Foodies and travel bloggers around the world always crave some of the best cuisine in the world: Italian food. Some of the best recipes, top chefs and Michelin-star restaurants in the world can be found here. Each city and region in the country has its own traditional dish. In this article we will take you to some of the best low-budget restaurants and food stores throughout Italy to have an authentic taste of the local cuisine.
Try Bolognese pasta in Bologna
You probably have guessed that the famous Bolognese sauce originates from Bologna. However, don’t be so sure that you have tasted the proper version of this common pasta dish! The true Bolognese local pasta dish is made with slightly wide pasta and a thick sauce. One of my favourite restaurants for enjoying this yummy specialty is the Osteria Dell’Orsa in Bologna, where you should also try the typical tortellini chicken soup of this region.
Trofie al Pesto in Genoa
Genoa is not only famous for its fresh seafood, especially the codfish or stockfish, but also its pesto sauce. Come to the locally famous restaurant Cavour 21 in Piazza Cavour to order the trofie al pesto. This is one of the best pasta dishes you can get in the port city of Genoa. Cavour 21 is open only between 11 AM and 2 PM and in the evening between 7 PM and 10 PM. There is sometimes a long line of customers waiting for dinner in front of the small and cozy restaurant.
Arancini in Sicily
Another take-away comfort food I enjoy a lot in Italy is arancini, originating from the southern part of Sicily. They are stuffed rice balls filled typically with meat, tomato sauce, mozzarella and peas, covered with breadcrumbs and then deep-fried. Though they are traditional food that you can easily find in Palermo and Trapani during the feast of Santa Lucia on the 13th of December, arancini are also available in Christmas markets and small stores in northern Italy.
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Panzerotti in Naples or Milan
One must-try famous food originating from central and southern Italy is panzerotti – a savoury turnover similar to a small oven-baked folded pizza. These are typically filled with ham, mozzarella and cheese or vegetables. Though this is a common southern convenience food, you can find panzerotti in northern Italy at Luini in the Milan city centre.
Napoli pizza in Napoli
It goes without saying that Italy is the country for pizza-lovers. Don’t forget to put on your foodie bucket lists one of the must-try pizza toppings here including margherita, prosciutto e funghi, napoli, etc. If you are on a low budget while on the road, Napoli is an ideal city to for savvy travellers to enjoy pizza, which can be found anywhere around the city.
Gelato in Venice or Genoa
Last but not least, a delicious Italian dessert dish has to be included, gelato: an Italian ice cream made with various flavours. Some of my favourite gelato stores around Italy are Gelateria Nico in Venice and the Gelateria Profumo in Genoa.
Italy - the food heaven for travellers
Italian cuisine is definitely more than just pizza and pasta. You need to spend months in this country to enjoy the best local dishes in each region up and down the northern and southern coastlines.
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