Italians consider mopping up sauce with bread a compliment
British food journalist Giulia Crouch explains that using bread to clean plates is a cherished tradition in Italy.
Bread serves as a tool
Giulia Crouch grew up eating thick chunks of bread with her Italian grandparents in Kent. The family used the bread throughout the meal but saved it for the end to soak up sauces. This practice involves mopping up the last of the pasta sauce or oil from a salad.
The ritual has a name
Crouch learned that this habit is called fare la scarpetta in Italy. The phrase literally translates to doing the little shoe with bread. She notes that leaving delicious food on the plate would be considered a worse crime than using bread.
Tradition appears everywhere
The journalist observed people performing this action casually at white-tableclothed restaurants in Naples. This behavior matches how families do it at home without plastic baskets lined with kitchen roll. The custom represents a clash between strict etiquette and the pleasure of eating.
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