Learn Italian: Ho ordinato un cappuccino e un cornetto. - I ordered a cappuccino and a croissant.

How could we expand this sentence to use the pseudo-relative clause of perception from our current lesson, such as "I heard him ordering a cappuccino"?

You would start with the perception verb in the passato prossimo (L'ho sentito), add che, and put ordinare in the imperfect tense to show the action was ongoing: L'ho sentito che ordinava un cappuccino e un cornetto.

Is there a difference between using ordinare and chiedere when ordering food?

Yes. Ordinare is the specific verb for placing a commercial order at a bar or restaurant. While you can use chiedere (to ask for), saying Ho chiesto un cappuccino sounds slightly more like making a general request or asking a favor, rather than a standard transaction with a waiter.

Is a cornetto exactly the same thing as a croissant?

Not quite, though they look very similar. An Italian cornetto is made with dough that is typically sweeter, less buttery, and often contains egg, making it slightly denser than a French croissant. Also, keep regional variations in mind: in Northern Italy, locals will usually order a brioche rather than a cornetto.