A course (in Italian, portata) is each stage of the menu: the classic Italian order is aperitivo, starter (antipasto), pasta or rice course (primi), main with side dish (secondo with contorno), sorbet, dessert, cake, coffee and digestif. You do not need them all: after a long aperitivo a starter at the table is often too much, with a single main the sorbet can go.
At events portions are smaller than in a restaurant, because there are more courses. A common practice is two pasta courses as tasters, that is reduced portions of two different dishes. The caterer's dessert and the party cake are often two separate items, in price too. The pace between courses depends on guests, waiters and interruptions: it should be written into a running order.
What to ask
Ask which courses are included in the price per person, whether portions are tasting size or full and how long the service of each takes. The guide to menu courses explains them one by one.
