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There are many reasons why an Italian river cruise is one of the best ways to explore the country’s beautiful waterways, but the food has to be a top highlight. You’ll be treated to delicious, high quality meals every day and you won’t have to do an ounce of washing up. But of course, one of the joys of visiting a new place is experiencing the gastronomic delicacies that a region has to offer. When you’re not on the boat, tasting the local specialties is as fun as it is delicious, and when in Venice, you’ll not want to miss out on the famous cicchetti. Many visitors don’t discover these tasty treats, as things can get easily lost in this labyrinthine city! But if you want to experience the very essence of Venice whilst on your Italian river cruise, then you really must try it. What is cicchetti? Essentially, cicchetti are the Venetian tapas. They’re small morsels of savoury food designed to be eaten with a glass of wine, usually with a friend or two. Similar to tapas, it refers to a wide range of dishes. It just depends on which bar you go to as to whether you get fried seafood, sardines, or even freshly made sandwiches. Other mouth watering offerings include pickled vegetables, crostini (toasted bread with local toppings), and satisfying potato croquettes. Hungry yet? How to eat it? The first thing to remember is that enjoying food and drink in Italy is a social experience. Which means something like cicchetti is almost like a ritual and not one to be missed for visitors. The second is that you should expect to eat standing. Most good places serving these pre-dinner foods will be packed, and if you want to order like a local, eating standing up at the bar is the way to do it - or as the Venetians call it “al banco”. Once you’re in, the next step is ordering. Here, confidence is key. Just point at the item you like the look of from the counter and let the server know how many you’d like. That’s all there is to it. You just then need to find a bit of elbow room and you’re ready to eat! Remember, practice makes perfect so you should try a few things. Where to find it? You’ll find these tasty treats at a bácaro (wine bar), which are usually pretty small, characterful places. You can tell if a bácaro is good or not by the number of people there. If a place looks crowded, it’s probably a good sign that the food is good, plus the buzzing atmosphere adds to its charm. Asking which is the best place for cicchetti is an impossible question because they’re all pretty good. If you want to taste a piece of history, Cantina Do Mori is likely the oldest wine bar, dating back 1462! If you only have time for one place, definitely make this the one to visit. If you plan on visiting Venice on your Italian river cruise, you won’t want to miss out on the food. So why not plan some time for a guided food tour? Or just take yourself on your own foodie wandering. You won’t be disappointed! Author Plate Paul Newman is the Marketing and E-Systems Executive for European Waterways, the UK's most respected provider of all-inclusive luxury barge holidays. If you're looking for a fantastic Italian river cruise, or cruises to other great destinations, they are the go-to experts. Part of a team of experienced barging aficionados, Paul is first in line to endorse the perks of a slow-paced barge cruise to anyone looking for a unique holiday experience.
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