Antipasto (plural antipasti) means "before the meal" (from Latin ante, meaning "before", and pastus, meaning "meal, pasture"), and is the traditional first course of a formal Italian meal. Traditional antipasto includes cured meats, olives, peperoncini, mushrooms, anchovies, artichoke hearts, various cheeses (such as provolone or mozzarella), pickled meats, and vegetables in oil or vinegar.