Three great culinary trends – Central European, Venetian and Slav – merge in a cuisine that is unique to Friuli Venezia Giulia. In Trieste, hosting city of the International Wine Tourism Conference 2020 (IWINETC), and Gorizia, the gastronomy is an encounter of Habsburg and Slavic traditions.
Apart from making excellent wines, the Friuli Venezia Giulia region also produces other traditional products such as honey, Asino cheese, white Friuli asparagus, San Daniele ham, Tergeste extra-virgin olive oil, Italian Salamini and Brovada (pickled turnips).
Food and wine lovers can sip and taste all of its flavours and experience its aromas by travelling the new Friuli Venezia Giulia Wine and Food Route with its 6 different itineraries. A single road connecting the coast to the mountains, networking the region’s agri-food and wine-growing resources, together with cultural and environmental highlights. The region’s typical dishes differ in every city as they each have a different influence from its historical past and proximity to other cultures.
In the region’s capital, Trieste, seafood dominates the city’s dishes as well as its Slavic-inspired dishes. There one can find Jota (hotpot dish that originated from Slovenia), Trieste-style salted cod, scampi alla busara (large prawns in tomato sauce). One can end a busy day by taking a break in one of the many osmizzas (wine-taverns).
In the city of Gorizia, its proximity to Slovenia is evident in its dishes, typically one finds potato gnocchi with plums drizzled with melted butter and many ham dishes. Towards the interior of the region, Udine and Pordenone’s dishes are influenced by the plateau’s agriculture – dishes with white asparagus, white truffle, raw ham that is slightly smoked and a wide variation of cheese.
Overall, the region’s culinary dishes can be mostly categorised in sea and mountain dishes. However, as mentioned, each city has its own style and unique flavours – utilizing its surrounding and historical ingredients, combined with local traditions to create dishes found nowhere else in Italy. Friuli Venezia Giulia is truly a hidden gem in the culinary world that can be found nowhere else!
Article: Jethro Swift
The IWINETC 2020 two day conference and one day B2B Workshop will take place from 24 – 26 March at Stazione Marittima Conference Hall, Molo Bersaglieri 3 – 34124 Trieste Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy) and is supported by PromoTurismoFVG. Registration open. For more information, visit: www.iwinetc.com
