This picture chosen by AI is not the real traditional idea of Italians about “fare scarpetta”.

At the end of a pasta dish ,at the end of a meat  dish or even a well-dressed salad, a bit of tasty sauce remains on the plate. It cannot be sacrificed. And then the quick movement with a bite of bread to recover the leftover sauce.

This is “ fare scarpetta “(making a  little shoe)and it is always a great pleasure

Why do we say “fare scarpetta”?

There are different versions about the origin of the term. Some believe that the term “scarpetta” derives from the shape similar to that of the shoe that takes the bread when it bends to be dipped.

More likely, however, is that like the movement that a shoe makes on the street, the bread of the scarpetta takes everything that is on the plate.

Another interpretation is even more convincing: it could derive from “scarsetta” and that is from the hunger of those who are so poor that, when they find food, they leave nothing on the plate.

And now watch this ad by Barilla.We are ad free, Barilla doesn’t support us, but the commercial is great.

When can we “fare scarpetta”?

In any case, etiquette is very clear: you don’t scoop up the sauce. The rules of etiquette don’t allow you to take the bread with your hands and dip it in the dish: it is absolutely forbidden on formal occasions.

On the other hand, in family or with friends, being the brave ones who first say “sorry but I have to fare scarpetta ” are loved by all the other diners who can follow them and scoop up the sauce too, and by whoever cooked because it means that the sauce was really good.

This is why I love this ad, it perfectly reflects the typical Italian pleasure of “scooping up the sauce”. Fare scarpetta

Try it, when the leftover sauce ‘s worth it.

E’un piacere !