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Italy for foodies: How to eat like a local in the Italian Lakes
Italy is famous for pizza and pasta, but there’s so much more to the food here. Around the biggest Italian lakes of Garda, Como and Maggiore, you'll be able to try loads of regional dishes that use traditional recipes and local produce. We're talking things like fresh fish, butter-coated tortellini and polenta served in all sorts of tasty ways. Find out about the food and drink you've just got to try on a trip to the Italian Lakes.
Local food specialities
Out-of-this-world olive oil
Olive oil production’s a real art and, like wine, olives have their own classification system, so you know you’re getting top-notch Garda DOP extra-virgin olive oil. Lake Garda olive oil has a light, fruity and non-acidic taste and you’ll find it’s used in many dishes. You can also buy bottles in shops around Lake Garda if you fancy upping the olive oil ante in your own cooking. Or, for even more lowdown, there’s an olive oil museum between Bardolino and Lazise.
Lovely lemons
Citrus cultivation around the lakes dates back to the 14th century, with Lake Garda being the most northerly lemon-growing area in Italy. Head to Limone to see traditional ‘sardio’, or lemon houses, with lemon trees lining their walls. Stop off at a lemonade stand for an afternoon refresher or top off your evening with a glass of limoncello. Food-wise, squeeze lemon over freshly cooked lake fish or prawns for a delish light lunch.
Fish faves
Think Italian lakes, think fish dishes and you won’t be disappointed. For freshwater fish, Lake Garda's your go-to with lavaret, sardines, pike and perch on the menu. Bigoli con le sarde’s well worth tucking into, made by gently frying Lake Garda sardines in local olive oil and creating a sauce to dish up with traditional Veneto egg pasta. On Lake Como, a must-try is the traditional missoltino dish, introduced to the region by the Greeks. Small freshwater fish are salted, sundried and specially preserved to give a rich, intense flavour.
A dish of missoltino
Pair it with polenta
Fish dishes are often served with another lake classic, polenta, which you’ll find cooked many ways, from hot and creamy to sliced and baked. Make sure you try polenta carbonèra – once the poor man’s carbonara, it’s polenta topped with cheese from Monte Baldo and drizzled with Garda DOP olive oil.
Cheesy eats
A visit to the Italian lakes isn’t complete without sampling some of the local cheeses. With mountain pastures bordering the lake, there’s an eye-watering array to choose from. If you’re a soft cheese fan, try taleggio with its intense flavour and aroma. Or go for gorgonzola – rumour has it that a herdsman forgot the milk, leaving it to curdle and so the creamy, tangy blue cheese became a thing.
Pasta with a past
Many local dishes come with their own back story. The legend goes that in the 14th century, a soldier and his nymph Silvia hid in the depths of the Mincio River near Peschiera, leaving a knotted golden handkerchief on the bank. Zip forward to today and tortellini di Valeggio are the legend-inspired, knot-shaped pasta parcels that you’ll find on menus filled with meat and coated in butter, or in shops to take home and pop with your own go-to pasta sauce.
Tortellini di Valeggio
Something sweet
Milk from local mountain dairy farms takes centre stage when it comes to ‘dolce’, or desserts, with panna cotta and tiramisu both topping the tempting pud list. Cassata gardesana’s well worth sinking your spoon into – it’s made with ricotta cheese, candied fruit, honey… and a drizzle of olive oil. Or, for a dessert straight out of grandma’s cookbook, try the traditional bread pudding called la miascia.
And of course nothing beats a trip to a local gelateria. Grab a cone or tub and stroll the lakefront, with benches dotted along the promenade for front row views as you tuck in.
Do drinks the Italian way
Wine and dine
With vineyards covering nearby hillsides, nothing beats choosing a wine from the Italian Lakes for something to drink. Local faves from around Lake Garda include the Chiaretto rosé, Bardolino red or Soave dry white. If you can’t decide, ask a waiter which wine's best to pair with your meal.
Aperitivo, anyone?
Said to have originated in Turin, aperitivo is one of the best Italian foodie traditions. Watch the sun set while sipping a glass of Prosecco or an Aperol spritz – two of Europe’s must-try tipples. You’ll usually get a selection of snacks like olives, bread sticks, crisps or fricos – a thin slice of cheese coated with flour and deep fried.
Coffee o'clock
From latte machiatos for breakfast to mid-morning espresso shots at a café counter, Italians have strong opinions when it comes to coffee etiquette. Whenever you’re up for a coffee pitstop, you’ll always have the pick of top-drawer spots – all you need to do is decide which coffee takes your fancy.
Which Lakes & Mountains holiday suits you?
So, you’re a food fan, huh? Maybe with a soft spot for lakeside lounging, summit strolls or culture trips?
Take our quiz to discover your ideal Lakes & Mountains holiday vibe – and the resorts that match it best.
Taste-buds tempted? Take a look at where you can go on a Lakes and Mountains holiday to Italy. Or check out our guide to the Italian lakes for more inspo on where to go and what to do.
Author: Robinia Wareham
Last updated: 18/12/2024