Everyone has a different reason for falling in love with Italy. From the country’s rich culture to its breathtaking landscapes to its excellent wines, what’s not to love? But for some people the reason is simple: it's the food. After all, there’s a good reason why Italian cuisine has influenced food culture around the world... it's delicious.
Oscar Wilde once said, “Non riesco a supportare quelli che non prendono seriamente il cibo.” Meaning: “I can’t stand people who do not take food seriously.”
In Italy, food is taken very seriously.
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Many places in Shanghai, including Favorita, take this concept to heart and serve up the most authentic Italian food. Just like in Italy, you will see words like ristorante, trattoria or osteria on the city’s streets. These words hold a very distinct meaning in Italy in terms of culture, history and economics. They belong to a classification system that differentiates exactly what type of eatery you are dining in.
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Traditionally ristorantes are more upmarket and formal, which means diners have to dress up. They feature pricy foods that are not limited to season and geographical area. In sum, a ristorante is a fancy place where you pay more than what you get (i.e. small portions).
The osteria is traditionally an informal establishment with very low prices. This is a modest dining experience, like a food court or an inn.
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In between ristorante and osteria is the trattoria. A trattoria – aka ‘kitchen and wine’ – is a casual and unpretentious place to dine. Although more formal than the barebones osteria, a trattoria makes the best of what's available and features an ever-changing seasonal menu.
Trattoria’s use the freshest ingredients and feature home style cooking (just like mama makes), including meat and seafood dishes, pizza and pasta. Oftentimes there are no printed menus and the service is very casual. Aside from authentic food, you will also find your favorite wines from local vineyards at very reasonable prices.
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The trattoria’s emphasis is on steady clientele rather on haute cuisine, so the portions are larger and are often served family style. Trattorias are the most popular eateries for Italians. At some of the most famous places, like Trippa in Milan, you need to make a reservation weeks before visiting.
Luckily for those of us living in Shanghai, we can get an authentic Italian trattoria fix at any Favorita location. Order up a traditional pizza, bowl of pasta or family style meal, sip on a glass of Italian wine and relax with friends and family.
See a listing for Favorita (Jingan) or Favorita (Xintiandi)
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