Bologna is between Venice and Florence so we decided to take a quick stop for lunch. Adam had found an article saying the best food is in this region. This morning when I tried to find it in Rick Steve's, he said "skip Bologna" because it is crowded and not charming. So I was a bit nervous for our 6 hour "layover" in Bologna. My best weapon: information. We found a place to eat before arriving. Thank goodness we did, we were both so hungry when we left the train.
Getting off the train, I was somewhat disappointed. Bologna was much more of a city than I expected. It was crowded and loud and full of the sounds of busses and nothing unique or original is immediately evident. After a 15 minute walk, we arrived at the historic center, which was full of old buildings. The history restored Bologna a bit, but it was still a little too much for me.
La Baita Formaggi is down a little side steeet off the main square that looks exactly like how I picture Italy in my dreams:
The store itself was charming with displays of meats and cheeses and pasta all around us. We sat upstairs in a quiet table surrounded by wine bottles because the outside was full. Even the little paper plates they served us on were cute... Just seeing other people's plates had us so excited for our meat and cheese to come. We ordered Speck, Truffle Salami, and Pancetta with two different cheeses (one was goat cheese but we don't remember the other one) and also Torellini Bolognese because I assume bolognese comes from bologna?
This pasta was seriously the best ever. The bolognese sauce was amazing and really it was just so light and not saucy which is what I loved about it. I didn't think I would eat much of the pasta but I had to hold back from gobbling down the entire plate. The meats were all sliced super thin and they served "tigelli" which was an awesome thin little bread like an English muffin with no nooks or crannies.... I covered mine in goat cheese and honey and ate so damn much. I had to keep encouraging Adam to keep up with me.
Wine, meat, and cheese: Italy of my dreams. Bologna redeemed herself just with this lunch. It was absolutely worth the stop.
But wait, there's more! Dessert at a little market place across the street. Espresso and little sweets. Yum yum yum!
Then to complete our Bologna stop: a nap.
look at that fat happy tummy 😂❤️
