75 Italian Sayings, Captions, and Quotes About Italian Food

Italian food culture is a way of life. From tasty plates of pasta to scrumptious desserts, Italian cuisine always leaves you wanting more. But did you know that Italian cuisine has also found its way into language; both English and Italian?

Yes, there are hundreds of Italian sayings and classic quotes about Italian food and lots of other fun facts that you can use in your everyday life and conversations.

These proverbs revolving around Italian food, pizza, and pasta are oh-so-quoteable and also come in handy for your best Instagrammable moments when you eat your way around Italy.

Whether you are looking to improve your Italian speaking skills when conversing with the locals or are searching for the perfect quote to caption your drool-worthy pasta picture, we’ve got you covered.

Here you will find some of the best Italian sayings about food, Italian food captions, and quotes about Italian food, as well as the right hashtags to use for your Italian #foodgrams.

What’s In this Post?

Italian Sayings About Food

Italian pasta quotes

Captions and Quotes About Italian Food

Italian Food Hashtags

Italian Sayings About Food

Italian sayings, much like Italian food, add depth and flavor to conversations. We have put together a list of some of the best Italian expressions about food along with their translations. Iniziamo! (Let’s begin!)

L’Appetito Vien Mangiando!”

One of the most famous Italian sayings about food is this saying about gluttony.

Literally meaning “Appetite Comes With Eating”, this means something like “people always want more than they already have”, or even “having isn’t always as nice as wanting.”

If you’re planning a trip to Italy, this famous Italian saying is a good one to know!

“Al contadino non far sapere quant’è buono il cacio con le pere.”

The underlying meaning of this saying is that one should always keep their advantages a secret from their competitors.

Literally, this saying means not to let the farmer know how good cheese tastes with pears. The idea was that if the farmers knew, they would keep all the cheese and pears for themselves!

“Liscio come l’olio.”

This Italian saying literally translates to “smooth as oil” and is used to refer to a situation that is without any hitches or hurdles. 

“Ci prendiamo un caffè?”

You’ll hear this said by Italians often in the middle of the morning or afternoon, which literally means “let’s take a break”. At which time you’ll stop what you’re doing and go get a coffee drink or espresso at a local bar and chat with friends before maybe returning to work.

“Cosa bolle in pentola?”

This popular Italian saying means "What's boiling in the pot?", and is uttered when something is being done in secret. You might hear this often in Italy.

“Avere le mani di pastafrolla”

Meaning, to "have shortcrust pastry hands”! This saying is used to refer to someone who has butterfingers and keeps dropping things. It can also refer to someone who is awkward and clumsy.

“Tutto fa brodo.”

This Italian expression means “every little bit helps” and literally translates to “everything makes broth”, or soup.

“Fare le nozze coi fichi secchi”

Means “to make a wedding with dried figs.” Somewhat similar to attemping to do something on a shoestring, this saying is used when someone makes excessive efforts to save on expenses, even when it is nearly impossible to do so. 

“Rompere le uova nel paniere.”

Means "to break eggs in the basket,” and it refers to someone who ruins others’ plans, often involuntarily. 

“Essere l’altra metà della mela.”

Literally means “to be the other half of the apple” and refers to a soulmate. Comes in handy for your romantic Italian trip posts!

“Buono come il pane.”

This Italian idiom refers to someone who is “as good as bread.” That is, someone who is caring and loving and a person of the heart. 

“Rendere pan per focaccia”

Is an Italian idiom that means tit for tat. The quote literally translates to “giving back bread for dough.”

“La mela non cade mai lontana dall’albero.”

Ever heard the expression “the apple doesn’t falls far from the tree”! Most of us recognize to mean that parents and children are often similar in their behavior and actions. This Italian saying comes in handy when you don’t want your American friends and family to know what you’re saying!

“Essere come il prezzemolo.”

This Italian saying translates to “being like parsley,” and is used to refer to someone who just happens to turn up everywhere. LOL Know any people like that?

“C’entra come i cavoli a merenda”

The literal meaning of this saying is “it fits like cabbage for the afternoon snack,” and refers to something that fits rather poorly, like cabbage for a midday snack!

“Parla come mangi.”

This famous Italian saying means to ”speak as you eat,” and is usually said to someone who speaks in a complicated manner. When you use this phrase with someone, you implore them to speak with a simplicity that can be compared with Italian cuisine. 

“Essere la ciliegina sulla torta.”

Means “the icing on the cake.” It refers to the best part of something.

“Buon cibo. Buon vino. Buon amici”

Literally translates to ”Good food. Good wine. Good friends.” Just everything you need in life. 

Italian pasta quotes

Pasta is a staple in Italian cooking and its tempting appearance and irresistible flavors are what make it one of the most beloved dishes worldwide.

If you love to eat, share, and talk about your precious Italian pasta dishes online or otherwise, our list of Italian pasta quotes is for you!

“Life is a combination of magic and pasta.”

~ Federico Fellini

“In heaven, after antipasti, the first course will be pasta.”

~ Steve Albini

“Everything you see I owe to pasta.”

~ Sophia Loren

"Only thing I am testing positive for is Pasta or Cheese."

~ Joe Lauzon

“Pasta with melted cheese is the one thing I could eat over and over again.”

~ Yotam Ottolenghi

“I’d much rather eat pasta and drink wine than be a size 0.”

~ Sophia Loren

Pasta la vista, baby!

This too shall pasta.

“No man is lonely eating spaghetti; it requires so much attention.”

~ Unknown

“Carbs – especially pasta – are the fuel my body needs to maintain an athletic lifestyle.”

~ Joe Bastianich

Are you ready for Spaghetti?

Life is about experiencing the pasta-bilities.

Everything I am, I owe to pasta.

I work out because I really love pasta.

Eat the spaghetti. Forget your regretti.

Every day is pasta day!

Eat pasta, live longer.

Life is good. Pasta is better.

First, we eat pasta. Then we do everything else.

Duct tape and pasta are alike. They fix everything.

Pasta is my Happy Place.

Live. Laugh. Linguine.

Romantic relationships are cool, but have you heard of Carbonara?

Penne for your thought.

Certified Pastatarian.

All we need is love and pasta.

I sprinkle pasta on my Parmesan cheese.

Holy Macaroni!

Loneliness is a foreign feeling when you’re eating pasta.

The Carbonara Effect.

A Penne saved is a Penne earned.

I’ve uncovered the truth and it’s made of pasta.

Always great to see cheese on pasta.

Are you upsetti? Then eat a spaghetti!

Come and spaghett it!

I love you fusilli reasons.

I macaronly have eyes for you.

The only guilty pleasure I have is pasta.

Spoon-assist or No assist? Those are the only questions.

You’re never alone-y with macaroni.

Nothing is impastable.

We are getting pasta point of no return.

You shall not pasta!

Oftentimes, I enjoy eating pasta too much that I forget to breathe.

Pasta dinner is Italian group therapy.

This dish is so good, it’s pre-Pasta-rous.

Captions and Quotes About Italian Food

Are you looking for those witty quotes about Italian food and other choice Italian food captions to post your drool-worthy pics on Instagram?

Here is our list of some of the best Instagram captions about Italian food that will spice up your posts and draw the attention of thousands of people online.

“You better cut the pizza in four pieces because I’m not hungry enough to eat six.”

~ Yogi Berra

“The trouble with eating Italian food is that five or six days later you’re hungry again.”

~ George Miller

“In Italy, they add work and life on to food and wine.”

~ Robin Leach

“Try imagining a world without Italian food. You can't, no way.”

~ Hozier

Ideas are like pizza dough, made to be tossed around.

Lovers of Italian food never die, they just pasta way.

Italian food is a culture, not just a cuisine.

Italian food is simple and simply beautiful.

Burying my problems in Italian food.

Will work for Italian food.

Hot and hearty.

Keep calm and eat Italian.

Italian Food Hashtags

Hashtags are a great way to grow your audience on social media platforms.

Whether you're a food blogger sharing your exploits from the streets of Italy, or just the average user posting your family's dinner on the gram, you can use these hashtags to improve your reach and get your posts on the “top posts” page! 

#italianfood

#ciboitaliano 

#homemadeitalian

#cucinaitaliana

#italianfoodporn 

#italianfoodlovers

#italianfoodisthebest

#italianfooddelicacies

#italianpasta

#italianfoodtraditions

#italianfoodandwine

#bestfooditalia 

#italiancuisine

#italianfoodforlife

#tastyitalianfood

#pastaitaliana

#italiancheese

#italiankitchen

#fooditaly

 #italiandinner

#madeinitaly

#italianfoodie

#italianfoodies

#italianfoodphotography

#italianfoodphotographer

#italianfoodblog 

#italianfoodbloggers

#foodbloggeritalian

 #italianfoodcalendar

#italianfoodtruck 

Italy is more than just food. Understanding its culture, customs and people is essential. To really imbue the Italian spirit, keep using these Italian expressions and quotes in your daily conversations.

Buona giornata di festa! Arrivederci!