Sunday, March 6, 2022

Bologna, Italy

Bologna, the city for the gourmand. 

I excitedly explored the city of Bologna, wandering first quickly and then slowly through the streets of the quadrilatero area, which is filled with foodie shops, It is itself considered a market, but also has markets within its boundaries, such as the Mercato di Mezzo. The streets are cobbled and it certainly feels as though nothing has changed in hundreds of years. Enotecas dot your view as you peer down an alleyway, dispersed between shops to buy fish, cheese, and even high end fashion. Although I didn't have a drink there myself, Osteria del Sole is one of the oldest pubs in the world and can be found on these streets. It has been operating since 1465! 


One of the many counters stacked high with food for sale.



SETTE TAVOLI

This was a destination restaurant for me! It is unusual in that it presents a menu entirely sourced from a different region of Italy each month. I thought this was a fantastic way to experience the tastes from a region that I would not be able to visit during my trip.

The featured region on the menu when I was there was Campania. 





Eggplant parmigiana 


Octopus with its mayonnaise, potatoes, and black olives 


Grilled scallops in mozzarella de bufala cream, prickly pear, basil oil


Homemade Cavatelli pasta with Mazara red shrimp, bisque, burrata cream, and lemon flavored thyme

Foodie fact, the Mazara red shrimp is from Sicily and the only red prawn in the world to be certified as bisulfate free.

smoked tuan with grape and balsamic reduction 



DA CESARI


A family run restaurant known for serving classic regional cuisine for more than fifty years.


Porcini flan with seasonal mushrooms 

I will admit, the flan pictured above with mushrooms was not what I expected upon ordering this dish. I was assured it was served exactly as is typical, but I had anticipated a moist and rich egg custard, but this was a much drier style without the significant creaminess that I anticipated. The porcini were in season, so it was an excellent time to order the mushrooms, but I may have enjoyed it more if I had not been wrestling with the disappointment that it was not the decadent vision I had in my head. 



tortelloni in beef broth, made by the mother in the family. 

Tortelloni en brodo. Classic from Emilia- Romagna dish most strongly associated with Bologna as the city of origin. It was a must order item and this was handmade by a mother in the kitchen behind me, so I felt I had no choice. In sincerity, I felt this restaurant would provide an authentic version. I found it to have a greater ratio of pasta to filling than I anticipated and with less broth than I imagined, but beautifully made and I enjoyed it immensely.




panna cotta

Again, a classic dish of Italy, although originating in Piedmont, Italy. This had a highly sweet flavor due to the sauce, but with a very light texture which avoided a cloying nature.


Pictured here was a most welcoming host at the restaurant. He is the son in the family that runs the restaurant. I really wanted a picture with him to capture his exuberant persona. I think you can see it well! 

While I was dining, it was a quiet afternoon. His mother was in the kitchen and his father was sitting in a back corner table, appearing to be working on balancing books or some such business work for the restaurant. Their son served my meal, playing host and server and all around entertainer. They are certainly experienced at the art of food service as I enjoyed my entire visit.





 

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