Trattoria Explained

A trattoria (: trattorie) is an Italian-style eating establishment, generally much less formal than a ristorante 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

The 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

Notes and References

  1. Encyclopedia: trattoria2 . . it . https://web.archive.org/web/20190718152926/http://www.treccani.it/vocabolario/trattoria2/ . 18 July 2019 .
  2. Book: Capatti. Alberto . Montanari. Massimo . Italian Cuisine: A Cultural History. 2003. Columbia University Press. 978-0-231-50904-6. 230–232.
  3. Encyclopedia: Pianigiani . Pietro Ottorino . trattóre . Vocabolario Etimologico di Pianigiani . 1909 . [via Dizionario Etimologico Online] . it . https://web.archive.org/web/20190718155323/http://www.etimo.it/?cmd=id&id=18684&md=059110df77cac39603a354dc4cf8fb25 . 18 July 2019 .
  4. Web site: trattoria – Origin and meaning of trattoria . www.etymonline.com . Online Etymology Dictionary . https://web.archive.org/web/20190719075334/https://www.etymonline.com/word/trattoria . 19 July 2019.
  5. Encyclopedia: Colonna . Barbara . tràrre . Dizionario etimologico della lingua italiana . 1997 . Newton & Compton . Genoa . it . 387 . 88-8129-796-5 .