AUTHOR: ARTSY CHOW ROAMER

Visiting Venice, Italy?

TRY CICCHETTI!

Venice, Italy is one of the most celebrated cities in Europe; not only beautiful and historical but well known for its food. When there, try cicchetti; the traditional Venetian tapa. Normally eaten on the run these tasty bites can make a great quick lunch or afternoon pick me up snack.

Rather like Spanish tapas, a good meal can be made by ordering multiple plates that serve smaller portions of larger entrees on the usual menu. This style of eating is not so much about home cooking as it is about how, when and where they are consumed.

Many restaurants and bars display their choices in clear cases all day long to make it easy for patrons to view and order their favorites. In this post, I will give you the 411 on what it means, the dishes, recipes, toppings and where to go for the best cicchetti!

WHAT IS CICCHETTI?

Cicchetti (or small bites ) is a way of eating that utilizes small plates of wonderful dishes with big flavors. Italian food is always simple with a small number of the freshest ingredients creating the best tastes.

Gondoliers, business people and tourists alike gather at “bacari” or “osterie” (read bars here) every day to enjoy the delights of this casual dining experience that allows you to try a lot of different recipes and dishes. Everyone has their favorite hang out that offers the toppings closest to their heart.

Built using toothpicks and eaten with the fingers for the most part, folks will stand or hang out at the counter and people watch while savoring every little bite. It is customary to wash it all down with a good glass of white wine which the locals refer to as “ombre” or shadow.

Most of these bars remain open all day long as cicchetti can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, snack or early dinner. Where are the bars? Well, pretty much everywhere. During your exploration of Venice there will not be many alleyways that won’t afford you the opportunity to indulge.

DISHES, RECIPES AND TOPPINGS

Common types of cicchetti can include sandwiches, plates of olives or marinated vegetables, hard boiled eggs with delicious fillings, small servings of full course meals such as pasta, mushrooms and different kinds of fried/sauteed meats or seafood laid on a piece of bread or polenta.

Toppings are just as varied as dishes and recipes. A splash of lemon here, a good drizzle of olive oil there; some capers, an anchovy or shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano. Don’t even get me started on the beautiful meats such as speck and varieties of ham; the bits of garlic used so well in marinades for mushrooms and large white tender lima beans (I could have eaten a ton of those).

When we were in Venice it was a daily challenge to try a different bacari and their version of Venetian tapas while never eating the same thing twice. Not so very hard to do! You did discover your favorites that you wanted to go back to time and time again but hated not to explore and find new ones as well.

FIVE BEST SPOTS TO EAT CICCHETTI

So I have developed a list of the five places I really like in Venice so that you have at least a small starting point to your cicchetti adventures. Are ya ready? Let’s get to it.

NUMBER ONE-VINERIA ALL’AMARONE

Located one Vaporetto #1 stop away from the Rialto, Vineria all’Amorone is a lovely shop specializing in wines from the Valpolicello region of Italy. You can try them by the glass, bottle or even a flight of different varieties.

Their freshly made cicchetti vary from day to day and work well in this cozy bar no matter if seated indoor or outside. The atmosphere is very social and warm with a neighborhood “everybody knows your name” ambiance.

Their pastas or firsts are quite good and I can recommend anything on offer. Finish with any of their fine desserts and a glass of grappa. Heaven!

Photos: Courtesy of Vineria all’Amarone

NUMBER TWO-CANTINE DEL VINO GIA SCHIAVI

Located off one of the busiest tourist routes on Dorsoduro, the Cantine del Vino gia Schiavi should be on anyone’s list for a quick jump in and out. No seats or fancy stuff-just standing and enjoying your cicchetti made fresh daily by the lady Alessandra.

An inn as well as a wine bar, it is popular to stop in for an ombre or an aperitif before continuing on your way. Check it out for yourself and see what you think! I thought it was cozy and the imaginative tapas-excellent.

Photos: Courtesy of Cantine Gia Schiavi

NUMBER THREE-TRATTORIA ANTICO CALICE

Al Calice has a history. It is one of the oldest and most celebrated osteries in the Veneto region. It was the Bolla brothers from Verona who started it and brought the wines from the Soave region to Venice.

Under today’s management you will find a variety of fine gastronomic dining in the Venetian tradition while cicchetti still reigns supreme. A fact shown by the many gondoliers seen dining there everyday. Don’t leave this one off your list as you wonder around San Marco square.

NUMBERS FOUR-OSTARIA DAI ZEMEI

Located on San Polo, Ostaria dai Zemei has an unassuming presence from the outside with a family ambiance on the inside. Watch the people with kids come and go and you will see why. The cicchetti counter is luscious with all the choices you could ever want and a good selection of wines to go with it.

Photos: Courtesy of Dei Zemei

NUMBER FIVE-OSTERIA AL SQUERO

This cute little place feels like a hideaway on the San Travaso Square. Osteria al Squero was opened with love by a man born and raised in Venice. He wants only to provide a good gathering spot where you can sit, enjoy a chat, a glass of wine and a little special cicchetti.

He wants you to adore the sausages and cheeses from Friuli and Carnia; the ham, speck, pancetta and salami in particular will make you fell like you died and have gone to a special food place. Then there is the radicchio, aubergines, olives, red onion and walnuts….well you get the picture. Just get there.

CONCLUSION

There probably isn’t a bad place to eat in Venice. They are too proud of their food to even go tourist on you. Pricing….well OK that might be a different thing but quality is just an expectation that Europeans take for granted.

A place worth it’s salt would never put nasty stuff out just because of tourism; too big a chance that a local might wonder in as well. Watch the locals and see where they dine. They will never overpay and they will know where the best corners of their world are.

Go native! Do the cicchetti crawl and make your way around any and all. Pro tip: take your fat pants-you’re gonna need ‘em! Enjoy the video above to get a better idea of what’s in store for your Venetian food adventures!

If you like what you read, you might also like other blogs under Explore the World and Edible Fare. There you will find restaurant reviews and other foodie tips you might enjoy. Look for my next Snap Shot post on a bucket list destination I have been promising you for awhile now. Until next time…

Cheers,

ArtsyChowRoamer

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