Venice is famous for an easy going way of eating based on titbits of food or morsels.
This kind of finger food, also known in Spanish as tapas are called cicheti in Venetian dialect.
The origin of the word comes from the Latin `ciccus` which means little in relation to the small quantity of food served that can be easily eaten in one or two bites.
Venetians love this way of eating to the point that it has become a style of life and they refer to it as `andare a cicheti`or `go for cicheti`. It is an informal alternative to a restaurant as you can stand moving freely outside the osteria and eat without the need of cutlery.
Cicheti are served mainly in a bacaro a special Venetian place, somehow in between a pub and a tavern where you can enjoy a full set of cicheti in a friendly and laid back ambiance. And of course, all bacari serve also a wide selection of wines as the best way to enjoy a cicheto is by having a glass of wine.
Eat cicheti at a bacaro is also the perfect way to socialize with your friends, the person next to you or make new acquaintances. And the fun for both Venetians and visitors is to have dinner or lunch or just a snack stopping in more than one bacaro as each one serves its own set of cicheti besides the best sellers.
By the way, going out for cicheti will also give you the chance to get familiar with the local food tradition and wine culture. So what about a fresh made meat ball, crispy fried calamari or a stuffed zucchini blossom and a good glass of prosecco? Are you ready for that?
