Fergos

Hello,

We're setting off to Italy next month for a week of great food in the Emilia Romagna area.
I've already strated to compile a list of great sounding resturants through some articles and tripadvisor, but was wondering if anyone has any specific recommendations of any resturants in the area.
We'll be in Parma, Bologna, Ravenna, Ferrara and Piacenza.

Thanks so much!

asps

Salsamenteria storica verdiana Baratta in Busseto. Not a full restaurant, more like what you would get crossing a fast food with a salami shop. Reserve in advance as it is always packed.

sandralist

Osteria Santo Stefano in Piacenza

sssteve

What are your preferences in restaurants?

Michelin stars?
Authentic local cuisine?
Great family owned restaurants?

jangita

You didn't mention Modena but it has 2 outstanding restaurants as well as a fabulous, indoor market. Would be a great place for a day trip.

The places to eat are Hosteria Giusti which is more rustic and Osteria Francescana which is more inventive and upscale. Both places need reservations well in advance.

It's been a while since I've been to Parma but loved Tribulnale there.

Bologna--my favorite has been Drogheria della Rosa but don't miss Tamburini.

Try checking on Chowhound for lots more info.

Fergos

Thanks!

We'll be stoping at a couple of Michellain star resturants, but overall would love some great family resturants. They don't have to have stars, Just good food...

As for Francesca- They do not have an open table for the next 3 months. Sounds about right. (And I've made a note about Giusti. Thanks!).

Now looking into the places in Piacenza and Bologna.

sandralist

If you've never been to Emilia-Romagna before, be aware that the local cuisine (with the exception of Ravenna) is anchored in eggs, cheeses and fatty meats, and therefore quite filling, dish by dish. For a single week's stay that already includes a couple of Michelin restaurants, you might want to research some alternatives to two full restaurant meals per day, especially on the days when you will be having a multi-course Michelin meal. Or if you are given a choice of menus at the Michelin places, go for the lighter menu! Good to make a point of familiarizing yourself with some of the lighter regional specialties of spring (which include asparagus and zucchini dishes and some made with spring mushrooms, and pastas without meat) -- or at least avoid ordering too many of the super-rich dishes in a row (like tortellini in crema di parmigiana or lasagne verdi and desserts with zabaione). If all fails, Bologna is one of the few cities in Italy where restaurants have large salads on their menus or, in the simpler trattorie, ordering grilled vegetables as a "secondo" is a great idea.

sssteve

Fergos:

In May, my wife and I will be in the Emilia Romagna area.
In June we can compare notes.

I have found several culatello (the top grade of parma ham) producers who also have excellent restaurants attached to the ham factory. You can have lunch and then get a tour of the aging cellar.

Here are a couple:

"AL VEDEL" at Padere Cadassa, a producer in Colorna, about 25 minutes north of Parma.
LINK: http://www.poderecadassa.it/eng/

ANTICA CORTE: This place is also a restored castle. You can tour the castle and aging cellar, and do a ham tasting, or eat at the excellent restaurant and do the tour as well. It is located about 45 minutes NW of Parma.
LINK: http://www.anticacortepallavicinarelais.com/
(It's also a B&B!)

I've already booked lunch and tour at both of these places.

Fergos

Antica Corte is our first stop of the week They also have a great michellain restuant, as I'm told.

Sandralist, that was a great observation on the food. I know it all too well, as I've done a full month of Italy a few years ago, with food being the main goal. It was great the first week, and then we had to find ways to take a step back and not go all-in every day. It was just too much

Anybody knows of a good place in Piacenza for our last night, by any chance?

RonZ

Absolutely La Forchetta in Parma, their signature veal dish. Also a visit to the little gelateria behind the Duomo, where they will fashion you a cone in the shape of a rose.

sandralist

Do you mean a place to eat or a place to stay? Albergo Roma to stay, and I can only repeat Osteria Santo Stefano.