Italian Aperitivo at Elephantine!

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ciao ! ¡

It’s our great pleasure to introduce a new tradition to Elephantine—aperitivo—Italian cocktails and small bites, which can be enjoyed Thursday—Sunday from 2—5pm.

Fusing the culinary with the cultural, aperitivo is an institution in Italy, one that Italians ubiquitously relish from the canal-lined tables of Venice, to the bustling piazzas of Rome; in the rolling hills of Tuscany, and in simple towns by the sea.

Here, we wanted to share more about the origins of aperitivo, the food and drink included in this time honored tradition, and why we dreamed of bringing it to Elephantine.

what is aperitivo?

Aperitivo traces its origins to the Roman Empire, where a traditional meal unfolded in three stages. The gustatio, or appetizer, was the first course, and today, centuries later, aperitivo remains, a vestige of an empire long gone.

Contemporary aperitivo culture is widely believed to have originated with the creation of Vermouth in Turin by Antonio Benedetto Carpano in 1786. Becoming instantly popular with the royal court, Vermouth became the pre-dinner drink of choice of Italy’s then King Vittorio Emanuele II.

Today, aperitivo is a cherished Italian cultural institution that unfolds in the hours after work is done, but before dinner. Consisting of small snacks and drinks designed to stimulate the appetite for the bigger meal to come, the word aperitivo derives from the Latin aprire, which means to open. Although food and drink play a central role, aperitivo is essentially a social touchpoint for Italians—a celebratory event the elevates the simplest pleasures of life—food, drink and human connection—to the status of honored ritual.

the menu

Owing to its mission—to stimulate the palate but not to fully satiate—the aperitivo menu consists of small bites to be enjoyed with a drink.

At Elephantine, we’ve broken our menu down into three segments: spuntini, snacks; antipasti, slightly more satiating bites; and dolci, sweets. The spuntini are typical aperitivo fare, small salty snacks that go perfectly with a drink. Our antipasti are great for sharing. Capping off the menu is a simple offering of sweets.

With respect to drinks, we’re sticking to the classics—Aperol spritz, Negroni, and a few good Italian wines by the glass—what more is there!

aperitivo at elephantine

Aperitivo at Elephantine has been a dream years in the making. Our passion is to transport—to create an atmosphere, a dish, an arrangement of flowers, or a playlist—that takes us somewhere. Whether in our imagination, or to a memory we hold dear, to a dream we cherish, to places that no longer exist, or to those that only exist within, our greatest privilege and our reason for being is to facilitate that shift for our guests. To that end, aperitivo is a natural extension of what we do, and offers us a wider platform and new avenues to transport and delight.