515800 Sun May 04 15:43:33 -0700 2008 12 58 Italy 0 3655830 I am planning a trip to Italy. Right now, our itinerary includes: Saturnia, Perugia, Sienna, Arezzo, San Gimignano, Montepulciano, Florence, Parma, Modena, Lucca and Grosseto and Rome. Looking for suggestions for restaurants and food markets in these cities. Also, are there any other cities close to the cities on our itinerary that we should not miss? Sun May 04 15:43:34 -0700 2008 182545 mbfl450 1 3678182 You can't miss Bologna if you are interested in food and markets! I am prejudiced of course, I live here, but many Italians consider Bologna to be Italy's food capital and will make any excuse to make a detour to shop and eat here. Great food markets, great delis and it is a beautiful town. You may well find better Parma ham and balsamic here than in smaller less wealthy Parma and Modena - thew best always goes to where people are able and willing to pay more. Bologna also makes great Parmiginao Reggiano and Mortadella and the best Tortellini. Also do consider Reggio Emilia, which makes both Balsamico Tradizionale and superb Parmigiano Reggiano. The original cows for making this cheese, the red Reggiana breed, are of course from ReggioEmilia, and they still make the best Parmigiano REGGIANO cheese. Capital letters to remind us Reggio Emilia also figures in the name of the cheese. The cheese in fact was very nearly called Reggiano Parmigiano and we often refer to it here as Reggiano not Parmigiano, for short. P.R. is also made in Modena, Bologna and Mantua, all are within the official production region, the cheese in no way " belongs" to Parma alone. And now a plug for Reggio Emilia. Reggio restaurants are rarely frequented by tourists ( as in Parma) or business visitors (as in Bologna) but only by locals, who know what the food should be like, so as as diners they demand the very best. I think you eat better in Reggio Emilia restaurants than in any other of the larger towns of this region and I would add it to my list if I were you. Mon May 12 01:50:51 -0700 2008 3655830 125091 carmelita 1 3678272 We ate our way through Italy using Fred Plotkin, Italy for the Gourmet Traveler. I understand that there is a new addition out too. Even if there isn't get a copy of the original. The best restaurants have been around a long time there. Mon May 12 04:54:18 -0700 2008 3655830 94220 aledm 1 3680061 I second the recommendation for Bologna - my husband and I will be there in 2 weeks and I have done a great deal of foodie research to prepare. It's the food capital of Italy for sure. After looking at recs here and other websites (also the SlowFood book), I have made reservations at the following restaurants which seem pretty appetizing - Caminetto d’Oro, Via del Falegnami 4, Bologna Trattoria Leonida, vicolo Alemagna 2, Bologna Osteria Giusti, Modena Il Tartufo, via del Porto 34, Bologna Also contact Parmagolosa if you'd like tours of facilities making parmigiano cheese, proscuitto, and balsamic. You can reach them at info@parmagolosa.it. Ciao. Mon May 12 13:31:49 -0700 2008 3655830 182416 drbbaldwin 1 3680217 In addition to eating and food shopping throughout Italy following Fred Plotkin's advice in the book "Italy for the Gourmet Traveler" I have a few more ideas: The best ice cream in the world is in Florence. If you get there have the mango or the chestnut. It is called: Vivoli, Via dell'Isola delle Stinche near Via Torte in Florence. In the fall we had white truffles. For a fabulous fixed price lunch go to a tiny place in the middle of nowhere in Tuscany (but near Grosetto). It was called: Osteria Vecchio Castello, (di Susanna Fumi) Via delle Chiesa 2 Loc. Triana (Grosetto) Roccalbegna, tel. (0564)989-192. It was a one star Michelin guide restaurant as I recall and the place is a real treat. If you possibly can, go there, it was one of our best meals in Italy. You'd need to drive there and it's so small, don't go without a reservation. By the way we stayed at the Terme di Saturnia Hotel and liked it very much. Mon May 12 14:12:39 -0700 2008 3655830 94220 aledm 2 3681820 Vivoli is in all the guide books but do not believe the hype. I have been there and it was not even the best ice cream in Tuscany or Italy, never mind the world! Tue May 13 04:40:43 -0700 2008 3680217 190220 Tuscanlover 2 3683869 Some great ice cream in Bologna even if it is not what it is most fanous for. To name just three : Best pistachio is probably at Gelatauro in Via San Vitale, who make wonderful artisan ice creams with some wonderful flavours like fig and almond, pear and Parmigiano, watermelon and jasmine according to when each fruit is in season. I also very much like Stefini in Via Galliera, which always has a small queue for their organic ice creams, sorbets and graintas made without anything synthetic: no emulsifiers, thickeners, preserving agents etc. The same all natural philosphy goes for the ice cream at Grom in Via Massimo d'Azeglio, just off Piazza Maggiore, who have the best almond and coffee granitas, and use many Slow Food protetcted products in their ice cream, great chcolate and nut ice creams here too. Tue May 13 14:38:35 -0700 2008 3680217 125091 carmelita 1 3682450 Definitely go to Bologna, not only is it a gastronomical centre it is also extremely charming and atmospheric. I went on a culinary trip to Italy last year and in Tuscany and it was incredible. I visited typical rustic farmhouses and I was introduced to the various “secrets” of traditional local cooking. A truly splendid experience. Nothing can compare to sitting in the backyard of a gorgeous farmhouse overlooking the Tuscana countryside while tasting delicious food and sipping on fantastic wines. I booked through a company called www.italytraveltours.biz. You should check it out if you are interested in a truly authentic experience. Hope this helps. Have a great trip. Dennis Ferenzy Tue May 13 08:37:11 -0700 2008 3655830 191878 Dennisjfc 1 3682500 Le Marche! Have you thought about driving south from Parma & Modena to Le Marche?! It's only about an hour south from there & you will find authentic Italy for sure! The Adriatic coast is beautiful & drive inland a bit towards Urbino a beautiful medieval town where Rafael was born. Great market in Urbino on Saturdays & on the coast in Fano a wonderful food market on Saturdays as well! From the fruit of the sea to the wild game of the mountains it is unspoiled Italy at its best! Truffles, truffles & more truffles for the fall!! Tue May 13 08:50:15 -0700 2008 3655830 191867 LaTavolaMarche 2 5109065 im a fan of urbino, beautiful town, college kids lively Fri Oct 16 15:21:36 -0700 2009 3682500 11476 intrepid 1 5107250 It is possible to do what you're proposing, but given the parts of Italy where you plan to stay, I would suggest flying in and out of Rome rather than Milan even though it requires a connection somewhere. Connecting flights are often cheaper and given the bus/train time from Malpensa to Florence you're likely to be there in more or less the same time. I live in northern Italy and always use connecting flights rather than going through Malpensa when traveling back to the US. The Malpensa or Orio al Serio airports are both about an hour from Milano Centrale station. Linate is closer, but you'd still have some travel time involved to get to the train station and get to Florence. Florence is only an hour 40 min from Rome on the train and there's a train station at Fiumicino airport. If you're only spending one day in Florence, I wouldn't consider using part of the time for Siena or Pisa. If you had a 2nd day, that might not be so bad though. ______________ http://www.airline-booking.com/italy-travel-deals.html Fri Oct 16 01:09:57 -0700 2009 3655830 1106804 jennismortal 1 5109063 in modena, osteria giusti, and fini Fri Oct 16 15:20:22 -0700 2009 3655830 11476 intrepid 2 5109541 intrepid and jennismortal, this post is a year and a half old. i'm sure the op has been and gone long ago. Fri Oct 16 19:27:43 -0700 2009 5109063 126803 rrems