Venice, the City of Canals, is one of Italy's most picturesque cities. It has beautiful architecture, an abundance of history, and over 400 bridges through winding canals. It is also well known for St. Mark's Square that is bordered by numerous and shops, and my own personal favourite - restaurants.
In general, Italy has an abundance of eclectic cuisines. Whatever you choose to do throughout the country, you'll experience a new dining experience throughout. Venice is no different.
The Unique Dishes of Venice
Venice is known for its authentic and delicious food, so it is imperative that you sample some of these dishes. The lagoon, for instance, is the perfect place to delight in Venetian cuisine, and the coast of the Adriatic has a variety of traditional seafood dishes. In case you don't know where to start, here is a list of the most popular delights.
Spaghetti in Nero di Seppia
This charcoal-colored pasta-looking dish is pieces of squid slow-cooked in tomato sauce. The charcoal color comes from the ink of the squid, which is added after the preparation is complete.
Sarde in Saor
Over a reduced flame, onions are cooked until they become transparent and fragrant. Pine nuts, raisins, and lastly, sardines are then mixed in with the onions to create this delightfully tasty dish.
Fritto Misto
This divine dish is simply shrimp, fishballs, and calamari, all breaded and deep-fried to perfection. Although many restaurants serve this dish, they all add their own flavors, bread topping, and touches, so don't hesitate to try them all!
Baccala Mantecato
For hours, dried codfish is cooked until the bone is nearly dissolved. It is them creamed with oil to the most impeccable consistency. This makes a great late-night spread for bread and is even better paired with some Venetian wine.
Frittelle
Overfilled with cream or raisins and candied orange peel, and dipped in sugar, these delectable doughnuts are the perfect mid-day treat.
Tramezzino
This snack entails using pieces of bread in the shape of a triangle and filling them with all sorts of delicious foods such as cheese, tomatoes, artichoke, olives, and more. The options are endless!
Bigoli in salsa
Onions, anchovies, and fennel seeds are added to the sauce of this magnificent Venetian whole wheat pasta dish. This is one of Venice’s signature cuisines and a must-try!
Moeche Fritte
These small crabs are breaded and fried whole without the shell. You will find this delicacy served at many fancy Venetian restaurants.
Fegato Alla Veneziana
This dish is a Venetian past-time. In fact, it's a past-time for many cultures. It is liver fried up and laid over a bed of slow-cooked onions.
Castraure
These vibrant colored violet artichokes are picked prematurely then boiled. You won’t even have to peel it, take a bite, and enjoy!
While the sites and history of Venice are what draw most people to the city, the food is certainly worth traveling for! Are you ready to indulge in some authentic and mouth-watering Italian cuisine?