A recent interview in Time Out New York with high-profile chef Scott Conant featured this Italian phrase. The former chef of L’Impero and Alto discussed his new book and restaurant, both to be called Scarpetta. As Conant alludes to, the term fare la scarpetta describes the act of mopping up one’s plate with a piece of bread.
You can dip your "heel" at Conant's new restaurant in the meatpacking district this spring.
You can dip your "heel" at Conant's new restaurant in the meatpacking district this spring.
Comments
I have heard and used the term a lot. In fact my mom and dad, being from south Italy, have always said Fare la scarpetta and I do it, just because I love the tomatoe sauce she makes. But, WHY IS THIS SAID?? wHERE IS THE ORIGIN OF THIS PHRASE?? Can anyone enlighten me? Grazie molto!
scarpetta = “little shoe”. I learned this at http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=28215
Some speculate that it’s because one deforms the bread to resemble a little shoe in order to scoop up more of the sauce.
thanks Laura!
that is really interesting
Maria
My relatives also from southern Italy compared the act of dragging or sweeping the bread across the plate to that of a shoe–which often gets dragged across the floor when walking. My question is this: what does etiquette say about this (in both Italy and America)? In Italy, someone mentioned that it shouldn’t be done in a restaurant or formal place but that most people do so at home with family.