ENGLISH
Hospitality begins before the first course. Sometimes, with a simple question.
Setting a table means preparing a space for someone. A plate, a glass, a chair pulled closer: gestures so familiar that they can go unnoticed. Yet they already contain an idea of welcome.
An interesting table does not need to be perfect. It can have mismatched plates, a well-worn linen napkin, a branch from the garden. What matters is that the objects help people feel comfortable, see one another, and pass the bread without ceremony.
“Ti va?” is a small expression worth listening for. “Ti va un po’ di pane?” — would you like some bread? — offers something while leaving the other person a choice. Learning a language also means recognising these nuances: not only what is said, but the space left for a reply.