The Italian food culture

In Italy, food is culture, identity, and passion. There are rules that Italians take for granted and that tourists regularly violate:

• Cappuccino only in the morning. After 11 a.m., one drinks espresso (caffè), macchiato, or caffè lungo. Milk in coffee after meals? For Italians, a culinary crime.
• Pasta is a Primo, not a side dish. A traditional Italian meal has a clear order: Antipasto → Primo (pasta, risotto) → Secondo (meat, fish with Contorno/side dish) → Dolce (dessert) → Caffè. You don't have to order all courses, but respect the order.
• No Parmesan on fish dishes. And no pasta as a side dish to meat. And no spaghetti Bolognese (it doesn't exist in Bologna — there it's called Ragù, and it's served with tagliatelle).
• Bread is not an appetizer. Bread is served with the meal to mop up sauce (fare la scarpetta — make the little shoe). It is not served with olive oil and balsamic as an appetizer — that's an American invention.
• Dinner starts no earlier than 8 p.m. In the south, more like 9 p.m. An Italian who eats dinner at 6 p.m. does not exist.