THE BEST FOOD I’VE EVER EATEN (in Italy)

Eeeeek!

I am so so so excited to be writing this post! Today I am going to be sharing the BEST food I have ever eaten. Ever.

In Italy.

If you missed my last Italy post, it was all about the coziest bed and breakfast we stayed at in Bergamo. Today it is all about the food. I had some of the most incredible food experiences while in Italy. I was not surprised by this at all because Italian food has ALWAYS been my favorite. My great-grandpa was a full-blooded Italian, and pasta is my mom’s specialty!

Let’s just jump right into it. On our very first night in Bergamo, Nicolas and I went to Trattoria Caprese. It had amazing reviews on TripAdvisor and was only a short walk from our hotel. We had no idea how much of a treat we were in for! This restaurant was phenomenal. The staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming. I ordered spaghetti margherita.

It was the best pasta I’ve ever eaten.

So simple, but so delicious! Spaghetti tossed with Italian olive oil, fresh tomatoes and basil, and topped with a little (ok, a LOT) of parmesan. Perfection. My mom makes a dish sooo similar to this, and eating it felt just like home.

Okay. And these. These. Were. So. Yummy. I have no idea what to properly call them, but they were basically little deep fried garlic bread bites. We were served some upon entering the restaurant with a glass of rosé. I was THRILLED to see more at our table when we were seated. The addiction was real. I think I ate 7 . . .

And then there was the dessert table . . . Have you ever seen something so beautiful?

I asked our waiter what he recommended, and he suggested this strawberry dessert. It was a shortbread crust filled with an amazing vanilla cream and topped with berries. He also decorated my plate beautifully! I should add that I am wearing a different outfit in this photo because we went to Trattoria Caprese twice. And I got the same thing both times. It was that good!

Nicolas LOVED their margherita pizza. I think he ordered it twice, too. 🙂

Speaking of pizza . . . The very first thing I wanted to do upon arriving in Italy was eat a big pizza pie! As soon as we stepped off of the plane, I was craving pizza. We went to Byron Ristorante Pizzeria, and it did not disappoint!

However, this (below) was the very best pizza.

Il Fornaio is located in the oldest part of Bergamo. It is an amazing bakery specializing in pizza, focaccia, and pastries. We passed this window display while walking through Citta Alta and immediately went inside! There were rows upon rows of pizza topped with all types of meat, shrimp, cheese, and vegetables.

I chose the parma ham with mozzarella and tomato. It was delectable. This pizza was unlike any other pizza I had tried before. The crust was very thick with only a thin layer of sauce. The cheese was gooey buy not completely melted, and they were very generous with the toppings. We came back for lunch a few days later because, again, it was just that good.

When Nicolas’s family joined us in Bergamo, we all enjoyed a lovely dinner at Ristorante Lalimentari. The restaurant had such a cozy atmosphere and really great wine! It was quite funny because we all ordered what we thought was a main course off of the menu but were surprised to see how small the portions were! I got the cheese-stuffed ravioli. It was incredibly creamy and delicious!

However, we were not totally full after finishing our meals, so we each ordered another course more (because Italy.) This time I got pasta with pesto which never disappoints.

Last but CERTAINLY not least is this . . . While walking through the newer part of Bergamo, Nicolas and I discovered Il Coccio. Eating here was such a special experience! Il Coccio is the most charming little restaurant. They only have a few small tables, so most customers order takeaway. The restaurant is run by two of the sweetest girls who I must say are also AMAZING cooks. They serve a selection of entrees cafeteria-style, which was quite unique! I opted for a dish I would describe as pumpkin lasagne with onion, garlic, and lots of cheese! I am sure there is a much fancier name for this in Italian – I just can’t remember! I have been trying for months to find a similar recipe, as it was incredibly delicious, and I can’t stop thinking about it!

Nicolas ordered the vegetable lasagne and said it was amazing as well. The restaurant provided paper plates and plastic cutlery as well as freshly-baked Italian bread with olive oil. The funny thing is that this restaurant was the simplest and cheapest place we dined at while in Bergamo. However, it is the one we remember the most! I also got a slice of apple pie to take back to the hotel. It was such a treat.

Oh! And one more thing . . . Tiramisu gelato is a thing, and it is delicious! I couldn’t go to Italy and not get ice cream, right? 🙂

Being the fact that I am not a food critic, I am sure that these descriptions don’t do this food justice, but I hope you enjoyed reading along anyways. 🙂 Have an amazing week, and stay tuned for more travel posts!

Madison