Word of the Day: Fare la scarpetta

Fare la scarpetta is one of those awesome Italian sayings that doesn’t really have an identical phrase in English.
With fare, meaning ‘to do’, and scarpetta, meaning ‘a small shoe,’  we get, ‘to do the small shoe.’ What does this all mean you ask?!!

When you are done eating a dish that is made in some sort of sauce, you grab a piece of bread, and you fai la scarpetta. That is, you drag a piece of bread in the leftover sauce, oil, or condiment, that is on your plate: you sop up what’s left. Isn’t that so clever of Italian!? It’s like dragging your bread-shoe over the plate, picking up all that’s leftover. Or in English, ‘licking your plate clean,’ but using a piece of bread to ‘clean’ the plate.

Don’t forget to conjugate fare according to person!

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About Zvia Shwirtz

In Rome for 3 years now, and counting, Zvia boasts 'pro level' knowledge of the Roman public transportation system, club/music scene, and where to get a cappuccino after 11 AM without a dirty look. She also can't believe that Italians do not know about Seinfeld.
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3 Responses to Word of the Day: Fare la scarpetta

  1. amy says:

    omg this is the best phrase ever! i’m famous for doing this with every dish that has a sauce. makes me hungry just thinking about it! Awesome share.

  2. Pingback: Italian Comfort Fare and Drinks at Cuzzin’s Café in Orland Park (Half Off). Two Options Available. » Get your daily Groupon deals

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