Gourmet products local specialties and wines Italy

Here's yet another address to discover on Via Spadari. The store's motto is "de la glace et c'est tout" ("ice cream and that's all"), a slogan that says it all. Ciacco has made a name for itself in Milan for the quality of its ice cream, the aim being to create ice cream without any natural or chemical additives. Among the twenty or so flavors available in summer and winter, you'll find apricot, pistachio and pumpkin, as well as cheesecake and salted butter caramel. Open weekday mornings, the shop also serves good coffee and delicious stuffed brioches.

Established in 1907, Gamberini is the oldest pastry shop in the city. It is a true institution where locals line up patiently to take home treats. Here, the word "window shopping" takes on its full meaning. One is ecstatic in front of the strawberry and raspberry trees. Inside, you don't know what to choose as the pastries are so tempting. At lunch, it is possible to take a quick break on the small outside terrace, with a salad and a sandwich. For a snack, you can accompany your coffee with a chocolate.

In this pretty little grocery store, you'll find pasta, olive oil, liqueurs, but above all the famous panforte senesethe town's specialty, with almonds and honey!

For a change from mountain hikes and cultural visits, here's an idea for a stop on the road: a tasting of local wines. This family-run winery offers the opportunity to discover and stock up on white and red wines in single-varietal or blended varieties. The winery produces wines with Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon, Malvasia, Chardonnay, Merlot... The verduzzo variety gives a very special white wine. Outside of opening hours, do not hesitate to make an appointment by phone or e-mail.

Right in the heart of the historic center, here's an excellent place to enjoy a deliciousice cream after strolling along the ramparts of Cittadella. In addition to more or less traditional flavors, such as hazelnut, pistachio and strawberry, the pumpkin with blackberry slivers is totally original. The store's specialty, however, is ice cream dedicated to the most famous of spreads! Got it? To make you stand out even more, there are also verrines and sushi-like ice cream slices.

On Sunday lunchtimes, for the traditional family meal, pastries from Follis can be found on the Vercellesi tables. It's been their favorite pastry shop since 1904! This historic shop offers, among other things, the classic bicciolani, shortbread cookies with spices, and tartufata, a whipped cream cake topped with hazelnuts and chocolate flakes... After admiring the store's lovely period décor and enjoying a few tastings on site, you'll want to take these sweets home with you in your suitcases. Second point of sale Corso Torino, 81.

For decades, this ice cream parlour has been delighting Vercellesi of all ages, who flock here in all seasons. Follow in their footsteps! Carefully prepared, artisanal recipes guarantee delicious flavours, including, of course, gianduja (chocolate praline), one of the best. An adjoining cafeteria prepares perfect coffees. And to take your indulgence to the next level, ask for a delicious cloud of whipped cream to be added on top... Heavenly! The welcome is also very friendly.

This chocolate factory attracts gourmets! It's a real candy box with its window and old-fashioned counter. This 40-year-old house offers a collection of fine chocolates elaborated artisanally on the site, with cocoas coming from the best plantations of Tanzania, Santo Domingo, Ecuador, Indonesia, etc. The ganaches are melting and tasty. Mint, raspberry or passion fruit, pepper or hazelnut, a treat to be consumed without moderation. Also small and large cakes.

In this elegant café, one of the oldest in Conversano, there are always people rushing to taste the artisanal ice cream of Franco Vitto, the famous master ice cream maker of the area. The flavours follow the season and the cream, always fresh, is still whipped according to the traditional recipe. Delicious traditional pastries (bocconotti, pastatelle) to be accompanied by a steaming espresso or a liqueur or sweet wine, following the advice of the house which also recommends this association with its ice creams.

The saffron! Rita Sala has been working for years with these flowers so fragrant and delicate. On 8,000 ^{m2 of} land, she plants the bulbs and picks the flowers by hand, then separates and dries the 3 red filaments of the pistil. Since it takes about 150 flowers to obtain one gram of dry saffron, this spice is considered one of the most expensive products in the world. And Rita will be able to tell you all about its culture and uses.

Turin certainly has no shortage of wine cellars where you can buy the good products of the region, but Mastrovini is one of the wine bars that also sells wine in bulk, and therefore at very interesting prices. If you feel like leaving with a bottle of nebbiolo, barbera, arneis or ruché, this small enoteca is the ideal place to shop. Moreover, the staff is very nice and they also serve drinks and good food on the spot! A place that remains over time a must, especially for the aperitivo!

Charming shop on the main square selling local products (olive oil from the neighbouring massage parlours, honey, pasta, sourdough bread, taralli, cakes, wines...). A nice initiative to make the small producers of the region known. And an ideal stopover to stock up on typical gifts. The company also organises "taste laboratories", which consist of tasting local products in the company of experts in the oenogastronomic sector (producers, cooks, etc.), to discover the scents, textures and flavours.

Carnaroli, arborio, baldo... If these names don't ring a bell, it's because you're not yet familiar with rice from Vercelli, Novara and the surrounding area. But don't panic: in this designer store (the only one in town dedicated to this crop, with top-quality, 100% Italian rice), the "rice sommeliers" will explain it all to you! Of course, you'll be able to walk away with the ideal rice for your risotti, as well as rare, red and black rices... and many other gourmet products.

A masseria run by the Presicce family, who make and sell their own cheeses. What a joy to be able to buy ricotta cheese while it is still hot! It is possible to have dinner on site, from Friday to Sunday, by reservation. You can then sit out on the large terrace and enjoy cheese platters and other local specialities such as orecchiette, grilled meat and vegetable fritters. Dishes of great simplicity, authentic and served with generosity, in a friendly and relaxing atmosphere.

Since 2008, Marchetti ice creams have been conquering Turin and Italy. And we're not at all surprised. In his stores, Alberto creates his flavours with great care, choosing top-quality ingredients and collaborating with local, responsible producers. Finally, they also organize educational workshops on gelato-making. You're bound to come across a Marchetti store as you wander around town - there are six of them... so far! Not to be missed.

In the slightly outlying district of San Salvario, this gelateria has built up a very good reputation in Turin and beyond in just a few years. And the big blackboard full of customer comments is proof of that! In summer, ask for a scoop (or several!) of mara dei boschi, a variety of strawberry, and in autumn opt for a pomegranate sorbetto instead. You won't be disappointed, all the perfumes are handcrafted and really excellent. Two other addresses in Turin: Corso de Gasperi, 57 and Piazza Carlo Emanuele II, 21.

Set in the countryside, the Masseria Brusca is an imposing fortified farmhouse dating back to the 18th century, where many film scenes were shot. For some quality shopping, don't hesitate to visit the shop under the entrance porch, where the Zuccaro family's own production is sold: cheese, honey, olive oil, wine and meat, guaranteed "kilometre zero" products. It would be a pity to leave the premises without visiting the church and the beautiful walled garden. Definitely a place apart and out of time!

The adventure of Pasticceria Gallina began between Turin and Naples, where Giuseppe Gallina learned the basics of the trade in the early ^20th century. The Via Vochieri establishment was opened in 1968 by his son Lorenzo and his wife Anna, accompanied by their three children, who are still here today. Since then, the company's reputation has been built on its baci - small, round chocolate cookies known here as baci di Gallina. The ingredients used are of the highest quality, for sweets to be enjoyed without moderation!

With coffee, lemon, coconut or chocolate, Rolando's soft amaretti are famous throughout Piedmont and beyond. Like soft macaroons, individually wrapped in colorful paper, amaretti remain the ideal snack to nibble on while strolling through the pretty streets of Alessandria. The almond classics are wrapped in red paper, the cocoa ones are blue, the coffee ones are brown, and so on. The recipe has remained unchanged since 1942, for a truly unbeatable taste!

This pastry shop, which will soon be celebrating its two-hundredth anniversary, with seven successive generations, is one of the city's best-loved. The list of recommended products (sweet and savory) is very long: petits choux, Tartufata with whipped cream, savory rolls stuffed with ricotta and spinach, as well as the Guinea tart, a cream cake with shavings and a dark chocolate coating. But it seems to us that starting with a little cannolo is certainly not a bad idea, as there are 14 varieties to choose from...

Over 3,000 labels can be found in this historic Alessandria wine cellar (although the boutique in the center of town offers a more limited selection), which has been open since 1968. Bottles from Piedmont, of course, and from all over the world, but also liqueurs and other gourmet products. Lovers of pastis can tryAcqua del Tanaro, the local aniseed liqueur, and why not take some home in their suitcases. Don't hesitate to ask the sales staff for advice, as they will provide you with the most professional information.

Giolito, Bra's historic store, offers an exceptional selection of cow, goat, buffalo and sheep's milk cheeses, many of which are obviously Piedmontese: several blues, gorgonzola, alpine cheeses... The friendly staff often suggest tasting before buying. To deepen your discovery, tastings are organized and it is possible to visit the whole store, including the laboratory, the maturing cellar... A must for all cheese lovers, this is an extraordinary place to visit.

In the Crocetta district, come and discover a delicious corner of authentic Piedmont. Here, you'll find typical wines sold in bulk, and plenty of goodies from the four corners of the region to accompany them. You'll also find Freisa di Chieri, the wine produced in the heart of Turin, in Villa della Regina, just across the Po, and a good selection of the famous local liqueur, génépi. Wonderful welcome, both warm and professional. An excellent address to visit again and again.

Near the Crocetta market square, the delicious aroma of coffee irresistibly draws you here. Let the team at this roaster advise you: they'll be delighted to guide you in your choice. The place is also ideal for a lunch of simple, tasty dishes, or for a superb aperitivo: a wide choice of cocktails, gins from all over the world, different types of spritz, all accompanied by platters of delicacies to nibble on!

For those who love to eat and enjoy traditional mountain products, this store is located in four villages of the region (also in Sappada and Sauris). It offers typical local products, especially cured meats and cheeses. The star is the cheese of Malga. This raw cow's milk cheese is produced in the high mountains (between 1,500 and 1,800 meters, imagine that!). The maturing process lasts 18 to 36 months. Ideal for a picnic, but don't forget to buy a good red wine to accompany your finds.

During your visit to Fasano, a stop at this historic wine cellar in the city is a must, where the best of all Italy's wine is presented. Many wines from Puglia, but also from all over the peninsula. Foreign labels, sparkling wines, liqueurs and spirits: let yourself be advised among the many bottles. Small restaurant corner inside, to taste some typical regional products (cheeses, cold cuts, carpaccio...) with the wine of your choice. The house also has a sign in Martina Franca.

For over 30 years,Benvenuto has been working in its charming vaulted grocery store and selecting traditional specialties from the region. Here you will find taralli with classic or unusual flavours (chilli and cacioricotta, onions and raisins, anchovies and capers, chocolate and coconut...), pasta (plain orecchiette, with primitivo wine or squid ink, sagne 'ncannulate), various preserves (fave e cicorie, cime di rapa...). Enough to reproduce at home a meal in the Salento tradition! The company also exports abroad.

Uacciardidd is a word from the local dialect meaning "farm chicken". This shop is, in fact, a butcher's and caterer's shop run by the Taccardi family and whose activity dates back to 1946. But there is also an appetizing selection of delicate delicatessen meats and regional cheeses. Finally, Uacciardidd is a tavola calda offering quality cuisine at an economical price. You pay by weight for your meat, grilled vegetables or pasta, choose a drink from the fridge and sit down to eat in an authentic family atmosphere.

An institution in Frascati, this family pastry shop is best known for its pupazze, a three-breasted "dolls". This traditional cake is a crunchy biscuit made of flour and honey in the shape of a 3-breasted doll that recalls a popular legend: Frascati's nannies would have given the children not only milk but also wine! You will also find, of course, all the typical Italian pastries such as crostata di visciole (a tasty cherry pie) or sweet ravioli filled with ricotta cheese and jam.

With its red and white striped front, this typical little pastry shop produces high quality Venetian cookies, made according to the traditional Burano know-how, as in the time of Carmelina Palmisano, an endearing nonna with a passion for good things. Among the cake recipes are the unmissable Bussolà, Zaletti, Essi and Moretti! Buy in bulk or in bags/batches. You'll smell the scent of warm cookie in the air from the end of the street. Nougats, meringues, shortbread with jam among other delicacies that might tempt you.

It is certainly the most famous gelateria in the city. And for good reason, the homemade flavors such as Alice (mascarpone and chocolate), Leonardo (ice cream with toasted pine nuts), Cavour (ricotta, lemon from the Amalfi coast and pasta frolla), San Luca (white chocolate with crispy puffed rice) are delicious. For those who love sorbets, the taste of fruit will melt delicately under your palate. It is customary to enjoy this delicacy in the garden across the street, where you will see families and students taking to the benches with their ice cream.

Located on a small square a few meters from the pier, this artisanal bakery-pastry shop has become a reference in the Lido, as much for the locals as for the tourists. In addition to the location and the modern decor, it is the products that we appreciate. There is a selection of homemade breads and pastries, delicious cakes to take away as well as a large choice of salty snacks to heat up on the spot (pizza slices or focaccia among others). The store being relatively narrow, it is not possible to eat inside, but who cares!

Nice gelateria in the Castello area, where such addresses are rare. Well appreciated by the locals and the tourists who discover this little gem, who like to pick up a cone and then take a bite while strolling along the Riva degli Schiavoni. La Mela Verde offers a wide range of refreshing and quality sorbets: strawberry, raspberry, grapefruit, lemon, kiwi and of course... green apple (the name of the shop)! The wafers on the cones are perfect. When the ice cream meets the fruit, we crack without hesitation!

Certainly the best ice in the city, which is tasting during the beautiful season, when the sun illuminates the narrow streets, and ice by hand, we can walk a nonchalant step in the city of Romeo and Juliet… Top perfumes, which regularly renew over the seasons. Classics (coffee, chocolate, hazelnut) are a safe value. Guaranteed ingredients 100% freshness and high quality, ancestral know-how, and a business that works hard!

Gourmands, forget your diet before approaching this Ali Baba's cave. A French-style pastry shop in the heart of Verona that concocts mille-feuilles, macaroons (try the one with cappuccino) and mont-blanc, as well as Sicilian cannoli, fruit tarts and brioches filled to perfection. Available at any time of the day, from breakfast to aperitif. At the back of the store, a small tea room allows the impatient to taste these delicacies accompanied by hot drinks.

For generations, Giovanni Pitteri, a passionate and demanding Venetian pastry chef, has been preparing cakes and other delicacies. His store is just like him: generous and traditional. Here you can taste all sorts of little cookies, filled with chocolate or apricot jam, delicious with a "homemade" coffee for example, to eat in or take away. Venetians like to stop by for colazione (breakfast), for a cappuccino with brioche, preferably filled with custard. The service is fast, efficient and always smiling.

Located in the historic center of Vicenza, under the arcades in front of the Basilica, this authentic pastry shop is a real local institution. In an elegant setting decorated with wood panelling, one comes here to drink a coffee (for breakfast or at any time of the day) while enjoying a pastry (croissant, brioche or small homemade cookies). It is always a treat for the taste buds. Note that during the Easter holidays, the sculpted eggs are the pride of the store.

Here's a place to shop that's truly local, gourmet and refined. This is where the renowned Jambon de Bosses DOP, the original "Aosta ham", is produced... Sales are direct from producer to consumer, with no intermediaries, guaranteeing the highest quality at the best price. The store also offers other products at km 0. A word of advice: never overfill your suitcase when you leave... It is possible to visit the production premises (advance telephone booking required).

Forget your dentist for a moment! Don't just admire the front of the shop and rush in with greed in this narrow shop of ten square meters at the most. This family-run confectionery shop has a childhood flavour. You can find all kinds of chocolate, thousands of candies (in bags and in bulk), caramels, giant licorice of 93 cm, but also local cookies and other traditional sweets. With so many sweets which tend you the arms, fatally one succumbs!

A real authentic patisserie where you can drink an excellent coffee and nibble on little mignardises, each more appetizing than the last. This is the strong point of the place and it will be really hard to make a choice, believe us! The place isn't very big (there's also a covered veranda terrace with a few tables, but it's pretty narrow), but it's perfect for taking a break like a true Turinese, without the groups of tourists you might find in cafés further inland.

Italy's most famous sparkling wine, by name, would almost steal the show from the red carriage on the black horse. It is just as prestigious. Yet nothing to do with the two. The Ferrari spumante is to Italy what Moët & Chandon is to France; present on the most important occasions, it is since 1902 that the celebrity of Ferrari vintages has gone beyond the borders. The best grapes from Trentino are selected to produce a high quality wine. To discover, taste and take away if you didn't know it.

A Pavia institution! The store, just a few steps from the Basilica di San Michele, exudes the authenticity of the shops of yesteryear. This gelateria, open since the 1960s, offers excellent ice creams (the hazelnut flavor is absolutely delicious). Its unctuous hot chocolate is just as delicious, if ice cream isn't what you're craving in the middle of winter. Try it with your eyes closed! An essential stop-off on a stroll through the city center, or between one visit and the next.

The estate is managed with passion by Milena Pepe, a young Belgian who, after studying oenology and viticulture in France, took over the family vineyard in Irpinia. Since then, it has been a real success story: 70 hectares of vineyards (and 11 hectares of olive trees), 500,000 bottles of wine per year and various international awards. The sales outlet is open every day and the TenutaCavalierPepeorganizes wine tastings, including several DOC and DOCG, and guided tours of the vineyard and the cantina in French.

On the road between Cortona and Montepulciano, in the small town of Centoia, Il Chianino, run by the charming Ivana, is a convenient bar and grocery store. You'll find everything you need, from groceries to household products. There's also a wide selection of typical local products from local businesses.

Nice wine bar in the city center, one of the best places to taste the typical local wine, accompanied by large plates of cheese and cold cuts, but also by pâté or baccalà mantecato, olives and even a salad for a meal on the go. The staff is friendly and attentive and can give you all the details about the wines of the region. Almost all the bottles from the region's cellars are available, not to mention the grappa and the beers. You will have understood, here is an excellent address!

Tartufi Morra was founded in 1930. Not only was it the first to market Alba's fine, renowned white truffle, but its founder also came up with the idea of organizing a major truffle fair in his town every year. This internationally renowned fair is still a must if you're in the area in October or November. As for the store, it's heaven on earth! You'll find truffles in all their forms, for all uses, all occasions... Tasting by prior arrangement.

Since the 1960s, the Menazza family has been producing fresh pasta of all shapes and forms with varied and absolutely succulent recipes, in bronze dies, with slow, low-temperature drying. Tagliatelle, stuffed ravioli, meatballs and spinach... you will be spoilt for choice, with many original pasta shapes. Dry, fresh, filled pasta (ravioli)... The Vittoria collection offers flavoured dry pasta (fettuccine with raddichio, rocket or blueberries, tagliolino with lemon...).