MovieChat Forums > Made (2001) Discussion > Appetif vs Digestif?

Appetif vs Digestif?

posted 19 years ago by Thatguyphil
22 replies | jump to latest

I've never claimed to be "cultured" and apparently i have 'no class' since
i have NO clue as to what drinks should be consumed when. I doubt i am even spelling them right. heheh

I can guess that Appetifs are consumed before dinner (appetizer) and
Digestifs are for after dinner (to digest better?).

So...does anyone know what drinks make up the Appetif and what make up Digestifs?

And what is "the Witch"? I assume its slang for a type of whiskey? maybe?

It's not that I'm lazy, it's that I just don't care.

[–] 68461 19 years ago

aperitivo is italian for before dinner drink, digestivo, after. Italians, like me, believe the digestivo will help do just that,make your dinner digest well. My favorite is Mirto, a blueberry liqueur, only available in Sardinia.

Cin Cin

[–] Thatguyphil 19 years ago

Ah, thank you.
:O)

So...what makes an 'aperitivo' different from a 'digestivo'?
Is it just the "time" that they are consumed, or is there someting more
that distinguishes them each other?

And how do they differ from a drink you consume during dinner?

It's not that I'm lazy, it's that I just don't care.

[–] Jeff-01 17 years ago

When you think about it, there's not much mystery to it: A drink such as a martini with olives is an aperitif or appetizer--something sharply alcoholic with a bit of food. One such as brandy or cream sherry is a digestif--it's sweet and heavy, like a dessert.

Though midnight is late for an aperitif, it's a bit rude (which I'm sure was Ruiz's intention) to presume that another is drinking something anachronistically, as it's not about the time of day but the time relative to dinner. If one had just gotten out of a late show and were en route to dinner, an aperitif wouldn't necessarily be inappropriate.

It also indicates that Ruiz is quite the phony gentleman to think that adhering to such "rules" is more important than drinking what one wants. A gentleman doesn't adhere to the rules because they're rules; he adheres to them because they're reasonable and his will generally happens to coincide with them.

[–] Thatguyphil 17 years ago

That certainly makes sense.
The sweeter heavier drinks concidered to be more 'dessertish'.

I remember being served a very sweet, chilled, lemon liquor as the
last course in a very nice Italian place. It was definitely a
dessertish drink.
:O)

Thank you for the info.

It's not that I'm lazy, it's that I just don't care.

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Demarates 16 years ago

That's what the drink you describe is called, and yes, it's a typical digestif in an Italian restaurant.

I am not a complete idiot. Some parts are missing.

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] gmccown007 16 years ago

"Jeff-01"
You "lecture" here, there and everywhere only to get the main point WRONG. As do RUIZ and his a$$ kissing compatriot the waiter. For probably the only time in the movie, ignorant a$$ Ricky is correct. "Strega" (the "witch") is, indeed, a digestif.

[–] mobyu2 16 years ago

If "Jeff-01" got it wrong then fair enough but can't you just give him some credit for writing so much information which to be honest was written with pure class. I love to trash people on the net as much as the next but I would guess this guy dines at some fancy places and his table manner is exquisite.

[–] dawgpound38 19 years ago

"the Witch" is a slang term for Straga. Straga is a liquor and is classified as an apertif...to be consumed before dinner. P-Diddy Combs points out Ricky's lack of culture and class by saying "what?? You drinking the witch after midnight??"

[–] Thatguyphil 19 years ago

Ah, Thanks!

Do you know why it's call 'The Witch'? Is it nasty? Maybe something to do with the label or the people that make it?

It's not that I'm lazy, it's that I just don't care.

[–] dawgpound38 19 years ago

The story is as follows: Strega was first produced in Benevento, Italy. According to legend, the town was the place where witches from around the world would meet.
Another legend was that the witches of Benevento prepared a love potion for couples to ensure their unity forever.
So Strega was produced and marketed upon the fascination with the legends of the Benevento witches.

[–] jason.r.meyer 19 years ago

Strega literally means "Witch" in Itlaian. And as far as I've ever known it actually is a digestif.

- Cornbread. Ain't nothing wrong with that.

[–] bryan2137 19 years ago

strega is like jagermeister it is a digestif, no idea what they are talking about in the movie. They might be pointing out that rick isnt as dumb as he comes off for those people that know that he's correct in calling strega a digestif

[–] mxlflx 18 years ago

Correct on all counts Strega "The Witch" is a digestif (french usage, as well as apertif). Ruiz and the waiter, cultured as they were, must have known this and were picking on Slade for being a 'swole-up LA guinea'. I think it is a deliberate stroke of irony intended by the director to demonstrate for the cognoscenti that, no, Slade cannot win for losing.

the cause of my ambivalence is the effect of your own--me

[–] Thatguyphil 19 years ago

Oh wow!
How cool!
:O)

Thanks all for the info!!

It's not that I'm lazy, it's that I just don't care.

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] gmccown007 16 years ago

"dawgpound38"
You end up floundering in the same boat as "Jeff-01". You reel off several "correct" points only to end up steering it onto the rocks and, consequently, "wrecking" your entire sermonette. Which, I'm afraid, can only mean you must have been winging it from the beginning. Unfortunately for YOU, RUIZ and the equally pompous a$$ WAITER, STREGA is, indeed, a DIGESTIF. AND - as I have just "illustrated" for you - spelled "s-t-r-e-g-a" NOT "s-t-r-A-g-a" - as you seem to think.
As many REAL cognoscenti as there are roaming the internet (i.e., "world") best not to be caught "pretending/bluffing", my friend.

[–] SamUK 16 years ago

you really need to get laid

[–] torr59 15 years ago

Actually....Ruiz is WRONG. Strega is a digestif....for after dinner. It has digestive properties. Not sure if this was purposely done to show Ruiz as full of sh*t too.

[–] jgpvideo 15 years ago

"I think it is a deliberate stroke of irony intended by the director to demonstrate for the cognoscenti that, no, Slade cannot win for losing."

That's interesting because earlier in the movie Horace wants his cold drink in a Snifter. He gets dissed by the bar tender. These two incidents may be used to show the pull that Ruiz and Horace have in NY, that they don't have in LA.

[–] bornasc 9 years ago

Strega is the Italian word for witch. Strega is also digestif. Ricky was actually correct here.

I think this scene was meant to show that despite Ricky's cockiness and strong front, he is still very self conscience about being out of his element. He's trying so hard to fit into what he perceives as New York's underworld subculture, that when confronted by an old school "connected" restaurateur he second guesses himself about Strega being a digestif. When in fact this is one of the few instances he is correct about something.