Kick off the evening as the Italians do, with these&nbsp;recipes for drinks and small dishes from the best&nbsp;bars and restaurants of Venice, Milan, Turin,&nbsp;and beyond.<br><br>Aperitivo: from the Latin <i>aperire, </i>to open, as in open&nbsp;the door to friends, open conversation around the&nbsp;table, and open the appetite. Aperitivo is about&nbsp;coming together over drinks and snacks before&nbsp;dinner. It's a quintessentially Italian concept, and one&nbsp;that's worth emulating. Originating in the bars and&nbsp;cafes of northern cities such as Venice, Milan, and&nbsp;Turin, the custom has spread all over the country.&nbsp;<i>Aperitivo</i> takes the reader on a spirited ride through&nbsp;this cocktail culture, stopping at all the most chic and&nbsp;classic bars and restaurants that have elevated this&nbsp;ritual to an art form. Many of the drinks arc structured&nbsp;around vemouths and citrus- and botanical-infused&nbsp;liqueurs, which offer a new world of complex flavors. They yield enticingly simple cocktails that refresh without stunning the palate (thanks to a lighter&nbsp;alcohol content). But aperitivo is just as much about&nbsp;the food because in Italy, you can't drink without&nbsp;eating. Recipes feature peppers stuffed with tuna, the&nbsp;legendary croquettes from Harry's Bar, and polenta&nbsp;squares with baccala, as well as endless variations of&nbsp;crostini and focaccia.<br><br>Whether planning a party or just having a friend over,&nbsp;<i>Aperitivo</i> brings a whole new spirit of conviviality&nbsp;and lets you host in tme Italian style.