Nirvana in Italy’s Fat City
We loved Bologna the minute we arrived. By the time we made our way to our hotel – we even splurged and got a cab – it was well into the evening and dark.
Having arrived in italy and ready to start our “pick a random city” experiment, we had only one thing on our minds.
Food. (Prepare yourself… I think you’ll have to endure a few more food posts that represent our time in Italy.)
We walked around for about 15 minutes and headed into the first restaurant that really grabbed us. Quite hungry, we quickly ordered bruschetta. The bread was prepared perfectly, and the tomatoes were unbelievably flavorful.
We then asked our server to select two entrees for us. She said we’d be crazy to not go with Bolognese style cooking, and I think she was right. Here are the dishes we ended up with.
Contrary to popular belief, most Bolognese sauces have very little tomato, relying instead on milk, wine, vegetables and meat (and more!). I wish I could give you more details, but – since we’re trying to leave our experiences in Bologna to whim – we don’t have very accurate descriptions. This particular preparation – with tagliatelle – is the most common. And delicious.
Vegetarian? Who’s vegetarian?
We appreciate that the restaurants in Bologna are big on toothy pastas that hold up to the famous heavy sauces. No angel hair pasta here. We didn’t cry.
As great as the pasta was, the most enjoyable part of the night was strolling back to our hotel via the chain of warmly lit, covered walkways that connect the city streets.
About half way back to the hotel, we peered in a music shop’s window to find an evening jam session in progress. Fittingly, they were busting out some Nirvana. A hat tip to our home-base, Seattle, and to the way we were feeling that night.
Over the next days, we found out that Bologna is known as the the fat city, the learned city and the red city. What’s that all mean? It’s a gastronomic gem, a hub for academia and packed with a carpet of red roofs. There’s nothing wrong with a place that’s full of smart foodies running around.
Although, during our visit, we focused predominantly on the “fat” part of the equation, we wanted to take time to show you a little bit of the city. Here are a few of the shots taken when roaming around.
Sounds wonderful–can’t wait to get to Bologna. I’ve wanted to go there since The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. (I was kind of a nerd, even when I was a kid). So glad you’re having a good time on your experiment!
Nancy
I’ve also heard from Italian friends (who all LOVE the city) that Bologna is also one of the gayest cities in the country – perhaps the gastronomy, academia and architecture is a draw??
My tummy’s rumbling right now and thanks to that picture of the bruschetta, my computer screen may end up with tooth marks on it…
I think all of that is a big draw. You’ve gotta get there at some point.
It’s time for breakfast. I do hate you guys right now.
Oh shit… y’all weren’t kidding… this food looks delicious. Looks like Bologna and Houston have a lot in common… okay well just the fact that we are the fatest cities in our countries… woohoo for GREAT FOOD!
That second dish kind of looks like worms!
I thought the exact same thing, Stephanie! Though it still looks delicious, lol.
Your pictures of the food and the city are equally inviting. It’s been some years since I last feasted in Bologna, but you have made me long to return. You are quite persuasive!
Bologna is my favorite Italian city. I spent several weeks there learning Italian. It is so walkable and the uni vibe is there in all aspects.
The other part of Bolognese food are tortellini. It is common there to get a soup with the little ones in it.
Yes… we understand that tortellini was INVENTED there. What???
The food looked amazing! I have been working as a waiter doing random temp jobs (I call them my fight club jobs) and some of the food we serve looks incredible!
I can’t believe we missed seeing you guys there by only a few hours. A travesty!
We felt exactly the same as you guys did about Bologna – loved it. It doesn’t have all the overwhelming tourist craziness of the other hot spots in Italy. And the FOOD! Ack! Best food I’ve ever eaten, no word of a lie. I am drafting two posts about our time there, and guess what…they are about food!
I know… I can’t believe we missed you. We were shocked to learn you were there (I think you arrived on the day we left). It’s a small world.
We’ll be back there, for sure. Even the “bad” street pizza we had was incredible. Topped with – get this – roasted garlic potatoes.
Seriously.
This is one of Andy’s favorite places! I’ve never been, but I love Italy so I can’t wait to visit Bologna. That food looks amazing!
I think that city would wreak havoc on my low carb diet. But I’m guessing it would be worth it.
Um, Bologna will mess up a low carb diet like no other city
This post comes at the perfect time as we are currently planning our Euro-adventure. There seems to be a lot of buzz surrounding the region… we look forward to stuffing our faces and drinking lotsa vino!
We will drive up to Vancouver in order to give you blow-by-blow details on Bologna’s must dos.
Bologna, yep, absolutely love it! We spent time there about 5 years ago. One of my favorite aspects (aside from the previously mentioned food delights) was that when we walked around town, everyone was speaking Italian! (As opposed to, say, in Firenze where you hear more English/German on the streets than Italian). It felt like we were the only people there that spoke English. As someone with a degree in Italian Studies, I completely fell in love with Bologna.
I just hope it doesn’t get to be too well-known to other tourists.
Well now I’m hungry for pasta
Oh wow…never really wanted to go to Italy but now I think I do! Tagliatelle is a favorite but not often found here.
Have an awesome time!!
I love Bologna’s food as well.. lasagna is my favorite!
Bologna is called the “red city” also because it’s always been the seat of leftist, communist politics. The captions aren’t accurate, I think. Tagliatelli are the flat noodles and the wormy looking ones? Not sure, despite many years living in Italy. Bologna is unique in so many ways.
Bologna is on my list in large part because of those food photos! But I also met a woman from Bologna the other day in Prague who absolutely loves her home city. Nice photos!
Oh my gosh. That food looks so delicious. I want it pronto!