I knew what I was getting into. I mean, who thinks any trip to Italy won’t be infused with artisan crafted, heaven sent and heaven scented foods? Patiently aged cheeses, hams, wines, and even balsamic vinegars make you grapple with the dilemma of whether to devour more of the same dish you just inhaled, or perhaps allow your palate yet a new and exquisite eating experience? And I didn’t even mention the pastas…yet.
Salume and parmiggiano with balsamic drizzled over it. Welcome treats from our Blogville host, Nicholas.
So I arrive in Bologna fully armed with the insight that this is, after all, Italy. I come prepared to indulge in delectables and walk miles of cobble stoned streets as penance.
I love being unprepared.
“Life is a combination of magic and pasta.” ~ Federico Fellini
Helene, with our gracious server, at Da Cesari.
In my sojourn through the streets and eateries of Bologna and the surrounding Emilia Romagna region, I am happy to report it is easy to fetter out fantastic food stuffs to satisfy many palates. However, comma, after several days of good meals, I wanted to be wowed off of my dinner chair by the best even Bologna had to boast and with the help of Fodor’s (I’m old fashioned, I used their guide book), I was guided to Da Cesari.
A long-time family-run fixture of food in this classic city, Da Cesari has just the authentic aura you would hope for when you make heavenly culinary discoveries. Which I did. They conveniently and blessingly serve up the exquisite Mora Romagnola which I had to order because Glenda recommended I try it after I posted my Interactive Travel post soliciting ideas. I love my readers! It is basically a prosciutto crudo, cured for 30 months, but from a very rare and specific swine. But oh so very not basic. I am happy to proclaim it the hands-down the BEST prosciutto I have ever savored, and I’ve sampled my fair share.
Best ever. Must go back!
Panna Cotta – Oral Fixation
Nicholas at Le Sette Chiese with our fabulous food!
But the best “best” and the sweetest dolce of my vita in Bologna was in no small way the panna cotta, aka ‘Heaven in Your Mouth’ also found at Da Cesari (See cover photo!). I won’t get into the nitty gritty of how it’s made or exactly what makes this custard distinctly Italian, but I’ll say that the memory of it melting in my mouth on the rare moments I slowed down and stopped inhaling it were enough to compel me and Sara (my blogville roommate) to steal away on our last night and commandeer a last fix and bring it back to the farewell Bologna party. Tim, the certified chefster sharing the blogville digs noted that the chefs in the states just don’t have the same ingredients available to them and so the perfection achieved in the glorious panna cotta such as I sampled – over and over and over – is elusive.
A few nights later, continuing the trend of cool culinary excursions, our charming host of blogville, Nicholas Montemaggi, led us to one of his favorite eateries, Le Sette Chiese. Here we were again wowed by artisan cheeses, meats, breads, beers, lambrusco, and rocket (arugula) set in an atmosphere that makes you want to stay and digest, chew the fat with friends, and order another round of prosciutto before the winding walk home through the lamp-lit stone streets of Bologna.
Classic Tigelle. As delicious as it is photogenic.
It was here, too, that I dutifully sampled (OK OK, I wolfed it down) the doughy and delicious Tigelle, and also later the Piadina that was recommended by Loredana. If the Tigelle portrait above conveys warm wonderful comfort food bread, I cannot accuse it of false advertising. It didn’t just taste delicious – it chewed deliciously This seemingly innocent disc of dough was certainly what my gluten-free traveling companion would deem “evil wheat”. Call me a sinner.
If you’re wondering about the curious absence of a gelato mention, fear not. An entire post will be dedicated to my serious samplings of the smooth sweetness that is the pride of Italy.
Thank you for indulging with me on my taste adventure. I promise to continue on the quest for memorable delectables.
“You better cut the pizza in four pieces because I’m not hungry enough to eat six.” ~ Yogi Berra
No food post on Italy can not include a pizza pic!
Photos by Gina Stark except for cover photo of the panna cotta by co-conspirator, Helene Lohr
For more Bologna, try here: Beautiful Bologna – Part I in Photos
More Italy: Venice: A Thing of Beauty – Then and Now
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OK – I made it through relatively unscathed until that list pizza photo – AAAUUUGH!! That looks so incredibly delectably uh – may – zing! Lunch isn’t for another 3 hours but I’m dreaming of a big-a pizza pie…
This was the wrong thing to read while hungry and living in a country with no pork. 😉 Those photos are mouth-watering!
Awww sorry Ellen! It will be all the more blissful when you finally DO get to indulge in prosciutto 🙂 Thanks for reading – and happy eating! Gina
OMG! Well, it may have taken Me a week or two to get to Your post….but when I did; I was delightfully left Salivating! Gina, You have such a Wonderful way of bringing the smells, the tastes, and the beauty of it, to Us! As I sat here reading, I could practically taste each piece of Prosciutto, Cheese, and Panna Cotta! I could literally feel the stretch of the cheese on that pizza, as I took a bite into it's savory deliciousness! By the end, I found Myself wishing to Fly over the dreaded Ocean to hook up with You Gals for the rest of Your trip. Thank You, thank you, THANK YOU, for sharing this plethora of Delightful, mouth watering, SCRUMPDIDILLYICIOUSNESS! 🙂
Thank you thank you thank YOU, Ellie, for your as-always effusive and enthusiastic comments about my travels and observations!! 🙂 And let me throw in a hearty GRAZIE as well! Only this time, you have ME salivating at your descriptions and making me want that pizza more than even the photo can do! I'm about to post another travel diddy about sumtuous cherries..please stand by ;)) xoxoxo Love, Gina
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