Italy is the country that comes to mind when it comes to pasta and pizzas. Many of the world’s versions of pasta and pizza originated from this country. Hence, it is only natural that it is the food capital. Bologna is the capital of Emilia Romagna in the northern region. It houses the most popular food around the world and it is also where the rarest of cheeses are produced. To guide the next foodies to their next food adventure, here’s a list of the best food to try in Bologna.
9 Tagliatelle Al Ragu
Talking about one of the best Bologna foods, tagliatelle al ragu shall never miss mentioning. This bolognese spaghetti has been the origin of all modified spaghetti around the world. In fact, in Bologna, it’s generally called ragu, a sauce composed of meat, tomato, celery, carrots, and onions that are cooked in low heat and mixed with an egg-based paste that’s known as tagliatelle. This dish is such a comfort food to all Italians, and Osteria del Sole is the most popular and go-to restaurant for locals. It is open Mondays to Sundays from 10:30 AM to as late as 10:00 PM.
8 Ricotta And Fig Gelato
Italy is not all pasta and ragu, they also have the best types of deserts. Ricotta and fig gelatos is an all-time favorite dessert even when the weather is cold. It is unique because it is made of popular ricotta cheese and fig fruit which combines the sweetness and saltiness of the dessert. It is usually served on a cone at the most popular ice cream place called Galleria 49, where tourists can find all types of flavors from ricotta to sweet fruits. The price starts at €2 and varies from one shop to another.
7 Tortellini en Brodo
Pasta is a popular branding for Italy, and Bologna has all types of dishes with it, tortellini en brodo is one of them. “Tortellini En Brodo” literally translates to “tortellini in broth”. It is a soup that has tortellini pasta, vegetables like spinach, and cheese, or sometimes, it's just purely pasta and broth. It is considered a traditional cuisine in northern Italy and would most likely be served as the first course during the Christmas season. For tourists, this can be found in Ristorante Da Bertino & Figli, the most trusted restaurant by locals. Price ranges from €7 to €15 depending on the additionals.
6 Lasagna Bolognese
This name can be commonly heard in various Italian-inspired restaurants, but Emilia Romagna is where it originated. It is not the typical lasagna from the other parts of the world, it has layers of the flavorful meat of Italian ragu and is typically made out of green noodles. According to the food experts, the traditional restaurant called Trattoria Anna Maria serves the best lasagna bolognese with prices ranging from €10 to €18. The restaurant opens from 12 PM to 11 PM varying on the days of the week.
5 Mortadella
Mortadella might be one of the oldest known cuisines in Bologna. It is a fine-ground loaf of fatty pork meat, full of spices, cooked in low heat, and top with green olives and pistachios. It is said that it is the fancy version of bologna meatloaf. It is served along with panini and sandwiches and is used in various food arrangements like charcuterie boards and as pizza toppings. It is commonly served cold, but others can opt for hot servings by frying it.
4 Piadina
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There is no perfect charcuterie board without the popular flatbread, Piadina. It is usually just made of flour, water, salt, olive oil, and lard and is topped with various spreads from chocolate to fruits. Piadina is popularly eaten along with Mortadella because it serves as a good combination of thin sandwiches. There are definitely a bunch of ways to eat piadina, others like it with thin-sliced tomatoes and cheese or with Nutella spread and figs. Tourists easily mistake piadina with tortillas, but the two have a distinct difference. Piadina is crumblier and not doughy, unlike tortillas.
3 Parmigiano Reggiano
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Parmagiano Reggiano is the king of all cheese and the most authentic is only produced in Emila Romagna in Bologna. Unlike the typical knowledge that it only serves as toppings on various dishes, it is good enough to be eaten alone. In fact, it is one of the foods on the charcuterie board paired with mortadella and piadina. Although it serves its purpose best if it is combined with Italian cuisines such as pasta and soups. The best restaurant that serves this cheese is Trattoria Vigolante just a few walks away from the cheese’s dairy farm.
2 Aperol Spritz
Bologna is not only the best in food but as well as with drinks. Aperol spritz is the perfect go-to of any Italian dining for a proper meal. It is a cocktail drink made of aperitif, a liquor designed to be sipped before an actual meal, with orange syrup and herbs. Anyone who likes this bitter yet sweet taste has to try this drink. There are many places in bologna where tourists can get a taste of this bitter-sweet treat such as Bidibo Cafe Bistro, Gran Bar, and Ex Forno MAMbo.
1 Passatelli
Bologna brags its delicious soup that can be made from scraps. It is as simple as having stale bread, eggs, beef bones, and cheese combined to create this tasty dish. Stale bread is the main ingredient to create the passatelli pasta and Parmigiano Reggiano is the most used cheese. There are various restaurants in Bologna that serve passatelli such as Sfoglia Rina, Osteria N’ 7, and Osteria Broaccaindosso.