Aperotherapy
The aperitive, called apero is
a beverage that people drink to increase appetite before big meals. In reality,
it is much more than that. The apero represents
many cultures’ way of sharing a convivial moment with others. For my friends
and me, it is a regular meeting, usually at the end of the week directly after
work, during which we share, laugh and relax from the intense professional life
we have during the week. In my own life, it represents the moment I wait all
week long to talk for hours with my friends. Now that I am living in Chicago, I
do not have my friends and the friends I have met here do not have the same
customs. Therefore, I cannot reproduce this precious moment here in the same
way.
Switzerland, especially in the French part, is surrounded by vineyards.
The wine culture is anchored in our traditions and is directly tied to the
ritual aperitive, like in some areas in France, Italy and Spain. The most
appreciated beverage with the apero
is wine. The Swiss most frequently start with white wine. If a meal follows, we
usually keep the white wine until we start the meal, and if the apero is a buffet dinner, we change for
the red wine after a while. In general, white wine is preferred with white
meat, fish and with cheese. Red wine however could also be drunk with cheese
and is preferred with red meat and pastas. People also like beer or other
alcohol with the apero, like Martini
or Champagne for special events. Some of them prefer non-alcohol beverage or
share alcohol with water or orange juice, for example. In Chicago, I have not
found the wine I am used drinking. The United States has a big variety of
American wine.
The apero is always drunk with
something to eat. In Switzerland, people enjoy having several things, for
example, chips, peanuts, pistachios, olives, cheese or cold meat. If people
make the apero at home, they will
prepare more appetizers like guacamole, hummus, salmon mousse or canapés. If
the apero is a buffet dinner and no
meal follows, the food will be more varied or more substantial to satisfy the
appetite. The buffet dinner also contains sweet little desserts. The idea of
the food with the apero is to eat
with your hands, so everything is small or cut in pieces. Everywhere the apero is drunk with local products from
the specific area. In France, the habits are close to the ones in Switzerland,
and in Italy they also like fried vegetables. In Spain, they call it tapas and they eat it with also other
things like tortillas, meatballs with tomato sauce or chorizo. I have heard
about happy hour in United States,
but I have never been to one. I guess the idea is the same, enjoying a convivial
moment with people you appreciate after a day at work or during the weekend.
However, the food habits in the United States might be different and usually
include chips, salsa or chicken wings.
What makes the apero more
appreciable is the people we are with, coworkers, colleagues, friends or family
- anyone whose company we enjoy. Meeting for the apero is the best way to meet several people at the same time to
keep in touch in any circumstances. During these moments, people often meet new
acquaintances because sometimes one friend invites a colleague, or a colleague
invites a member of his family. Most of the time the apero is not made in a small group.
People may join, even later. The Swiss custom is to have a lot of people around
a table. Every good occasion is appropriate for an apero. At work, it can be the departure
of a coworker or a colleague; in the family, it can be before the Christmas
meal; or with my friends, a birthday occasion. My life in Chicago does not have
the same flow as in my country. The occasion to make an apero is less frequent, most probably because I do not work.
After an apero with my
friends, I always feel relaxed and happy to have amazing people in my life.
Friends are like another family. They bring smiles and love in our life and
sharing the apero with them is
really enriching. This part of my culture has
been lost in translation since I
arrived in this country because I can't reproduce it here in the same way. I
definitely miss those precious moments with my closest friends and the benefits
of the aperotherapy.
Great job Steph!
ReplyDeleteWow... It is a interesting essay. I do not know what is French "apéro" before read your essay Steph. However, I got it now, and the apéro attracts my attention deeply. Maybe we could hangout together and let me try this amazing "apéro".
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment Vince, yes we definitely should try it. Let's wait a warmer day and find a café terrace that we can try the american version of it ;). I am really interested in discovering it.
DeleteMy friend
ReplyDeleteYou wrote such an interesting essay. Surely, we all miss our habits of eat and drink in our countries. Back to your beverage, I liked the deep details about it. Actually, you make me curious to try it, but unfortunately, I can’t because of my religious obligation.
Thank you my friend :) and don't worry all the aperos are possible without alcohol. You need first the friends, then a place, and something to snack and here you have your moment. See you on Sat to do it ;)
DeleteMy friend
ReplyDeleteYou wrote such an interesting essay. Surely, we all miss our habits of eat and drink in our countries. Back to your beverage, I liked the deep details about it. Actually, you make me curious to try it, but unfortunately, I can’t because of my religious obligation.
Hi Stephanie
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your essay. It is a very interesting tradition, I didn't know about it before. I understand that currently, you aren't able to have this tradition here in the U.S., because I have the same problem, too. I wish you'll be able to have apero with your friends in the near future.
Hi Steph ! It is very nice essay you got here .I enjoyed reading it so much. It brought a lot of interesting information, which I didn't know. It's amazing how each country in the world has something unique and fascinating. Your writing is smooth and easy to read. I just want to say, that you did a great job!
ReplyDelete