Bologna

If you’ve read my post about authentic Ragù Bolognese and tried the recipe, you’re ready to prepare an iconic Bolognese preparation – Lasagne Verdi alla Bolognese. It’s one of my favorite dishes of all time. Making this lasagna requires only a few components – spinach pasta, Ragù Bolognese, béchamel sauce, and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. When prepared with care, these elements come together to create something truly extraordinary. Besides Tagliatelle al Ragù and Tortellini in Brodo, it’s one of the most important “primi” (pasta courses) in Bolognese cuisine. This traditional Lasagna Bolognese is everything a good Italian-style lasagna should be – it’s…

Tortellini in Brodo is one of the culinary symbols of my adopted city, Bologna. Picture a flavorful meat filling, full of prized ingredients from the area, enveloped by delicate handmade and hand-rolled pasta, served in glorious homemade broth. When prepared with love and skill it is magical, luscious, and transcendent fare. (I’m swooning just thinking about it…) Tortellini in Brodo is an extremely important dish in this part of the world, not merely a recipe. It holds centuries of history and tradition behind it. Today, I want to clarify, as I did with my Ragù Bolognese article, what Tortellini in…

Ragù Bolognese or Bolognese Sauce is justifiably famous all over the world. Widespread though it is, it is greatly misunderstood and ill-prepared outside of Bologna. Next week marks our 6th anniversary here, making it the perfect time for me to discuss this iconic, delicious, rich, and scrumptious meat sauce! Read on to learn about Ragù Bolognese as it’s prepared and served in Bologna. I will share insights and experiences, and provide recipe resources so that you can make this heavenly dish at home, Bolognese style!

Seeing as I am a food-obsessed individual who’s been living in Bologna for nearly 6 years, it’s probably no surprise that many people ask me for advice on where to eat in town. (As I mentioned in my post about the Antica Trattoria della Gigina.) When they do, I generally propose places that serve Bolognese cuisine. I also recommend the kind of places that I prefer – spots that are comfortable, traditional, serve great food, and won’t necessarily break the bank. Another priority is to make sure that the pasta is handmade. (As it should be in a city famous…

I’ve been living in Bologna for 5 years now. It’s truly been a dream come true for me to spend this much time in Italy and to explore its food and culture. However, after about 3 years into our time here, I started missing other ethnic flavors. I lived in NYC for 15 years. Therefore, I got used to eating food from all over the world. Eating internationally can be tough here, as dining establishments tend to be predominantly Bolognese. Often, restaurants serving ethnic foods aren’t very good. So, in the last couple of years, I have been upping my…

It may not surprise you to hear that we have had more guests since moving to Italy than we’ve ever had in our entire lives… People seem to want to come to Italy. Go figure! One of the most frequent questions I get from visitors is, “Do you have any restaurant recommendations?” As a consequence, I have written many an email with a list of my favorite spots. I thought I would make my life easier and hopefully yours, by writing about some of the eateries that stand out to me. Today I’m going to talk about the Antica Trattoria…

Let’s talk about toys today! Toys for cooks! If you’re anything like me, then food is a major focus of any travel that you do. Obviously, dining out is important, but as a cook, so are cookbooks and kitchenware. Today, that’s what I’m going to help you find in my adopted home. What are my top 7 kitchenware stores in Bologna? What can you expect to find? I’m here to help.