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Abruzzo Food

Abruzzo Food (13)

Our recommendations if you are planning a vacation or visit to Abruzzo.

Delicious local Italian typical food and wine products from the region of Abruzzo. Where to go, what to look out for and when to find them in season. Start with the articles below ordered by the latest added or updated. Alternatively, access them from the links in the right column.

Favorite Restaurants in Vasto

Written by Philip Curnow

Published in Abruzzo Food

We have had the pleasure of exploring the territory of Vasto, both the city itself and along this stretch of the Adriatic coast in Abruzzo in either direction. Vasto city is full of restaurants, but those outside, and especially the famous trabocchi which offer the possibility of a meal or dinner, are a little more difficult to locate once on the ground. The list below should help and comprises our own discoveries and the personal recommendations of a bed and breakfast we stayed in located in the Protected Park of Punta Aderci. SELECTED VASTO AREA RESTAURANTS AND TRATTORIA …

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Last modified on 23 May 2013

Campli Porchetta Ham Festival

Published in Abruzzo Food

Ariccia in the Roman hills of Lazio is well known for its pork or porchetta. But this Italian roasted pork delicacy can be found across central Italy, not least in Campli in Abruzzo in the province of Teramo. At the middle of August go there for porchetta ham festival or 'sagra della porchetta italica'. It is, in effect, an annual competition when the best local pork is judged in the main square of Campli. The event attracts many people from around the region as well as curious holiday makers. It is the summer gourmet happening for this delightful town.

Last modified on 12 April 2013

Contemporary Abruzzo Cuisine

Published in Abruzzo Food

Several years ago, friends of our´s and I drove up this winding snake like mountain road, while our friends had insisted that this one was of the best restaurants for milk fed baby lamb. I had to imagine what the place had once been like, a modest, restaurant and inn ... in the middle of the land of shepherds. We had finally arrived at what is now a contemporary and beautiful hotel restaurant called La Bandiera and owned and run by Marcello Spadone and family. It is located in lands that look like emerald grazing isles, and rugged purple mountain…

Last modified on 06 April 2013

Ventricina salumi from Crognaleto

Published in Abruzzo Food

Supermarket Ventricina in province of Chieti

Ventricina is a typical Abruzzesi salami which varies across the region, and even into neighboring Molise, in terms of shape, consistency and flavor- It is one of the most traditional creations of Abruzzo cuisine. Fine grained and mildly spicy, the Ventricina of Teramo or Crognaleto is characterized by a mixture of finely ground pork parts, which cannot be used otherwise, mixed with pieces of prosciutto and richly spiced. Other ingredients include salt, white and black pepper, sweet hot pepper and spicy hot pepper, garlic, paste made from peppers, fennel seeds, rosemary, orange peels.

Last modified on 14 January 2013

Confetti from Sulmona

Published in Abruzzo Food

The traditional confetti originating from Sulmona in depeest Abruzzo is everywhere. This is not the paper stuff thrown at weddings, but fabulous sugared coated almonds of every color. They are popular as gifts handed out at the end of marriage ceremonies and other such romantic occasions. The industry developed in the town around 250 years ago. One of the first, and perhaps most famous of the local factories, 'Pelino' dates from 1783 and the oriignal part of the factory can be visited very close to the historical centre of Sulmona. Inside the doors is as close to a real Willy Wonka chocolate factory…

Last modified on 14 January 2013

Corfinio and liqueurs from Abruzzo

Published in Abruzzo Food

We had the good fortune to find a rare old bottle of Corfinio liqueur in our local enoteca. Made with 42 herbs of the Maiella Mountains and Abruzzese saffron, which gives the liqueur its typical gold yellow color, it was an absolute treat. The flavour can be paragoned to the people of Abruzzo - forte e gentile. Corfinio liqueur was actually trademarked in 1858 and was invented by Giulio Barattucci. He also gave us some of the many famous liqueurs from the region which we still drink today, such as Amaro Majella and Aternum.

Last modified on 14 January 2013

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo wine

Published in Abruzzo Food

In the official classification of Italian DOC wines Montepulciano D'Abruzzo is in third, behind Chianti, Asti, Oltrepò Pavese, Soave, and Valpolicella. It used be in sixth when we started this website in 2000. As a first indication, we believe that around 65% of the Abruzzo wines production is sold across Italy, while 25% remains in the region. The final 10% is exported. What is for sure is the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo represents 80% of all the DOC wines in Abruzzo. Some say the brand has benefited from confusion with Nobile di Montepulciano, but a steady annual increase in production over the…

Last modified on 10 January 2013