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    16 Foods I Had In Italy That'll Make You Cry Into Your Frozen Pizza

    If you're not already hungry, you're about to be.

    Rebecca Khera
    by Rebecca Khera

    BuzzFeed Staff

    The coronavirus pandemic is still impacting travel, and destinations around the world have different COVID-19 restrictions in place. Always check and adhere to local government policies as you're planning future trips.

    If you like carbs, this is the post for you.

    Streets in Cinque Terre
    Rebecca Khera

    Let's get into all the food I ate in Italy (or at least... all the food I took a picture of).

    1. Vino bianco with pesto bruschetta.

    Rebecca Khera

    Nessun Dorma is a must visit spot in Cinque Terre. While you're there, grab a glass of wine or an Aperol Sprtiz, and the pesto bruschetta with some local meats and cheeses.

    The region of Liguria (where Cinque Terre is located), is best known for their pesto, so it's an absolute MUST try.

    Address: Localita Punta Bonfiglio, 19017, 19017 Riomaggiore SP, Italy

    Also, did I mention that *this* meal comes with *this* view?!

    White wine with a view of Manarola
    Rebecca Khera

    Yeah, you'll want to get here early to snag a seat for sunset!

    2. Pizza...

    Vegetarian pizza
    Rebecca Khera

    You have to cut your own pizza in Italy, but I promise it's worth the effort!

    3. Pizza...

    Pizza with eggplant and peppers
    Rebecca Khera

    Veggie pizza is typically my go to and this one with eggplant (melanzane) and peppers (peperone) did not disappoint.

    4. And more pizza.

    Rebecca Khera

    I unknowingly ordered this half pizza, half calzone and it was incredible. It's called pizza ripieno. Mine was filled with ricotta and salami, folded like a calzone, and then topped with sauce and cheese.

    When I first got it, I thought they gave me someone's leftover half pizza... but thankfully, it was just a case of delicious ignorance.

    5. Train station pasta.

    Rebecca Khera

    Yeah, I'm convinced the only country in the world with train station food this good is Italy.

    I got a bowl of bolognese in Bologna (say that five times fast) at Dispensa Emilia.

    In Italy they call it ragù, so if you can't find it on the menu, look for "tagliatelle al ragù," "traditional ragù," or "ragù alla Bolognese."

    Address: Viale Pietro Pietramellara 20 stazione, 40121 Bologna BO, Italy

    6. Then there's trofie.

    Trofie
    Rebecca Khera

    Trofie is a popular pasta in Liguria and I'm always mad that I can't find it in my local grocery store. Not sure why Publix doesn't carry 40 different shapes of pasta to suit my every whim.

    While I prefer trofie al pesto — I am in fact pesto obsessed — this creamy red sauce was pretty good.

    7. Gnocchi alla Sorrentina.

    Gnocchi alla Sorrentina
    Rebecca Khera

    When in Sorrento, eat gnocchi alla Sorrentina. This was easily the best gnocchi I've eaten in my entire life (second best was in Chicago at Caro Mio). 

    I found this at Da Peppino in Sant'Agnello, right outside of Sorrento.

    Address: Via A. Balsamo, 79, 80065 Sant'Agnello NA, Italy

    8. Then of course there's gelato...

    Gelato
    Rebecca Khera

    While I don't normally get chocolate gelato, something about this one spoke to me. I also always get hazelnut (nocciola)!

    Two scoops with two flavors is a little less than $3 or €2,50.

    You can find it in Cinque Terre at Gelateria Vernazza.

    Address: Via Roma, 13, 19018 Vernazza SP, Italy

    9. ...aaand more gelato.

    Gelato
    Rebecca Khera

    This might look like the same exact gelato from above, but I can assure you it's not. I loved it so much that I went back and ordered it again!

    10. And if you're in Riomaggiore? Don't worry, there's plenty of gelato there too.

    Gelato
    Rebecca Khera

    Espresso gelato and mango sorbet. Wow. 

    11. If you're in Monteresso al Mare, there's lemon ice.

    Frozen lemon drink
    Rebecca Khera

    It even has wine in it. 

    12. But one of my favorite on-the-go meals will always be fritto misto di mare in a cone.

    Fried seafood
    Rebecca Khera

    I like variety, so I always get the mixed cone which has calamari, veggies, and whatever seafood they have that day. 

    This one came with some sort of fish croquette.

    13. It was so good that I had to eat it twice.

    Fried seafood and trofie al pesto
    Rebecca Khera

    Okay, tbh this wasn't my favorite meal I had on my trip. I went to Eataly on my last day in Genoa (one of my friends is obsessed with Eataly, so I wanted to try it). We shared the fritto misto and the trofie al pesto, and I think I just prefer a thicker pesto.

    Address: Edificio Millo, Porto Antico, Calata Cattaneo, 15, 16126 Genova GE, Italy

    14. Thankfully there's always more fritto misto to be had elsewhere.

    Fried seafood
    Rebecca Khera

    This time we have two sticks to share! 

    15. And the best shrimp panini there ever was.

    Seafood panini
    Rebecca Khera

    Pescaria makes amazing seafood paninis. And bonus points, they have a whole gluten-free menu, vegetarian options, plus dairy-free mozzarella!

    This panini was my absolute fav: shrimp, baked eggplant, mozzarella, Santoro bacon, potato chips, fresh arugula, homemade sauce with ketchup and house mayo.

    Address: Piazza Aldo Moro, 6/8, 70044 Polignano a Mare BA, Italy (there are multiple locations, but this is the one I visited)

    16. And last (but certainly not least) was this piadina.

    Piadina
    Rebecca Khera

    La Piadeina in Bologna is a small sandwich counter with some outdoor seating. I got the Sorbole which comes with spicy salami (salame picante), fresh ricotta cheese (ricotta fresca), and dried cherry tomatoes (pomodorini secchi). Highly highly highly recommend!

    Address: Via Calzolerie, 1/C, 40125 Bologna BO, Italy

    What's your best meal you had in Italy? Let us know in the comments below.

    Manarola at sunset
    Rebecca Khera