We popped in here during a quick stop in Parma and picked up some parmesan and ham. The gentleman…read morebehind the counter was very nice and incredibly helpful in assisting us with our choices. They also had an impressive prepared food section for take away. We did not try anything from that section but it all looked great! Worth a stop if you find yourself in Parma.

Land in Milan. Hop in a car. Drive to Parma. Go straight here. This is what everyone should do…read more This place has everything that is amazing about Italy all in one. Fresh cheese, sliced to order fine meats, local wine, homemade marinated vegetables and so much more. Although it's more of a take out counter, you can also sit and enjoy a platter. This is what we opted to do, and man was it fabulous.

Prosciutto and Cheese Please!…read more As a tourist visiting Parma looking for good eats, I was not disappointed with my experience at La Prosciutteria. Friendly staff that understands and speaks English was so helpful. We got to sample quite a few cheese and prosciutto before purchase. I love free samples! Worth dropping if you wanting to try some of local delicacy.

This was such a tasty and visual stop in downtown Parma to pick up some treats to take home. Upon…read moreentering, the staff was very friendly, eager to share samples and answer questions. The facade alone is worth a visit. Inside you'll find dozens of hanging Parma ham legs, plentiful cheese, local honeys, jams, pickled veggies and so on. You could build out a really nice gift basket or Parma round up from this one stop. Try the cheese when they offer a generous sample! Note that like many other bizs in Parma, they close for a few hours in the afternoon. Traveling with your meat/cheese? They'll graciously vacuum pack your purchases for save travels! Enjoy an extra sample on my behalf when you stop in!

You don't get much more classic lunch break than Vecchia Malga, one of many choices in the alleyway…read morestreet off of Bologna's main square, Piazza Maggiore. There are plates of thinly sliced meats with cheeses everywhere so it's hard to choose where to go, especially if you're a couple of vegetarians like us. We made a good choice here, ordering a cheese board for one and a mixed salad. The cheese board was so plentiful that we had to re-confirm that this was just a serving for one. It was. Really generous with 6 different local cheeses of various tastes and firmness, surrounding a cup of honey which sealed the deal for us. We loved this cheese board and left referring back to it as we had cheese in other places on our trip. The salad (I mean you have to occasionally eat vegetables...even in Italy) was basic, just arugula and tomatoes, but was super-fresh. Also they brought the region's famous bread in a paper bag. Well, I don't know if "famous" is the right word, but this is the only place in the world we'd experienced the bread brought in paper bags, so sign me up for its autograph. This was a great choice for a cheese plate among the many options on this street and in the area. The cheese board especially was our favorite cheese in the whole country.

Such an amazing experience for a couple of first time visitors to Italy. We enjoyed a sample board…read moreof meats and cheese, and while I thought the concept of lard as a condiment was strange, holy cow was that tasty! And I don't know why something as simple as tortellini in broth is so tasty, but it is the ultimate comfort food! The atmosphere was incredibly cozy on the cold and damp day we visited,. Our waiter took excellent care of us, and we enjoyed watching the butchers at work assisting customers. Tucked up in the loft with a glass of wine, and later a coffee, was a perfect afternoon!

You will find here a large choise of cheese and ham at a very affordable price…read more The staff is very kind and will advise you on the choise of the best suited product for you.

A hidden gem in Firenze. A quaint meat and cheese shop, offering small bites and sandwiches…read more Alessandro the owner was so kind and welcoming. He recommended a meat and cheese board with some vino that was absolutely divine. I don't think I've ever had such a delicious and fresh off the bone charcuterie as I did today. He sat with us while we snacked sharing with us his family history and 3 generations of business, since 1924. Such a kind soul. I hope his business lasts lifetimes more. It truly is such a special place. Can't wait to get back. Highly recommend. No crowds either.

One of my absolute favorite meals I had while in Italy. Not as well known, as another reviewer…read morementioned, definitely a hidden gem. One I'm so glad my group and I stumbled upon. The family/staff that owns the market and restaurant was so sweet. We stopped by for a lunch and ordered anything they recommended. They were extremely attentive and wanted us to have the best experience. We had the Ribollita and their charcuterie board for 2. It was such a treat! I've never had Ribollita before then, but it tasted so fresh and homey. It was as if a family had invited you to their home for a meal. The eating space is a tiny, so if you find an open table definitely try to grab a bite there! The walls are also littered with post it notes from customers who have had the pleasure of eating there. Such a great eatery!

Patio and second floor indoor dining by Piazzo Maggiore…read more Pluses 1. Good lasagna 2. April spritz good Areas to improve 1. Wine by glass - Sangiovese was not good 2. Ragu too salty Server disappeared and you pay inside at the register. Fun to people watch. Good value. Recommended!

We sat inside on the 2nd floor and had the Emilia platter and assorted Tortellini's and…read moreTortelloni's and a caprese salad. The place is also a deli and has very good food. Delicious in fact. It is a supreme way to avoid all of the suspect English only menu's at the door with strapping young Italians trying to draw you in to eat their generally inauthentic Italian fair. You will see locals in the know here. Our food tour guide directed us to go here and she was correct. The service was very efficient but the young lady serving us was deep into her Italian holiday serving tenure and not exuberant by any stretch of the imagination. Still she didn't make a single mistake. Still a little personality would have earned this place five stars! I'll have to give it four for that only.

We happened by the store front of this establishment while walking in the early evening looking for…read morea dinner spot our first night in Reggio Emilia. The cured meat hanging in the window enticed us in, and the aroma of the place kept us there for three hours. Our hunt for dinner ended there with a plate of their mixed meat offering, Parmegiana-Reggiano added after we realized we hadn't ordered any with our meat tray and a couple each of their Spritzes. There was legs of ham hanging from the ceiling and wheels of Parmesan stored everywhere behind sliding glass doors. A look at the ceiling with the air conditioning units to keep it cool in the heat of summer pointed to this place being totally legit. Watching one of their guys fetching a wheel of 2012 Parm, scoring it and then cutting it in half, and in half again had us transfixed. We are big fans of Italian food, their cheese, their Parma ham, the Mortedella, the Capacolli, the Proscuitto are all staples in our home. I cannot convey with any semblance how incredible their offering was. We pay big money at home to have the best product available for our family and each of their offerings blew our best product in Vancouver B.C. away. Our total bill was $32 euros which in our mind was the bargain thus far of our trip to France and Italy. This place by itself has us planning our next visit to the under appreciated region that is Reggio Emilia. That said please keep it our secret, don't share it with your friends, let's keep this gem all to ourselves.

We had such a nice time during our tour here. The gentleman running the show when we arrived did…read morenot speak a drop of English but luckily our driver was generous enough to translate for us. He walked us through how the balsamic vinegar is made and the aging process it has to go through before being bottled. We also got to taste the 15 and 30 year balsamic. They were both so delicious that we purchased some of each to take home.

The Boni family was there to greet us when we arrived for our tour. The current owner is the 4th or…read more5th generation, and his wife and his grandfather were there watching over his children (who have barrels of their own already aging). They're a very friendly and passionate family, experts in their field. If you were to purchase any balsamic vinegar made from Lambrusco (from Trebbiano grapes), this maker would be just the place. Discounts given based on your tour.

I visit Florence frequently and this trip stopped by for fruits and vegetables- and the best eggs…read moreanywhere. Even the sign says, happy chickens.' The vegetables are fresh picked - you can smell the earth- and about 1/ 3 the price of central Florence. The place is busy. Lots of locals. Inside are local goods, meat, poultry, cheese, and fish. You can't get any fresher. Olive oils and many other DTLA acids inside. Outside there are clothing vendors, farmers, plant sellers, jewelry and antiques. I highly recommend stopping by to get a local feel. Check times.

This market is not in the city centre and it's a bit further, but still walking distance. We came…read moreby just after 9:30 on a Friday. There are fewer crowds here, probably because of its location, which makes it a prime spot for food tours. We didn't do one but we just wandered around ourselves. There are fewer options here than Mercato Centrale but the trade off is that you don't have to deal with all the people. They sell a lot of the same stuff - fresh produce, meats, and some vendors selling food. We tried the tripe sandwich here, which wasn't as good as the other market, but still delicious. We also bought some strawberries outside, which might have been some of the best strawberries I've ever eaten in my life, so definitely don't sleep on those. Mercato di Sant'Ambrogio is worth the trek!

I was a bit hesitant seeing the line, but it was fast moving and worth it…read more It's a fairly small restaurant, with half the seating around one giant table. It's not a place you'll linger over a leisurely meal. But the food is terrific. The menu is split between classics and creative takes, it was great to share and sample from several. There are certainly more "authentic" places you could go (even though this one has been around for decades); a dinner place in Italy whose kitchen closes at 8 raises an eyebrow. But it's a great experience as a visitor and inviting.

They really have a system down! You can order to go if the line feels too long for you but I say…read moreworth the wait and it moves fast. Excellent pasta, and extremely affordable. I ordered the lasagna and it was fantastic! Piping hot and ready to be devoured. You can also order pasta to go (uncooked for your own dinner table). They have a beautiful counter with their pasta selection and I am sad I don't get a picture because it is a site to be seen. So if you are in the area. Wait in line and enjoy the vibe! The staff were extremely friendly.