One of the best parts of a walking holiday in Italy is getting to enjoy some of the wonderful food and drink Italy is so well known for! If you are thinking of going walking in Italy, be prepared to put on weight as you sample some of these local specialities!

Amalfi Coast

              Famous for its use of lemons, tomatoes, fresh vegetables, mozzarella and olives the local cuisine here is simply divine! Mozzarella di Buffalo is from this region and features in many of the dishes.  Try 'Caprese' as a delicious starter to your meal which is fresh Buffalo Mozzarella combined with fresh tomatoes and basil. Naples is also the home of pizza, so expect to try some real authentic Italian pizzas here - you can't beat a traditional Mozzarella pizza to curb those hunger pangs after a long day on one of our Amalfi Coast walking holidays.  Obviously, numerous pasta dishes are to be found but some specialities include Gnocchi alla Sorrentina (potato gnocchi baked in tomato sauce with mozzarella) and Scialatielli (a mix of flour, bran, finely cut parsley, pepper and grana cheese, usually served with a fresh cherry tomato sauce with clams).

Fish features very frequently on Amalfi Coast menus and you can try numerous types of fresh fish including cod, monkfish and grey mullet. Clams, shellfish and sardines are also common and Spaghetti alla Vongole (Spaghetti with Clams) is a firm favourite! And then, of course, there are the lemons -  they not only look lovely growing in their groves but also taste delicious too! You will be amazed at the size they grow to and they also help to produce the famous Limoncello. This is a delicious liqueur served most commonly as a digestive and offers the perfect end to a delicious meal!  Or another favourite is the mouth-watering Delizia, a delicious lemon cake famous in this area.

Liguria - Cinque Terre

Grapevines and olive trees cover the hillsides in this area so olive oil and wine are prevalent on the table in this region!  Also, being on the coast seafood dishes are very popular - in particular Monterosso Anchovies (accuighe) which are a real local speciality.  Pesto sauce (made from basil, extra virgin olive oil, grated pecorino cheese and pine nuts)  is originally from here too and again is frequent accompaniment to many of the dishes you will try in this area. 

Some local specialities include Trofie (pasta made with chestnut or wheat flour and served with Pesto sauce), Borago Officinalis (vegetable pies prepared with a stuffing), Cotoletta di Acciuga (anchovies stuffed with a breadcrumb based filling and then fried), and Frittelle di Bianchetti (fritters made from tiny newborn anchovies).

To finish off your meal try the local dessert Torta della Nonna (grandmothers cake) with a glass of Sciacchetra which is a delicious local dessert wine. With all this delicious food available, you may find it difficult to get moving again on one of our Cinque Terre walking holidays!  

Tuscany

            Tuscan food is simple and very hearty - perfect for hungry walkers!  Mellow cheeses, grilled meats, roasted or wine-braised game and beans feature regularly in local recipes.

One of the most famous Tuscan specialities is Bistecca alla Fiorenta (Steak Florentine) which consists of a t-bone or porterhouse steak marinated simply in olive oil and garlic and grilled over hot coals. Some other local specialties include Ribollita (a really hearty cabbage and bean soup), Stracotto (braised beef), Salsicce (Italian pork sausage), and Pollo alla Fiorentina (a delicious combination of chicken breasts with bread crumbs, Parmesan, spinach, onion, celery, cream cheese, paprika and garlic powder). If wine is your forte, then the best place to visit is Chianti.  As well as beautiful landscapes, Chianti is home to some of the finest red wines in Italy including the famous Chianti Classico.  Food and wine appreciation is a serious business in Chianti and on our Discover Chianti tour, you will have the chance to enjoy some of the best wines available. You can taste over 50 wines at the  Le Cantine di Greve in Greve in Chianti   If your mouth is watering, and you can't wait to set off and sample some of the above tasty Italian food and drink then why not take a look at our walking holidays in Italy and contact our destination specialist at Macs Adventure to discuss your next trip.