NEWS COPY
Restaurant chiefs have come up with a hands-on solution for people who want to bring a bit more of Italy into their dining habits -- a menu which uses HAND GESTURES.
Italians use up to 250 hand gestures a day to describe everything from “what do you want from me?” to “that’ll be the day”, research has revealed.
A study by Isabella Poggi at Roma Tre University identified common gestures that Italians use in everyday conversation, including twisting the index finger into the cheek to say something tastes good and placing the hands in a prayer position to say “what do you want me to do about it”?
To celebrate the remarkably common use of hand gestures in Italy the world’s first “hand gesture” menu has been launched where UK customers can order everything from gnocchi to specific pizza toppings using their hands.
From March 14th ASK Italian will be inviting customers to let their hands do the talking with a new menu designed in collaboration with Italian experts from the Vivere L’Italiano language school.
By combining authentic Italian hand gestures for words such as ‘spicy’, and ‘excellent’ with brand new gestures for words like ‘burrata’ and ‘gnocchi’ the experts created a full three-course hand menu to allow people to “eat like an Italian”.
Stefania Ruggieri, Italian language expert and course co-ordinator at Vivere L’Italiano language school who helped craft the special hand gestures says: “Hand gestures are an integral part of the Italian language, involved in everything from arguing to declarations of love, and are as much a part of the Italian experience as breathing or eating.
“We’re happy to help ASK Italian bring a taste of this Italian experience to British diners”.
A full hand gesture menu has been released for the launch covering everything from ordering a Burrata with cupped hands to creating a Gareth Bale-esque heart for Baked Chocolate Gnocchi.
And if you fancy the new Alto Pizza, a thick airy base studded with olives, tomatoes and topped with special ingredients, just raise your index finger and thumb on both hands.
Corinne Prior, Marketing Director at ASK Italian, added: “We are really excited to launch our ‘hand gesture’ menu in all our restaurants nationwide as we want to spread the spirit of eating like Italians, who are known for using mealtimes as an opportunity to connect with others and to enjoy spending time together.”
For full hand gesture menu information or to explore their new spring menu and book a table, please visit www.askitalian.co.uk.
ENDS
