In the foothills of Verona, don’t miss the opportunity to taste the delicious traditional dishes ‘bollito con la pearà’, ‘tagliatelle all'anatra’ and ‘pasticciata di cavallo’.

This is also the area where the prosciutto of Soave and the famous  ‘Monte Veronese DOP’ cheese is produced, one of the most important types of mountain cheese in Italy. With regards to fruit and vegetables, there are the peas of Colognola ai Colli, the peaches (which give their name to the town of Pescantina), blackberries, chestnuts and cherries. The pride of the area is the Veneto Valpolicella DOP extra virgin oil and for desert – the well known Pandoro.

The leading dish in the foothills of Vicenza is definitely the Baccalà alla Vicentina, a local stockfish which is accompanied by traditional yellow polenta.

Other appetizing dishes which are not to be missed are the gnocchi- for which Posina, Laghi, Tonezza del Cimone, Lusiana and Selva di Trissino celebrate the production of local potatoes – and not forgetting the bigoli, large spaghetti served with duck ragout. Meat lovers must try the bollito misto,  the “toresan” Breganzese  (pigeons roasted on a spit), the tripe prepared according to tradition and the glorious salami, ‘sopressa vicentina DOP’.

Those with a sweet tooth will enjoy discovering Gata, a typical Vicenza dessert made from cocoa, corn flour and grappa and the scrumptious pastry of the ‘Treccia d'Oro’ of Thiene.

 

 

The area also boasts a vast array of delicious fruit and vegetables, including the excellent white asparagus  DOP of Bassano del Grappa, the IGP Cherries of Marostica and the Durona cherries of Chiampo, the truffle of Crespadoro and, in autumn, delectable chestnuts and nuts. Furthermore, the area is famous for the production of Asiago DOP cheese and many other dairy products. Why not try the Vicenza mustard which, in November, is celebrated in Montecchio Maggiore.

In the foothills of Treviso, after the production of Prosecco DOCG, one of  the most famous wine in the world,  the second most noted products of the area come from the local dairies, with cheeses such as the Casatella, the Piave and the Montasio DOP.  The asparagus of Badoere and Cimadolmo are delicious and both are of IGFP (Protected Geographical Indication) production. In autumn, don’t miss the chestnuts of Monfenera IGP and dessert lovers should be aware that the word renown Tiramisu actually originated in Treviso.

The ‘Strade del Vino’ is another journey full of local tastes and flavours.

There are as many as 9 different routes which wind through the beautiful territory of the foothills of Veneto where the best local DOC and DOCG products are waiting to be discovered: Amarone in Soave, Durello in Recioto di Gambellara, the sweet Torcolato in Vespaiolo, and finally the famous Prosecco.