gastronomia
The Italian word for deli is gastronomia.
A gastronomia is a shop that specializes in prepared foods such as salads, cooked meats and side dishes that are ready for serving. The term can refer both to the retail shop itself and to the culinary art of fine food preparation.
Meaning: shop that sells cooked or prepared food ready for serving (noun)
Which one should you use?
While an English speaker might use the word 'deli' to refer to a place selling mostly sliced meats and cheeses, an Italian gastronomia often includes a wider variety of hot and cold prepared dishes ready to eat.
Did you know?
- While a gastronomia sells prepared meals, a shop selling only cured meats, cheeses and olives is called a salumeria. Mixing these up might lead a hungry customer to a shop that only sells ingredients rather than ready meals.
- The term gastronomia can be used as a compliment for someone's cooking skills. Telling a host that their dinner is alta gastronomia suggests the meal is a work of high culinary art.
- In some Italian regions, a gastronomia also functions as a take-out restaurant where you can order custom-made trays of appetizers for parties, a service known as tagliere.
Examples in context
- Buongiorno! Cerco una salumeria.Good morning! I'm looking for a deli.
- Mi può consigliare una buona salumeria qui vicino?Can you recommend a good deli nearby?
- Vorrei una selezione di salumi misti, per favore.I would like a selection of mixed cured meats, please.
- La gastronomia è aperta oggi?Is the deli open today?
- Compro il pranzo in gastronomia.I am buying lunch at the deli.
- C'è una buona gastronomia qui vicino.There is a good deli near here.
Example conversation
Chiara and Francesco are deciding where to eat lunch.
- ChiaraPassiamo in gastronomia per il pranzo?Shall we stop at the deli for lunch?
- FrancescoSì, è un'ottima idea.Yes, that is a great idea.
- ChiaraCosa prendi di buono?What delicious thing are you getting?
- FrancescoPrendo un panino pronto.I am getting a prepared sandwich.
