Like the opening credits of a film, or the theme song to your favorite show, the arrival of the antipasto tells you something special is about to start.
Italy's response to French hors d'oeuvres, antipasto is a combination of various small foods that are usually served before a meal. Traditionally, the antipasto is meant to stimulate the appetite and get the taste buds ready for the meal without over filling the stomach. The term was first used during the sixteenth century.