Food Food Food! what still make your mouth water?

Gaby, where are you going in Italy? The food varies greatly from region to region. Although not regional, my two favorites from our last trip were the butter poached chicken breasts at Sostanza in Florence and the dried tomatoes at Roscioli in Rome (and their tiramisu). Although the rabbit ragu in Buonconvento in Tuscany was regional and also amazing. And the papardele with wild boar sauce in Tuscany was also fantastic. And don't get me started on the gelato ...

We will be in Rome, Florence, Venice and San Gimignano. Thanks!

Gaby, When we were on Rome we enjoyed everything we ate. I really liked the spaghetti Carbonara. Also the Tortellini were great. Don't underestimate the pizza either. In Venice the seafood risotto is very good. Bob

Here's another vote for rabbit in Tuscany - my favourite food memory from Italy. Well, aside from the pizza we made ourselves in the wood burning oven in the yard of the agrigurismo we stayed at. That one was rather charred in parts as we didn't expect it to be done in 90 seconds ... but the whole endeavour was so much fun.

Gelato of course. But in between gelato breaks I loved proscuitto with melon, pasta carbonara, pici with wild boar ragu, gnocchi with pistachio sauce, just about any grilled fish, risotto and on and on... Fresh tomatoes... Did I mention gelato? Avoid "pasta" dishes that you find in American-Italian restuarants. Pasta is traditionally a small course in most of Italy unlike a main course in the US. And as others have noted, Italian food is very regional so depending on where you are going, read up on that region's food and know some of the basic Italian words for the meats and dishes so you can better order.

My favorite pastas: Rome - fettuccine with mushrooms and truffle oil Florence - I don't recall the name of the noodles, but they were shaped like a small little packages and were stuffed with pear and gorgonzola cheese.....amazing!

My three favorite foods in Italy were gelato, gelato, and gelato.

Gelato, different pizzas, other foods varied by region and season. We're another one for rabbit in Tuscany. We had a lot of good game in different places. Remember that the best will be what's currently in season for the area you are in.

yes! that is mushrooms and trufles!! I looove them, fiance is allergic....

My favorite place to eat is Italy. The hold country. I can only remember 2 or 3 bad meals I've had there. In Rome: there was this pasta with bacon, red onions and balsamic. I still have fond memories of that meal. In Venice there was this pasta carbonarra, and this pasta with mushrooms.... In Florence I took a hankering to the parmisane with a little honey or marmalade on it. Also good pizza about everywhere. And the great deserts. And limoncello. And just about everyone had a great house red wine. Bring us a doggie bag. Have fun.

Gelato in Perugia, cappucino everywhere, porchetta (roast pork) and Tuscan bean soup. Lovely fried perch and "little fishees" at Lago Trasimeno, homemade pesto lasagna in Cinque Terre, Guinea fowl in Volterra and the best Mussels w/pomodoro and linguini in Cinque Terre. The best red wine ever...at least once a day, and did I mention gelato.. twice a day. :0

Grom gelato in Florence. may have been the best thing I ate in Italy.

From Nerone's in Florence, the Pappa al Pomodoro, a tomato/bread soup was absolutely delicious. Everything we had there (dined there 4 times during our stay) was great and very reasonably priced. As another person indicated, the gelato at Gnom was the best!!! Please go to both Nerone's and Gnom during your visit to Florence.

sorry [INVALID]- Grom is correct, not Gnom as in my earlier post. However, Nerone's is spelled correctly I believe. Enjoy your trip!

Fiochetti di pera in salsa di taleggio e asparagi at Ristorante Quattro Leoni in Firenze (Oltrarno). Afterwards stop by Gelateria del Passera across the way for some of the best gelato on the planet.

Fiochetti di pera in salsa di taleggio e asparagi at Ristorante Quattro Leoni in Firenze (Oltrarno). Afterwards stop by Gelateria del Passera across the way for some of the best gelato on the planet.

Fiochetti di pera in salsa di taleggio e asparagi at Ristorante Quattro Leoni in Firenze (Oltrarno). Afterwards stop by Gelateria del Passera across the way for some of the best gelato on the planet.

Fiochetti di pera in salsa di taleggio e asparagi at Ristorante Quattro Leoni in Firenze (Oltrarno). Afterwards stop by Gelateria del Passera across the way for some of the best gelato on the planet.

Fiochetti di pera in salsa di taleggio e asparagi at Ristorante Quattro Leoni in Firenze (Oltrarno). Afterwards stop by Gelateria del Passera across the way for some of the best gelato on the planet.

Janet must have really liked everwhat that is since she ate it five days in a row.

I think Janet's mouse stutters. :-) I have two recommendations to get good food wherever you are in Italy. The first is to avoid the menu and order one of the specials of the day, since those are most likely to be made with ingredients that are in season. The second (if none of the specials sound good) is to ask if that restaurant (or osteria or taverna or whatever) has a dish that they are known for and then order that.

My husband and I just returned last week from Italy and I am still going through food withdrawals. We love, love, love the pizza over there. On many trips to Italy we have never had a bad pizza except in Rome 1x on Campo di Fiori. Was a frozen pizza!! yuck! Had some great pasta and risotto on this trip too in San Gim., Florence, Lucca and Bologna. Eat lots of gelato too! Haven't found a flavor I didn't like!

The Pecorino Fresco cheese from Pienza still makes my mouth water...in fact, I ordered a 2-pound wheel of it & got it last week from the exact store I bought it from last year when we were there. With some fig preserves & some pear slices, it's to die for! My second most favorite thing was the peach gelato that we only found in one gelateria in Rome. Tried the peach in other gelaterias but none compared. It's funny the little things that we still think about from our trips! Great topic Gaby. Thanks.

mmmmm. Arrabbiata! Hot and spicey tomato sauce. Best with Penne and dripping with Parm. Throw on a little Basil to sweet up the heat. The best ever was in Massa Lubrense (near Sorrento)