Among the many things I was excited about while visiting Italy, food and wine were at the top of the list. I’d have to say that when it comes to Italian cuisine in areas of high tourism, you may be a bit disappointed. Many restaurants around the areas we stayed had pretty much the same thing, pizza, and pasta. Now I’m not dumb enough to think that this wouldn’t be popular or uncommon; however, I feel my perception was a bit off because I was expecting dishes that were somewhat different than what you can find in the US.
Finding a local venue with local food proved to be very difficult, and in the few places we found, there was a language barrier and reservations were almost always needed. However, the food in these venues was worth the hassle. Our favorite meal was at a small, dark and damp restaurant in Venice called La Bitta. No pizza, but they did feature their signature, homemade pasta carefully crafted to complement any of the few types of meat featured in their limited but spectacular menu. Their dessert pannacotta (flavored custard), which is what they are famous for, was both delightful and satisfying, not leaving you feeling overly full after the meal.
We stumbled upon this charming restaurant while lost in the streets of Venice, looking for a different place we hadn’t tried yet. The place didn’t open until an hour later, so we made a reservation as required and patiently waited at a bar next door. By far, this was the most memorable dining experience. Even including a bottle of red wine, the bill was incredibly low, unlike most touristy area restaurants where the food was not all that great, but the bill was greater.
So the purpose of this story is, spend some time with locals to find these gems. If you don’t mind spending more for less, then the restaurants in the high traffic touristy areas will work just fine.
Now, onto wine. The wine was amazing just about anywhere we went. Their house or table wine, which is what they call it, is comparable to a $15 to $20 bottle in the U.S. A slightly more expensive bottle was like having a $30 bottle or more here.
According to our wine tour host, David Hughes from Fattoria Il Piano Wine Tasting and Tour in San Gimignano, Tuscany, table wine is of great quality all over Italy because it’s served for lunch and dinner. One of the photos featured here displays a wine container the locals purchase for home consumption. In my opinion, this large container would last me a couple of months, and David’s reply was that it lasts them about two weeks. I thought that was pretty great.
The Fattoria Il Piano Wine Tasting and Tour was not only engaging, enlightening and educational, but the lunch included in the tour was the second best meal we had during our entire trip. David even taught me to eat bread like the locals do smothered in olive oil and sprinkled with salt. If you are ever in the area, please enjoy this tour as well as David’s exuberant personality and exquisite cooking abilities. It will be an unforgettable experience. I’ve provided a link below.
We purchased several bottles from a few different vineyards around the Tuscany region and had them shipped home. Shipping was a bit pricey but the wine wasn’t, so it pretty much evened out. If you’d like a link to shipping costs and a list of the wines we purchased, leave a comment below. Red is my favorite; however, I purchased a chardonnay that has a crisp, buttery, bold flavor. It doesn’t even taste like your typical chardonnay!
My two other favorite food venues were in Rome. Alessio, near the main plaza, offers a full-course meal starting with antipasti and followed by a first and second course, dessert, and espresso or limoncello. Visit their website below for directions and a full menu. My favorite dish was the vegetable risotto, which as unlike any rice dish I’ve ever had.
Last is Ai Tre Scalini, a hip bar with great music, friendly bartenders and some of best house wines. And after the amazing bar snacks, if you’re still hungry, their carefully crafted dishes with unique textures will not disappoint, not even after a few drinks at the bar.
BTW, just about anywhere you go, gelato and cappuccinos are excellent.
For me, sadly, that’s it. If you’ve visited any of the five cities I feature on my ebook, “Tour 5 Italian Cities in 15 Days,” which includes the two cities above, and have visited great restaurants worth sharing with other fellow travelers, please leave a comment below. I would love to hear from you and to have a greater list of favorites when I visit Italy again.
Rome Restaurants and Bars: Ai Tre Scalin, http://www.yelp.com/biz/ai-tre-scalini-roma Alessio, http://www.yelp.com/biz/alessio-roma
Venice Italian Bistro: La Bitta, http://www.yelp.com/biz/la-bitta-venezia, Reservations, cash only
Tuscany- wine tasting and lunch: http://www.ilpianowines.com/
