Milan cuisine

tips on Milan
food & beverages

 

Culinary hallmarks
of Lombardy

Generous use of butter is a hallmark of Milanese/Lombard cooking. So is the preference for rice or polenta over pasta. Being landlocked, Lombardy has few notable seafood specialties (one being the aquatic version of Frito Misto). Meat (especially veal) is king.

Famous specialties
of Milan and Lombardy

Osso Buco

This internationally renowned dish is veal shank braised with tomato, onion, stock and wine, then topped with Gremolata, a garnish made with parsley, garlic and lemon rind. The choicest morsel in Osso Buco ("hole in bone") is the cooked marrow clinging to the hollow of the bone.

Risotto alla Milanese

Rice is in its fullest glory when used to prepare this popular saffron colored and flavored side dish.

Costoletta alla Milanese

A breaded veal chop that is similar to its more famous offspring, the Wiener Schnitzel of Austria and Germany.

Frito Misto

A "mixed fry" of various meats or seafood.

Minestrone

A soup, thick with rice and/or pasta and vegetables. (Liguria also claims credit for creating this specialty.)

Zuppa Pavese

A consomme with a whole poached egg.

Panettone

A dried and candied fruit studded yeast cake enriched with eggs and butter. Now popular throughout Italy, especially at Christmas time.

Cheeses of Lombardy

Regional Lombard cheeses include the blue veined Gorgonzola, the creamy and mild Bel Paese, and the surface ripened Taleggio.

Beverages of Lombardy

Wines are of little note from a serious wine drinker's perspective, but Lombardy does manufacture the well known Campari, a bitter sweet aperitif sipped in chic bars around the globe.

Best city for gourmets

Milan is the top all around food city in Lombardy. Criteria include cooking, food markets, cooking ingredients, cooking schools, beverages, dining and restaurants. Bergamo is the runner-up.

Clickable cuisine maps

Test yourself

sponsored ad 

Explore my
candid country, region
and other travel guides
Click links for tips & insights

©2010 HQP / Hillman Quality Publications