How to eat your way around Italy by region PT. 2
Following on from last weeks installment: ‘How to eat your way around Italy by region’, we take a look at the rest of The Boot’s traditional and tasteful meals in each fashionable region, starting with a taster of the best Pizza you’ve ever tasted and ending with the skiers go to dish, Fondue. Take your time to read our latest post…
The best pizza youve ever tasted
On the west coast of Italy, in the far south, youll find the region of Campania. This is an area of tremendous historical importance given the ancient sites to which it is home. Its here you can visit Pompeii and the other richly cultural attractions just outside of Naples. Its also where youll find the stunning Amalfi Coast, Mount Vesuvius and the jet set playground that is Capri.
Perhaps it is fitting that Italys most famous and most internationally loved dish comes from here. It is, of course, the pizza. Were not going to insult you by explaining what a pizza is! Theres every chance youve already eaten it once this week, but what we will tell you is that eating locally prepared pizza in Naples, washed down with a glass of Fiano or Greco is a culinary experience quite unlike any other.
When in Romehave the cheese and pepper pasta
Further up the west coast, youll find yourself in Italys beautiful capital city, Rome. As a huge cosmopolitan centre, youll find cuisines from all regions of Italy here, all prepared to exacting standards, as well as international favourite flavours. However, a stand out dish from this famous European urban centre is Cacio e Pepe. Its a deceptively simply cheese and pepper pasta dish, that is enhanced further by plenty of butter! Trebbiano or Malvasia wines are good alongside it, if youre keen to drink local.
Salami and truffles from Umbria
Back in the north, Umbria offers perfect truffle hunting territory in the form of a hilly and wooded landscape. Salami cured meats are a popular favourite here, served frequently with Grechetto or Sagrantino.
The tender Florentine steak
In the rural idyll that is the Tuscan countryside, its worth seeking out the Bistecca Florentine, a steak that is uniquely tender and enormous. Its best shared with a table of meat lovers and a bottle of Sangiovese, Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon.
Pesto as its meant to be enjoyed
Youve probably tried pesto from the supermarket. Given the British taste for it, there are plenty of variations of it to put on your pasta, however, if you want the very best of the best pesto, why not head over to the Mediterranean coastline of Linguria and enjoy it with a glass of Pigato or Rossese.
Hearty filled mountain pasta
In the far north again now, in another Alpine region that shares borders with other countries; this time France and Switzerland, welcome to Piedmont and the city of Turin. Agnolotti del plin is a type of filled pasta similar to ravioli , but more dumpling like in shape. The pasta dough is folded over meat or vegetables to create a delicious, rich taste. For the meaty version, why not pair it with a Nebbiolo, or with vegetables, you might prefer a Moscato.
Fondue, the classic skiers dish
The final Italian region were going to explore is the Valle dAosta, another mountainous area with a very typical dish in this sort of landscape; fonduto. You probably know this as fondue. Its a melted Swiss cheese, combined with white wine in a large bowl and designed to have a table of hungry skiers dipping their skewers of bread hunks into it. Loved by mountain dwellers and visitors from every country, fondue will soothe your aching apres ski muscles and line your stomach ahead of an evening out on the town. Pair it with a crisp glass of Prie Blanc.
Have we whet your appetite for an Italian food based adventure? Then youll probably want to know what sort of trips are available to help you eat and drink your way around the different regions. Here, at Aspen Travel, we pride ourselves on our wide range of luxury all inclusive escorted food tours. You can opt for a speciality gastronomy tour, or combine that with other cultural interests. Even the resorts we offer take food very seriously, with some of the Club Med offerings providing a Michelin starred chef to ensure the gourmet food you enjoy is of the highest quality.
Some of our favourite Italian food tours include Intrepids South Italy Real Food Adventure, Gastronomic Italy by Great Rail Journeys and the Sicily Food Adventure by Exodus, but there are so many more, each with its own distinct characteristics. Many of our food based tours will include a cookery lesson too, to help you learn how to prepare some of the tastiest Italian dishes.
The best way to find out which tour is going to suit you best, is to get in touch with our experienced team of travel advisors. We can make your mouth water over the phone as well as help you find the perfect holiday to suit your preferences and budget. Please give us a call, or send us an email.