A trattoria (pl.: trattorie) is an Italian-style eating establishment, generally much less formal than a ristorante (lit. 'restaurant') but more formal than an osteria.[1]
A trattoria rooted in tradition, typically, is without a printed menu, with casual service, wine sold by the decanter rather than the bottle, low prices, and a menu of modest but plentiful offerings that follow regional and local recipes rather than haute cuisine.[2] Sometimes, food is served family-style, at common tables. Optionally, a trattoria may offer takeaway. This tradition has waned in recent decades. Many trattorie have taken on some of the trappings of a ristorante, providing relatively few concessions to the old rustic and familial style. The name trattoria has also been adopted by some high-level restaurants.[1]
Etymology
editThe word trattoria is cognate with the French term traiteur[3] (a caterer providing take-out food). Derived in Italian from trarre, meaning 'to treat' (from the Latin tractare/trahere, 'to draw'),[4] its etymology has also been linked to the Latin term littera tractoria, which referred to a letter ordering provision of food and drink for officials traveling on the business of the Holy Roman Empire.[3][5]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "trattoria2". Treccani (in Italian). Archived from the original on 18 July 2019.
- ^ Capatti, Alberto; Montanari, Massimo (2003). Italian Cuisine: A Cultural History. Columbia University Press. pp. 230–232. ISBN 978-0-231-50904-6.
- ^ a b Pianigiani, Pietro Ottorino (1909). "trattóre". Vocabolario Etimologico di Pianigiani (in Italian). [via Dizionario Etimologico Online]. Archived from the original on 18 July 2019.
- ^ "trattoria – Origin and meaning of trattoria". www.etymonline.com. Online Etymology Dictionary. Archived from the original on 19 July 2019.
- ^ Colonna, Barbara (1997). "tràrre". Dizionario etimologico della lingua italiana (in Italian). Genoa: Newton & Compton. p. 387. ISBN 88-8129-796-5.
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