# Name your favorite italian appetizer! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 7, 2006, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-italian-appetizer/347332 "2006-03-07T01:37:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-italian-appetizer/347332/1 "2006-03-07T01:37:41Z")
I have a new favorite! I had it at the local upscale genuine italian restaurant (we have two such in our county! Damn we’re lucky!!) Candied figs stuffed with gorgonzola cheese, then wrapped in prosciutto, which was seared just enough to make the prosciutto crisp and the cheese warm, perched atop cubes of sauted crisped polenta, all drizzled with a balsamic reduction!! It was truly amazing! Anybody else have any favorites? ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-italian-appetizer/347332/2 "2006-03-07T01:55:52Z")
Buca di Beppo has a kick ass garlic bread. A simple appetizer, yes, but damn good. ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-italian-appetizer/347332/3 "2006-03-07T02:00:14Z")
Calamari, bruschetta, hell, even fried mozzarella sticks. It’s **all** good. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-italian-appetizer/347332/4 "2006-03-07T02:03:35Z")
Bruschetta, when done well, is the most amazing thing in the world. Cheap, lazy bruschetta is terrible and it makes me cry. ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-italian-appetizer/347332/5 "2006-03-07T02:04:02Z")
I like ANYTHING Italian…when i was a chef i made Arancini…little fried riceballs stuffed with prosciutto, asiago, and peas. Use a little home-made putanesca sauce for dipping…mmmmm…Damn you Q, now i’m hungry. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-italian-appetizer/347332/6 "2006-03-07T02:10:45Z")
The antipasto salad at Mara’s in South Philly. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-italian-appetizer/347332/7 "2006-03-07T02:42:33Z")
That caprese salad. Cherry tomatoes, real mozzarella chunks, olive oil and basil. I could eat that till I explode. ---
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-italian-appetizer/347332/8 "2006-03-07T02:56:18Z")
> [@BiblioCat](#): > > That caprese salad. Cherry tomatoes, real mozzarella chunks, olive oil and basil. > I could eat that till I explode. There’s an Italian deli near me that makes it with fire-roasted cherry peppers, fresh mozzarella, chunks of their own “home made” sopressata, olive oil and basil. It’s my fave. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-italian-appetizer/347332/9 "2006-03-07T03:37:18Z")
Baby octopi grilled in olive oil, with cannellini beans. If you have no octopi, just gimme da galamar’. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-italian-appetizer/347332/10 "2006-03-07T04:16:41Z")
The crab bread at [Champps](http://www.champps.com/for_starters) is awesome. I think it qualifies as italian, if not there are other appetizers that definetly qualify. That, and one of their draft beers the size of a fire extinguisher make for a great happy hour! ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-italian-appetizer/347332/11 "2006-03-07T04:23:33Z")
Damn, I need to get to better restaurants! I came in here to say cheesy garlic bread. With roasted cloves in every bite. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-italian-appetizer/347332/12 "2006-03-07T04:30:19Z")
Really good, fresh bread, and really good olive oil with garlic floating in it. Doesn’t get much better than that. ---
**Author:** ![cabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@cabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cabdude)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-italian-appetizer/347332/13 "2006-03-07T05:03:23Z")
My favourite local does king prawns in a creamy tomato and chili sauce on a bed of risotto. The sauce, it is to die for. ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-italian-appetizer/347332/14 "2006-03-07T05:06:48Z")
It’s about food, this thread, but it seems as if you’re simply asking for opinions. I’ll move this over to IMHO, but if the thread turns toward more serious discussion, an IMHO mod can move it over to Cafe Society. Ché idea grande! ---
**Author:** ![Waterman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b2d939/32.png) [@Waterman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waterman)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-italian-appetizer/347332/15 "2006-03-07T06:03:12Z")
My two favorite appetizers that I like to make, in no particular order: [ul] [li]prosciutto wrapped in ripe melons[/li][li]insalata caprese di mozzarella di bufala (if available or fresh mozzarella)[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-italian-appetizer/347332/16 "2006-03-07T12:32:12Z")
> [@Waterman](#): > > My two favorite appetizers that I like to make, in no particular order: > [ul] > [li]prosciutto wrapped in ripe melons[/li][li]insalata caprese di mozzarella di bufala (if available or fresh mozzarella)[/li][/ul] Just out of curiosity – how do you wrap a melon around a piece of prosciutto? ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-italian-appetizer/347332/17 "2006-03-07T12:38:58Z")
Not necessarily an appetizer, but since so many good ones have been named, I never mind chowing down on some stinky, soft taleggio cheese. Or liver and fava beans with a nice chianti. . ._fft fft fft fft fft fft_ ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-italian-appetizer/347332/18 "2006-03-07T12:51:14Z")
> [@BiblioCat](#): > > That caprese salad. Cherry tomatoes, real mozzarella chunks, olive oil and basil. > I could eat that till I explode. This is tied for first place with the simple, yet elegant artichoke. I’ll do 'em stuffed or just with garlic butter. Doesn’t matter. These two beauties are a meal for me. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-italian-appetizer/347332/19 "2006-03-07T13:12:01Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Just out of curiosity – how do you wrap a melon around a piece of prosciutto? Well what about the bread with roasted cloves in every bite? ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-italian-appetizer/347332/20 "2006-03-07T15:03:07Z")
> [@BiblioCat](#): > > That caprese salad. Cherry tomatoes, real mozzarella chunks, olive oil and basil. > I could eat that till I explode. I resemble that remark. Seriously, it probably is my favorite way to begin a meal–usually with regular sized tomatoes. Sometimes Insalata Caprese _is_ my meal. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-italian-appetizer/347332.md?page=2)