Join Jay Ducote in Northern Italy from June 27 to July 3, 2023!
Milan, Venice, Lake Como, and Franciacorta offer a diverse range of food and wine experiences and we plan on enjoying them all on a group trip in 2023. In addition to the street food and aperitivo culture of Milan, and the seafood dishes and traditional Venetian cuisine of Venice, a tour of Lake Como and a stop at a winery in Franciacorta will round out our culinary journey.
If you can’t make it on this trip with me but would like assistance in planning your next trip to Italy or anywhere, whether that be booking hotels and resorts with some nice perks or full service itinerary building, email me at jay.ducote@fora.travel.
Image courtesy of https://www.eatingeurope.com/blog/italy-food-map/
Milan is known for its street food culture, and there are plenty of opportunities to sample some of the city’s finest bites. Find time to make it over to the historic Navigli district, where you’ll find a wide range of street food stalls and food trucks serving up delicious bites. Try the traditional cotoletta alla milanese, a breaded veal cutlet that’s served with lemon and potatoes, or the panzerotto, a deep-fried pocket filled with mozzarella and tomato sauce. Part of our trip will include a visit with me to Mercato Centrale Milano near our hotel for a wide selection of Italian eats.
Duomo di Milano - A Massive Gothic Cathedral at the Heart of Milan
After sampling the street food, head to one of Milan’s many aperitivo bars. Aperitivo is a pre-dinner drink accompanied by a variety of small dishes, and is a popular tradition in Milan. You’ll find a range of aperitivo bars serving up delicious cocktails and finger foods, including cured meats, cheeses, and bruschetta. One of the most famous aperitivo bars in Milan is Bar Basso, which is known for its Negroni Sbagliato, a variation of the classic Negroni cocktail made with prosecco instead of gin. Emma D’Arcy from House of the Dragon would approve:
Lake Como is a stunning region that’s known for its picturesque landscapes and delicious local cuisine. We’ll take a scenic boat tour of the lake from Bellagio to Tremezzo. While dining around Lake Como, try the traditional risotto alla pescatora, a creamy rice dish made with seafood, or the missoltini, dried and salted fish that’s a staple of the local cuisine.
Stunning Lake Como
After our visit to Lake Como, we’ll head away from Milan and toward Venice. Along the way, we’ll stop in Franciacorta, a region that’s known for its sparkling wines. Franciacorta is home to some of Italy’s best wineries, where you can sample a range of sparkling wines, including the Franciacorta DOCG, which is made using the traditional method of Champagne production. We’ll take a tour of one of the wineries to sample some of the finest sparkling wines with an Italian lunch while enjoying stunning views of the surrounding countryside.
L'Albereta Relais & Chateaux, a magnificent 5-star resort on Lake Iseo. Want to go there? Email me at jay.ducote@fora.travel today!
Venice is famous for its seafood dishes and traditional Venetian cuisine. We’ll take the water taxi in, then there’s lots on the itinerary. At some point we’ll have to hit up a famous Venetian fish market where we’ll find a range of fresh seafood on offer, including clams, mussels, and oysters. We’ll also be on a mission to try the traditional Venetian dish of baccalà mantecato, which is a creamy salt cod spread served with crostini.
The Iconic and Colorful Canals of Venice
For a true Venetian dining experience, we’ll definitely find several of the city’s many osterias, small taverns that serve traditional Venetian dishes. Try the bigoli in salsa, a type of thick spaghetti served with a rich anchovy sauce, or the sarde in saor, a dish of fried sardines served with a sweet and sour sauce. We’ll also make sure to track down the famous wine shop Bottega del Vino, which has been serving up fine Italian wines for over 100 years.
Whether you’re a foodie or a wine lover, a tour of Milan, Lake Como, Franciacorta, and Venice will leave you with a wealth of culinary experiences to remember. Combine that with the picturesque landscapes and historic architecture, and this journey has something for everyone. So why wait? Book your culinary adventure with me today and experience the best of Italy’s food and wine.
