This summer, my daughter graduated from high school, so we invited a few of her friends to our home for a small celebration.
In Italy, high school students must pass the Esame di Stato, the national graduation exam, before they can officially graduate. Until the final results are announced, students and their families remain under considerable pressure.
[Related article: Italian High School Graduation Exam (Esame di Stato)]
Italian schools are also known for having strict academic standards, and repeating a school year is not uncommon. That makes the moment when students finally graduate feel even more rewarding.
After finishing her exams, my daughter said,
“I just want to enjoy a few days of doing absolutely nothing.”
She spent those days watching her friends take their graduation exams, reading books, and simply relaxing after months of studying.
Throughout her final year of high school, she had been balancing exam preparation with violin practice, leaving very little time to meet friends.
To celebrate the end of this important chapter, we decided to host a casual Italian-style aperitivo at home.
During the school year, even when the students met for an aperitivo in town, they usually went home early because they still had exams to prepare for.
This time, however, there was no need to watch the clock, and everyone was finally able to relax and enjoy each other’s company.
Simple Summer Food Is Best
With temperatures close to 40°C (104°F), I wanted to prepare food that required very little cooking while making the most of Italy’s wonderful summer ingredients.
Our menu included:
- Homemade guacamole (Florence has excellent avocados, tomatoes, Italian parsley, and red onions, making it especially delicious.)
- Bruschetta
- Beef carpaccio (Tuscany is famous for its excellent beef, so finding high-quality meat is easy.)
- An assortment of Italian cheeses (Even supermarkets offer an impressive selection.)
- Olives
- Semi-dried tomatoes preserved in olive oil
- Traditional Tuscan bread
[Related article: Best Foods to Buy at a Florence Supermarket]
Summer is tomato season in Italy, and the tomatoes are incredibly flavorful.
Fresh bruschetta needs nothing more than ripe tomatoes, garlic, basil, extra virgin olive oil, and good sea salt to become a perfect appetizer.
Since these were hungry teenagers, I also prepared extra beef carpaccio.
[Related article: Summer Carpaccio and Salad in Florence]
Looking Toward the Future
Although they all graduated together, each of them is now following a different path.
One friend will begin studying at a music conservatory.
Another is preparing for architecture school entrance exams.
Listening to them talk excitedly about their dreams and future plans made me wonder what kind of adults they will become.
Watching young people take their first steps toward their goals is always inspiring.
Just in Case… I Bought Pasta
In Italy, it’s quite common for people to get hungry again late in the evening and say,
“Let’s make some pasta.”
A simple tomato sauce or an Arrabbiata can be ready in about ten minutes, so I had all the ingredients prepared just in case.
In the end, though, we never needed it.
Everyone was too busy talking, laughing, and enjoying the aperitivo to think about another meal.
An Italian Way of Celebrating
A celebration doesn’t need an elaborate feast.
Good ingredients, a bottle of Prosecco for the adults, soft drinks for everyone else, and plenty of time together are often all you need.
Sharing seasonal tomatoes, cheeses, olives, and simple homemade dishes while talking with family and friends is one of the pleasures of life in Italy.
Since moving to Florence, our family has naturally embraced the tradition of enjoying aperitivo at home.
Going out to restaurants is always enjoyable, but inviting close friends over, preparing simple food, and spending hours talking around the table is another wonderful part of Italian life.
It’s a simple tradition, yet one that beautifully reflects the Italian way of enjoying time together.