My Recent Trip to Italy: Pizza, Pasta, and Aperol
Buongiorno, friends! If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I recently spent some time in Italy and to say I was overcome with inspiration, particularly in the areas of food, beverage, and aesthetic, would be an understatement!
In fact, I was so inspired by the wonders of Italy that I felt compelled to take note and turn it into a blog. Whether you’re planning on visiting Italy sometime soon or are simply looking to draw inspiration from the timeless beauty of the country — this blog is for you! From food and beverage to aesthetic and culture, there was so much to learn in Italy that I will absolutely be adopting into my event and wedding planning. So, grab your passports and let’s relive some of the culinary highlights of my adventure.
Northern Italy
My sister-in-law, who currently lives in Brooklyn, is from Bergamo — an Italian city Northeast of Milan in the Lombardy region. Its older upper district, called Città Alta, is characterized by cobblestone streets. Encircled by Venetian walls and the lower city is the modern center of Bergamo known as Città Bassa, which is composed of residential neighborhoods and tons of shopping.
We have traveled to Bergamo once before for the wedding of my brother and sister-in-law (I will share that on IG soon!), so we decided to start our trip in Lago di Garda in a town called Bardolino.
Wines and Olive Oils
Bardolino is a beautiful town on the lake and extremely family-friendly, with tons of shops and great restaurants. In Bardolino, they are known for wine and olive oil, and we were able to taste local Bardolino Reds and Chiarettas (Rosé). The wine is super easy to drink and goes well with just about any meal. Chiaretta’s can be found in the states but only in the Summertime, so put a reminder in your phones now for next June! We did a lot of bike riding along the promenade to explore the lake and surrounding towns and relaxed at Lido Beach Club, which I dream about daily. Another great way to explore the lake is by boat which I highly recommend! And if you are there with kids (or not), Gardaland amusement park is a must!
Michelin Guide
If you don’t normally use the michelin guide when travelling I strongly encourage you to do so. This doesn’t mean every restaurant has a star but the restaurants they recommend are always top notch. There were two on the list in Bardolino and we checked out both! Pizza, pasta and aperol are everywhere in Bardolino so if you know me, you know I was one happy traveler. I had one of the best pizzas I can recall at a restaurant named Formica in Bardolino. It was covered in local spicy speck, buffalo mozzarella, arugula and truffles. Honestly, I’m still dreaming about it.
The second restaurant from the Michelin Guide we dined at on our last night in Bardolino. Il Giradino delle Esperidi, came highly recommended from many food blogs and I’m thrilled we found the time to go. The restaurant was incredible, from decor to service and of course the food. Susy, one of the owners, took great care of us that evening. The restaurant uses the freshest ingredients and our meal blew us away. If you go you have to try the gnocchi piastrati con salsa di 'nduja, spuma di mozzarella e datternini al basilico.
Back to the Mountains
After four relaxing days at the lake enjoying Aperol Spritz’s and tons of gelato we went back to Bergamo to be with family. We stayed at the very top of Citta Alta at the Relais San Vigilio, the most beautiful hotel that is within the military housing for the San Vigilio castle, an important garrison dating back to the 6th century. The views were breathtaking!
Cotoletta and Gelato
Northern Italy is known for heartier food. Think polenta, risotto, and of course, cotoletta — better known in the US as chicken or veal cutlets. We had a few on our trip, but one in particular from Da Francos stood out. Pretty much every table in the restaurant had at least one order on the table. After lunch we had gelato at La Marianna, which is famous for creating the flavor Stracciatella in 1961. They also have the best candies so we stocked up to bring home gummies and almond confetti.
An Unforgettable Lunch at the Agritourism
Our family is from a town outside Bergamo called Gandino and we were lucky enough to spend an afternoon at an Agritourism nearby. It was one of the best meals I have ever had, everything we ate came from the farm and it was a true Bergamascin meal. We ate cured meats and cheeses, risotto with zucchini and zucchini flowers, the famous casoncelli pasta, braised beef and polenta, a variety of homemade desserts and more. We toured the barn and saw where the cheese was made. This farm in particular has over 200 cows and in the summer they bring the cows up to the highest point of the mountain for a few months to live so they can eat the grass in that area which is better for their diets at this time of year.
Traditional Baptisms and DaMimmo
The reason we ventured to Italy this summer was to celebrate the Baptism of my niece in my sister in law’s hometown of Bergamo. It was a beautiful moment as we watched her get baptized in the Octagonal Baptistery, constructed in 1340 by Giovanni da Campione for the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in the center of town.
After the ceremony we dined at DaMimmo — an incredible pizzeria (and more) that we have dined at a few times. My sister in law has an outstanding eye for detail and created the most beautiful dinner party to celebrate Penelope. We had another delicious meal with polenta, risotto, rabbit and of course my son had pizza so we could not deny a slice.
Italian Inspiration
Everytime I go to Europe, I am constantly inspired by the surroundings. From the style and fashion of the locals to the plates and tablecloth. Olive branches are plentiful and stone and textiles are everywhere you look, all of which make for great event planning inspo. Buildings that are centuries old and still stand with the same beauty as they did when they were built, to the smell of leather of handbags and attire.
In terms of food, I am always fascinated that Europe has a respect for food that is not seen as broadly in the US. Even at Gardaland you can get a delicious Chicken Cotoletta and fresh fruit popsicles. And we didn’t even get a chance to talk about breakfast at the hotels, these were some of our favorite meals. Food is treated with such love that it shows on every plate you have, which is something that I value so much in my work as an event planner and feast creator.
Overall, this trip was the perfect mix of leisure and inspiration, putting my creative brain in full gear for the upcoming season of events I have on the go. I simply cannot wait to bring the Italian inspiration back to my clients!