For the year-end dinner, Italians spent 2.5 billion euros on food and drink and almost nine out of ten (88%) consumed it in their own homes or those of relatives and friends, while the others were divided between restaurants, chosen by over 4 million people, and agritourisms with over three hundred thousand presences.
This is what emerges from the balance drawn up by Coldiretti which highlights the return to the table of the most typical products of the longest night of the year, for a total amount that has substantially held up compared to last year (-3%).
The tables lengthen by almost one place compared to last year with an average of 7 people with the return to conviviality confirmed by the success of the parties in the square, according to the Coldiretti/Ixe' survey.
Sparkling wine - underlines Coldiretti - is confirmed as the inevitable product for more than eight out of ten Italians (84%), but it is "surprisingly" followed by lentils present in 82% of the menus, perhaps also because they are called to bring good luck according to ancient beliefs that have also rewarded grapes (60%) which according to tradition have been eaten at least, one for each month of the year, while the tendency to consume foreign exotic fruit chosen by just 34% is declining sharply.
The interest in lentils was accompanied by the revival of cotechino and zampone present on 67% of the tables.
On the tables for the holidays there was also a strong presence of national fish starting from anchovies, clams, sole, mullet and cuttlefish with - continues Coldiretti - 63% of Italians who brought salmon from abroad, just 10% oysters and 7% of caviar are allowed, often domestically produced and also exported.
The general trend has however been to favor a tricolor menu often at zero kilometers with the traditions of the territory according to Coldiretti/Ixe'.
92% of citizens - concludes Coldiretti - brought Italian products to the table for the celebration, between 53% who did so above all because they are better and 39% who consider it a priority to support the economy and the work of the own country in a difficult moment.