When we talk about Italy, it’s inevitable not to think about the Italian cuisine. This country is home to wonderful gastronomy and has a diverse set of regional food traditions. All the fresh ingredients, pasta, pastries, meats, cheeses and much more make Italy the destination of great places to eat your heart out! The reality, however, is that Italy has so many local delicacies that it’s hard to talk about the entire country, so we selected some of the main and traditional dishes of Rome, Milan, and Venice and where to eat. Buon appetito!

What to eat in Milan: Must-try dishes

Source: Flickr/Jose Luis Hidalgo R

When visiting the gorgeous city of Milan you´ll find the greatest dishes. In the fashion capital of Italy, you will find gorgeous landscapes and beautiful buildings, such as Duomo Cathedral, Santa Maria delle Grazie Church (where you find Da Vinci’s Last Supper),  La Scala Theatre and much more! And let’s not forget,  of course, amazing Italian restaurants. And so that you don’t miss anything, check out these foods that you need to try when in Milan.

Source: Flickr/Giorgio Minguzzi

A dish that you must try is the Risotto alla Milanese, it’s made with pilau rice with saffron and can be cooked in different ways. Says the local legend that in 1574 Maestro Velerio di Fiandra´s daughter was getting married and to make the white rice that was going to be served at the wedding look like gold, they added saffron. When visiting Milan, go to the Trattoria Masuelli San Marco and eat the traditional recipe. And to try the classic Risotto alla Milanese con Ossobuco (saffron risotto with braised veal shank) go to Ratanà.

Cotoletta is one of the most famous foods that you need to try when in Milan. The dish is a calf loin, breaded and fried that you can easily find in any restaurant and prepared in different ways. But if you want to try the traditional Cotoletta we suggest you go to the restaurant Da Martino. Da Martino is just a 15-minute walk from the Brera Art Gallery.

Also, don´t forget to try the traditional Mondeghili (milanese meatballs), a dish that has been officially recognized from Comune di Milano as a “dish of the territory”. You can find mondeghili in many street food stands in Milan.

What to eat in Venice

Source: Flickr/Pedro Szekely

There’s so much to see in Venice! You can go on a romantic gondola ride and appreciate the architecture, fall in love with the historic center of the Venice and visit breathtaking places like St Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace. The magic city on water is also a great destination to try some local delicacies and for the seafood lovers.

Source: Flickr/« R☼Wεnα »

If you’re in to try something different and unique, eat the Spaghetti in nero di seppia. This black pasta is the result of pieces of squid cooked with tomato sauce. The flavor is incredible! Go to Trattoria Alla Rivetta.

Another dish you need to try in Venice is Baccalà Mantecato. It’s dried codfish that was cooked for hours until it becomes a soft white cream and served on pieces of bread. Sounds amazing, right? Try it at the Ristorante al Covo.

In Venice you find all sorts of wonderful crustaceans, the Mołéche is a dish of fried soft shell crabs. This dish is available twice a year (fall and spring) and the love that the Venetians have for crabs is amazing. Simple and delicious! Visit the Trattoria Corte Sconta to try this plate.

The surprising flavor of Sarde in Saor will be a great memory of your trip to Venice. Even though is not a pretty dish, perhaps it´s Venice’s most distinctive traditional dish. A sweet-sour dish, Sarde in Saor, is fried sardine fillets; “saor” refers to a cooking technique where onions are softened slowly until translucent then mixed with raisins and pine nuts. Go to Trattoria Bar Pontini to taste this plate.

Source: Flickr/tamara mambelli

It’s time for dessert, so if you´re looking for something sweet and delicious, try the Frittelle! These fried donuts stuffed with cream or raisins and candied orange peel are easy to find during the Carnival. When in Venice, go to Pasticceria Tonolo and try a variety of Frittelle.

Source: Flickr/suziedepingu

Some claim that the famous dessert Tiramisù was invented in Venice. So, why not enjoy a delicious Tiramisù during your vacation? Go to I Tre Mercanti and have a sweet moment.

What to eat in Rome: the Roman cuisine

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Romans know how to eat. The Roman cuisine is known for having unique and simple recipes with very few ingredients. But don’t think that the simplicity of the dishes will leave you hungry. Roman cuisine is defined by a unique set of ingredients, techniques and dishes. Here are the best places and plates.

Forget about your diet and enjoy some Supplì! This is a must snack when visiting the city. Consisting of a ball of rice with tomato sauce, a heart of mozzarella, coated in breadcrumbs and then deep-fried. It’s a street food, so it’s easy to find. Where will you find the best one? Try Supplì. Since you´re in the restaurant, grab some Fiori di Zucca, this zucchini flowers stuffed with mozzarella, which is also fried and tastes incredibly good.

Source: Flickr/Davi Barbosa

Don’t go home before trying the Bruschetta. This is known throughout Italy as an appetizer and has its origins in Rome. The appetizer is made with Tuscan bread, fruity olive oil, and big red tomatoes. It’s easy to find tasteful Bruschetta all over Rome.

Source: Flickr/Vanilla Sugar Blog

The common dish Bucatini all’Amatriciana is made with pasta, tomato sauce, guanciale (cured pork jowl), pepper and grated Pecorino Romano. Try it at Trattoria Vecchia Roma and have one of the most amazing dinners of your life.

When you think of Italian cuisine we bet that one of the first things that comes to mind is Carbonara. This dish has many variations but generally is made with spaghetti, guanciale or pancetta, egg yolk and Pecorino Romano. Another pasta that is a must in the city is Cacio e Pepe, the combination of Pecorino Romano (a salty, aged sheep’s milk cheese) and black pepper – they are all that you need to have a perfect meal. You can have both of these plates, Cacio e Pepe and Carbonara at the restaurant Salumeria Roscioli.

When in Italy, you won’t get tired of pizza, trust us! So, when visiting Rome try the Pizza Roman Style. The typical pizza in Rome is very thin with no lip to the crust. Go to Ivo a Trastevere for some unique and delicious pizza!

Last but not least, the gelato! Nothing better to end a day of amazing food than an authentic and artisanal dessert. Go to Fiordiluna and have some incredible gelato. And besides this delicious foods you’ll have, don’t forget that when in Rome you need to check out the Colosseum, the St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and many other monuments the city offers.

We know that we are focusing on the food here, but let’s not forget about the places that you need to see during your trip. So check out our tour and have the best experience in Italy. You can spend your time in the best way choosing by high-quality service, a perfect organization and following the right path. And the best part? With Veditalia all your tours are guided by a legally licensed English speaking tour guide and have tips and suggestions that you don’t find on the internet.