A self-guided tour of Emilia Romagna food. Try Emilia Romagna wines and learn what Emilia Romagna is famous for. Taste your way through Emilia Romagna destinations like Bologna, Modena, Parma and Ferrara.
We recently embarked on an Emilia Romagna food holiday in Italy. Each region of Italy seems to have its specialty.
Milan is known for fashion. Venice has its canals. Naples is all about pizza and Florence has its art.
What is Emilia Romagna famous for? Delicious, delicious food! From the best Bologna food tours to amazing aperitivo and ice cream, we found based on our personal experience that this amazing region of Italy is one you simply have to eat your way through.
Come with us and explore Emilia Romagna destinations like Bologna, Parma, Modena, and Ferrara through amazing regional food and wine.
1. Where Bologna has a First Name...
We spent 4 days in Emilia Romagna with a home base in Bologna. Here Bologna has a first name and it's not O-S-C-A-R, it's Mortadella.
Everywhere you go in Bologna, you can order wafer thin slices of Bologna's namesake deli meat and without a massive dose of nitrites. Delicious!
2. Piadina
There was a queue forming in front of one of the stalls at Mercato della di Terra Bologna, the slow food market in Bologna. Everyone seemed to be ordering a piadina, thinly sliced Parma ham served on a round flat bread.
We took a cue from the locals and ordered a piadina ourselves. This turned out to be a good move as the sandwich had an amazing salty flavor with just a hint of crustiness to the bread. We were definitely loving the food of Emilia Romagna so far.
3. Fresh Fruit of Emilia Romagna
Tables at Mercato delle Erbe in Bologna are piled up and overflowing with all sorts of seasonal fruit and vegetables.
We visited Emilia Romagna in June when cherries, strawberries, apricots, and tomatoes seemed to be at their peak.
We bought a kilo of cherries (my favorite!) and took them back to the hotel to enjoy with a glass of wine later.
4. Construct Your Own Sandwich in Emilia Romagna
We discovered a quaint little bar/restaurant called Zerocinquantino on a pedestrianized street just off of Piazza Maggiore in Bologna. We were given a menu that folded out into four panels.
Using the instructions, we built fresh mortadella and ham sandwiches with our choice of bread, cheese, and spread.
This was a great spot to get out of the sun for a short afternoon break and enjoy a bite with a glass of local frizzante wine.
5. Pasta Fresca
You simply cannot visit Emilia Romagna without sampling fresh pasta. Our trip was definitely carb-filled but I regret nothing!
We sampled ravioli filled with meat, tortelloni filled with pumpkin, and home made spaghetti with asparagus and Parma ham. The pasta was definitely a foodie highlight of our trip.
6. Tortellini in Broth
Tortellini in brodo is another Emilia Romagna food specialty. The meat filled pasta makes for an energizing lunch (despite the warm temperatures when we visited) to fuel an afternoon of exploration.
7. Generous Wedges of Parmesan
Parmesan cheese traces its origins to Parma in the Emilia Romagna region. We didn't think we'd have the luggage allowance to tote home a wedge or wheel of Italy's most famous cheese but we did enjoy shaved parmesan over pasta, salad, and more during our trip.
8. Aperitivo Time
The late afternoon aperitivo tradition is alive and well in and around Bologna. We visited a no-nonsense bar not far from the Due Torri.
We ordered two Campari and soda and sipped our drinks curb-side while munching on the chips and peanuts included for free. We had a fantastic time people-watching and relaxing in the sunshine.
9. The Coppia Ferrarese, “Ciupeta”
Ferrara is known for X shaped and twirled dough baked into a hybrid between bread and a cracker.
Coppia Ferrarese are a little dry on their own but I can imagine them being quite tasty dipped in soup or slathered with butter.
SIDEWALK SAFARI SPOTLIGHT: Did you know that Sicily is another top foodie destination in Italy? Learn about what to eat in Sicily and take a street food tour of Palermo on a one week Sicily road trip.
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10. Cool Off with a Cup of Italian Gelato
We visited Bologna and Emilia Romagna in early June and it was actually quite hot (given our acclimation to chilly Dublin weather).
What better way to cool off than with a cup of gelato! We sampled the cold sweet stuff in Bologna and Ferrara.
11. Emilia Romagna's Creamy Cakes
It seems that Emilia Romagna has a sweet tooth. We were spoiled for choice and indeed had a hard time choosing between the myriad of cake squares inside the chilled counter before us.
We ultimately decided on a cheese cake and chocolate mousse square topped with cherry to counterbalance our pasta lunch.
12. Oozy Chocolate Tarts
In Bologna, we discovered a local bakery selling tarts sprinkled with powdered sugar. We ordered one with a coffee and were delighted when we bit into the still warm crust to find oozing chocolate inside. That's my kind of dessert.
13. Emilia Romagna Wine: Lambrusco and Pignoletto
Not only did we eat well in Emilia Romagna but we also drank well. Lambrusco may have a reputation problem (think cheap wine) abroad but in Italy it's dry, fine, and fizzy.
Cooled slightly Lambrusco is a refreshing accompaniment to a meal or just for quaffing in the sun. We also tried Pignoletto, another Emilia Romagna wine that I haven't seen before outside of the region.
Pignoletto is dry, white, and slightly frizzante. I could drink Lambrusco and Pignoletto all summer long.
14. A Drizzle of Balsamic Vinegar from Modena
Check out any high end supermarket in the U.S. or even Ireland and you'll find balsamic vinegar with a Modena pedigree.
Modena is an easy day trip from Bologna and we got to try the thick, slightly sweet balsamic vinegar that is native to the town.
Modena balsamic vinegar was especially good drizzled over pasta with shavings of parmesan.
15. Parma Ham
Any list of food finds in Emilia Romagna would be incomplete without mention of Parma ham.
Parma is another easy day trip from Bologna and you can find the namesake meat hanging in joints at restaurants and delis and served wafer thin on platters.
16. Part of the Family at a Emilia Romagna Osteria
On our last day in Bologna we were strolling under the porticos a good 10 minute walk from Piazza Maggiore when we chanced upon La Traviata. We were eyeing the menu when the owner came up to us.
She looked the part of a traditional Italian matriarch. She sold us with tales of the pasta prepared by hand inside. She sat down at the table next to us under the portico to discuss our options.
In addition to the fresh pasta, she sold us on the deep fried courgettes. It was an unforgettable meal.
As you can see, we ate extremely well during our trip to Emilia Romagna with our home base in Bologna. Are there other Emilia Romagna foods you'd recommend we try next time? What are some of your favorite foodie destinations?
For other perspectives on visiting Bologna, check out The 21 Best Things To Do in Bologna on Our Escape Clause and Things To Do In Bologna Italy on Travel Passionate.
For other perspectives on visiting Bologna, check out The 21 Best Things To Do in Bologna on Our Escape Clause and Things To Do In Bologna Italy on Travel Passionate.
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SIDEWALK SAFARI SPOTLIGHT: Looking for some other amazing destination ideas in Italy? Why not:
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