| 4 mins read
Planning a vacation to Italy? One of the must-visit stops along the tour should be Milan. The second largest city and the industrial, commercial and financial hub of the country, this bustling, vibrant metropolis is home to some amazing sites, scenes and outrageously good flavors. For first-time visitors, places such as the Santa Maria della Grazie (home to da Vinci’s Last Supper Painting), Milan Cathedral, Sforza Castle and Teatro alla Scala simply must be experienced, along with the city’s amazing art museums, world-renowned spas and unbeatable shopping. But whether it’s your first or fifth time visiting the city, there’s still one thing that never gets old: the food! Milan’s cuisine is some of the best in Italy, leaving travelers looking forward to their next visit to this gastronomically enticing city.Here are some of our local cuisine favorites in Milan !
Risotto alla Milanese: Arguably the city’s most famous dish, this Milan-favorite has made its way all around the world thanks to its simple yet top-quality, flavor-packed ingredients. The golden glow, rich texture and unrivaled taste of this outrageously good risotto make this dish one of the region’s must tries.
Polenta: A cornmeal-based dish, this traditional Milan staple is served as a side, or topped with hearty, filling ingredients. Try the polenta with sausage, ribs, tomato sauce, Gorgonzola cheese or butter- simply amazing!
Trippa alla Milanese: Also known by local Milanese as Busecca, this traditional soup was generally served during a special time/celebration. Comprised of white beans, high-quality tripe, vegetables, cheese and Italian-style bacon (pancetta), this celebratory dish makes any special occasion even better!!
Cotoletta alla Milanese: Another Milanese meat-based option, Cotoletta alla Milanese is a bone-in veal cutlet, breaded, pan-fried and topped with butter. Similar to a wiener schnitzel (though the bone is still in), this Milanese treat is guaranteed to agree with even the pickiest eaters.
Minestrone alla Milanese: One of the lighter options on the traditional-Milanese menu, this classic soup is comprised of seasonal vegetables, rice, leafy greens and Parmesan cheese. During the cold months, Minestrone is served steaming hot to warm you from the inside out, but during the rest of the year, it’s served at room temperature, making it a year-round delectable, light option.
Milanese Desserts:
Panettone: A tall, thick sweet bread, the origins of this Italian (and European) favorite reach back to Milan. Generally served during the Christmas holiday season, this cylindrical bread is filled with candied fruits and raisins, making for an excellent sweet treat.
Barbagliata: Known locally in Milan as Barbajada, this sweet, frothy beverage is a combination of milk, coffee and chocolate, served up year round (hot in the winter and cold in the summer). A delicious cap off to your unforgettable Milanese meal.
This brings one to the quandary of looking for the best options, ingredients and flavors… as well as the best restaurants serving them up; armed with your shortlist, consult your Milan Travel Guide to update you on the latest and most famous food joints and hidden local gems in the city.
Image Details and Licenses: https://flic.kr/p/3JkFx, (Kate Hopkins, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/dbHW5, (timbu, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/7WtTKM (Bob Gorman, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/7t4V1S (Monica Arellano-Ongpin, CC BY 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/5L7HYP (umami, CC BY-NC 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/ibEPHM(Nicola, CC BY 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/dmGXgN (mwms1916, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/CBsSk (Meg, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)