You know Venice, but do you know the Veneto? The Veneto is a region in the northeast corner of Italy and not surprisingly the region includes the city of Venice, plus a number of other wonderful cities and places to explore. Verona! Padua! Vicenza! Treviso! Lake Garda!
The terrain is varied, surrounded by the Dolomites mountain range to the north, the Venetian Lagoon, which lies between the Italian mainland and the Adriatic Sea to the east, and fertile plains extending to the Gulf of Venice to the south, and the wine region of Valpolicella and Lake Garda to the west. We are so excited about this region that we’re taking a culinary tour group to the Veneto from April 28 to May 5, learning (and tasting) the foods and wines of the region with Chefs Michael Lombardi and Kevin O’Donnell of SRV Restaurant in Boston.
Although the cuisine differs from one part of the region to the others, there are a few common dishes that it has become known for:
Risotto. You can’t go to the Veneto without sampling its world-renowned risotto, made from a variety of rice known as Vialone Nano. Risotto is a specific way of cooking rice in which it is first toasted in olive oil or butter until the kernels start to puff up, and then broth is added very slowly while continuously whisking, until perfectly thick and creamy. Depending on the region and season, you might find risotto with vegetables such as asparagus, artichokes, peas, pumpkin, and even radicchio. Near the coast, risotto might be prepared with scallops, scampi, and squid or cuttlefish in its ink, called risotto al nero di sepia.
Seafood. Fish and seafood – cod, sardines, anchovies, eel, squid, octopus, mussels, clams, and prawns – make up a large portion of the local diet, especially around Venice. Along the Adriatic coast, fish soups (brodetti) are traditionally served as first courses. Sarde en saor, sardines marinated with vinegar, onions, raisins, and pinenuts and bisato (stewed eel) are common seafood dishes.
Polenta. Made from ground cornmeal, polenta has been a staple of the Veneto since Roman times. Once cooked, polenta can be served as is, that is, soft and porridge-like, or it can be poured onto a slab and allowed to cool – forming a solid cake. Polenta is extremely versatile and can be served with nearly anything from braised meats such as cinghiale (wild boar), osso bucco, pigeon, or pastissada (horsemeat stew), to baccalà alla vincentina, codfish simmered in milk and flavored with a savory soffrito of garlic, onions, and anchovies. In solid form, polenta can be layered with cheese and tomato sauce to form a lasagna of sorts or grilled and layered with, for instance, tomatoes, fresh herbs, and mushrooms, bruschetta-style.
Pasta. While rice and polenta reign supreme in the Veneto, pasta still has a presence. Bigoli is a long pasta, similar to spaghetti but thicker, originally made with buckwheat flour. Nowadays, it’s made with whole wheat or 00 flour, egg, water or milk, butter, and salt. It’s common to find bigoli served with a duck ragu or a simple combination of slow-cooked onions and salted fish, usually anchovies or sardines. Gnocchi is another common pasta dish in the Veneto.
Wine. Veneto is a traditional wine growing region, with more than 60% of its cultivated varieties native or Italian grapes. Some of Italy’s best loved wines come from the Veneto: Amarone, Valpolicella, Soave and Proseco.
Meat/Game. While meat features less frequently in the Veneto, cured meats, and wild game (e.g., duck, rabbit, quail) are traditional.
Desserts. Typical desserts of the Veneto include zaletti (cookies made from polenta), frittelle (fried doughnuts), galani or crostoli (crisp pastries spiked with grappa), and pandoro or “golden bread” given the many egg yolks used to make it. The latter is traditionally made during Christmas and New Year.
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about the delicious foods of the Veneto. If you enjoy traveling, learn more about our upcoming culinary travel programs.
Want biweekly Med Diet information and recipes in your Inbox? Sign up for our Fresh Fridays newsletter by clicking the Subscribe button at the bottom of this page!
Join the Make Every Day Mediterranean Club Facebook group for additional information and support.