cheat sheet: how to order una brioche

they’re not croissants
…sono migliori!

The best advice I can give while visiting or living in Italy is, no matter how ridiculous you might feel, attempt to speak their language (per favore). Have fun with it! Try your best but don’t worry about messing up too much, it’s the effort that counts. Plus, the fun about travel is getting out of your comfort zone and what better way to do that than finally being the foreigner for once?

Colazione (co-la-zee-oh-ne) = Breakfast

So you made it to Italy. You’ve booked a place, maybe it’s a B&B, and it “includes breakfast” … amazing! But know that in many places throughout Italy, that will only include a coffee and a vavariety of breads or brioche.

In Italy, it is not common to have a massive breakfast of eggs, bacon, dairy, etc. While you can find the grand slam buffet in larger hotels chains, it’s more common to start the day a little lighter (and sweeter). And with coffee, certo.

Northern Italy = Brioche

Central and Southern Italy = Cornetto (“Little Horn”)

Even after years here, I still get nervous when it’s my turn at the counter to order in Italian. It’s normal to feel a little intimated. So I figured I’d create some cheat sheets for speaking the language as a silly American. I plan on covering everything from ordering coffee, ordering at the deli, understanding opening hours for business, and more. But for now, we’ll start with everyone’s favorite breakfast treat - the brioche!

Vorrei… (vor-ray) = I would like…

Una / Due (oo-nah / doo-eh..) = One / Two..

Brioche/s (bree-osch/s)

Cornetto (cor-net-to)

Cornetti (cor-net-ti) *plural

So… “Vorrei una brioche/s”, if you are traveling through Northern Italy. “Vorrei una cornetto / due cornetti”, if you are in Central or Southern Italy. But there are so many choices so you need to narrow it down from there…

Vuoto (vuo-to) = Empty / Plain

Senza crema (sèn-za crè-ma) = Without cream filling / Plain

Alla cioccolato (cioc-co-la-to) = Chocolate

Alla crema (crè-ma) = Cream filling

Alla Mandorla (man-dor-la) = Almond

Alla Pistacchio (pi-stac-chio) = Pistachio

Integrale (in-te-gra-le) = Whole Wheat Brioche

Alla Miele (miè-le) = Honey

Albicocca (al-bi-coc-ca) = Apricot

Arancia (a-ran-che-a) = Orange

I told you there were a lot of choices… Any many places will have more. Even the cafè at the hospital where my daughter was born was full of options which left me housing two (in record time, I might add) immediately following my glucose test. Note that often when ordering a chocolate brioche, it’s likely that it will have a chocolate hazelnut filling (prego!). While the brioche can be enjoyed any time of the day, it’s most appropriate to have them fresh in the morning with your coffee.

Salve! Vorrei una brioche alla mandorla, per favore. Da portare via. Grazie!

Hello! I would like an almond brioche, please. To go. Thank you!

Smile and wait until it’s ready. Please be patient, this isn’t Starbucks (aren’t you glad??). If it takes a while it doesn’t mean you were forgotten, it just means you’re used to how fast things are served in America. If you’re not planning for takeaway, it’s usually implied to have it “for here” (per qui/adesso) as it’s much more customary to sit and enjoy your coffee and cornetto slowly.

Il conto (il con-to) = The bill

Cost? Anywhere from €1 - €2 each, depending on what city you’re in.

Ordering at the register? You’ll pay right then and there after ordering.

Seated at a cafè? Your server will leave a ticket on your table, and when you’re ready to leave you can pay at the register. In Italy, it is not common to settle the bill at your table. Just another part of allowing you to take your time and not feel rushed to leave.

Tipping: Appreciated for exceptional services, but not expected in Italy as servers are compensated differently than we’re used to in the States.

Finally, my sweet busy American friends, be sure to dunk the brioche in the foam of your cappuccino, as it’s designed to be savored. And for the love of Santa Maria, do not bring a laptop. This is not the time for e-mails. Take your time, enjoy whatever scenery is in front of you. The group of old men playing cards, probably already drinking Campari at 11:00. The baby eating a brioche at the next table, covered in crumbs. The wives of the old men playing cards sitting nearby, gossiping in their furs. Life is poetry here and even the littlest moments deserve your full attention.

A presto!