrimp from Asia and Ecuador which has been farmed and then frozen and is quite cheap. In Italy you can actually find good-quality fresh prawns and other shrimps. Lucky you to be headed there. The best part of the shrimp is inside the heads.

The things is...

If you eat prawns (what we call shrimp) without your boiler there, she will sniff your fingers and divorce you on the spot for infidelity.

You have been warned.

Thank you to all of you!

Yes, lucky me ek. I can't wait! If I understand you correctly, I should suck the inside of the head? I am not aversed to this, just never saw anyone eating whole shrimp before ... a sheltered life, I guess?

is it ok to use fingers when separating head from body, and peeling body, even if shrimp is served in sauce? sounds messy but delicious.

"is it ok to use fingers when separating head from body, and peeling body, even if shrimp is served in sauce? sounds messy but delicious."

I reckon so....my theory is as long as you do it with confidence and panache, you can get away with a lot!

Yes, I always use my fingers. I am not sure if this is considered the most polite way to eat them, but I see many others doing the same.

And yes again. Suck the insides of the head; the best flavor and juices are inside. You might have to squeeze the head a bit to push out all the flavor.

I know that the first time you see the head and the black eyes you might feel odd, but you will get used to it.

Expect to get messy. Do not worry about using your fingers.

When you order large, grilled prawns--gamberoni--they often arrive on the plate already split lengthwise. Peel off the shell with your fingers and enjoy! Remember that the shells and head are used to make the flavorful broth that is used in other seafood preparations..

Remember, though, that these can be expensive. You would probably do better ordering them in Venice, rather than in rural, inland Tuscany.

Thanks again ek! Yes, seafood in Venice, and now I will tackle whole shrimp ... that will be a new experience ... must remember confidence and panache

YES! And also maybe dark clothes to hide the stains!! You have a great attitude. Have fun!

I should suck the inside of the head?>>>

Nah. Just the body.

SNT- you will LOVE it! You simply will not want to leave! We rented an apt there earlier this year and can't wait to get back.

We had an excellent meal at Ostaria da Rioba (Cannaregio, 2553). It is just 5 minutes walk off the Strada Nova in Cannaregio. If you're looking for recommendations.

Buon viaggio!

absolutely! (recommendations). I have been cutting and pasting like mad, so many wonderful tips in these boards!

My list is now growing: dark clothing (for sure!), wipes? please don't tell me I have to carry hand sanitizer, can't stand that thought! A few germs improve auto-immune system ... I think

BIG thanks to all of you.

Forget the hand sanitizer! I could not agree more about the germs helping boost immunity..

If you are going to eat with your hands you may want wipes (for the smell - garlic, fish etc).

Otherwise don't bother.