One of the most vital aspects of traveling (especially in Italy) is sampling as much of the local food as possible.  But with so many restaurant options in each city, it can be hard to figure out which one will offer you the most authentic meal while getting the most value for your dining dollar.

Risotto is one of Milan's typical dishes

While doing research ahead of time can definitely give you a mealtime game plan, there is also a strategy that you can implement once you arrive.  First of all, ask around.  Tour guides, shop owners, people you meet on the street are all great resources for finding the best restaurants around.  After all, they’ve probably gone through their fair share of trial and error.  Secondly, listen to the people dining around you.  If all you hear is Italian, then chances are you’ve hit a local favorite.  That’s not to say that the food won’t be good at places geared toward tourists, but will you truly be getting an Italian dining experience?  Next, ask for recommendations from the waiter and find out if there is a particular dish native to that area.  Then, eat!

If you’re in Milano this month, you can leave your game face at home because from September 23 to 26, Taste of Milano is taking over, bringing together the best chefs in the city to showcase what Milanese cuisine is all about.  For 20 Euro, you can eat lunch or dinner al fresco in Parco Sempione, sampling the best dishes of local restaurants like Trussardi Alla Scala and Ristorante Bianca.  Veal, ravioli, tuna, and even sushi mix with traditional Milanese dishes such as risotto alla Milanese and cassouela, while desserts, cheeses, and wines round out the menu.

And remember, we at Ciao Italy & Carrani Tours are always ready to share with guests our list of dining hotspots so that you can always eat like a local!

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 15th, 2010 at 2:05 pm and is filed under Autumn in Italy, Food and Wine, Italian Festivals, Milan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.