Tasting Truffles and Porcini in Sant’Agata Feltria
We recently posted about the seafood feast we had at Balnearea Beach in Puglia (the heel of Italy’s boot). Well, here is another taste of Italy, this time in the northern region of Emilia-Romagna. The area is well known for its rich agriculture and specialty foods grown there, including their abundant funghi — porcini mushrooms and truffles (remember our truffle hunting fun in Portico di Romagna?) .
Shops on Piazza Garibaldi in Sant’Agata Feltria
During our stay at Le Case Antiche in Verucchio, we took a day trip to Sant’Agata Feltria, which is widely known for its white truffle festival in October. There we met with Giancarlo Dall’Ara, president of Associazione Nazionale Alberghi Diffusi, and other townspeople whose delightful tour of the village we’ll cover in future posts. But for now…it’s about the food!
Loretta at Sant’Agata Feltria Tartufi
In the village, we were welcomed at Sant’Agata Feltria Tartufi by shop owner, Loretta. With a gracious smile, she served us samples of the cheese and truffle specialties she produces, accompanied by a lovely sparkling wine. On the crackers in the photo below was served Loretta’s delicious “Salsa Funghi i Tartufi”, a spread with mushrooms, summer (black) truffles and black olives.
Local cheese and truffle spread at Sant’Agata Feltria Tartufi
Look at these beautiful truffles!
Black Truffles at Sant’Agata Feltria Tartufi
With our taste buds fully charged, we drove just a few miles into the Apennine foothills to Pereto. The name of the village is the Italian word for “pear”, acknowledging Emilia-Romagna’s importance as a pear-growing region in Italy.
View of Apennine foothills and the valley from Pereto
They were expecting us at Trattoria Ciccioni, a family-run restaurant in a pastoral setting with a view of the Apennines and valley, but we did not expect such a grand feast of freshly prepared, traditional local dishes. The trattoria is not a place that is on many tourist radars. We were fortunate to be with the locals who know the area so well and are regulars at the restaurant.
Trattoria Ciccioni
I wish that I had taken notes as the courses were served, but I’ll have to ask you to make do with a few photos without any detailed description. However, I’m sure you’ll be able to imagine exactly how delicious everything was! Most of dishes in the photos were made with local porcini mushrooms as a main ingredient, but each recipe was a creative variation.
Pasta stuffed with cheese and porcini
Lentils and porcini soup
Scallopini with cheese and porcini
Lentil and porcini soup and porcini spread on bread
Spinach and porcini fritters
It’s not all about porcini
There were also plenty of other options, including this delectable prosciutto.
Prosciutto
Porcini for dessert?
No, not for dessert. But I wouldn’t have been surprised if they had come up with some creative and tasty funghi dessert concoction!
We were ready to burst with fullness, but made room for this pudding that our English friend, Teresa, likened to trifle. Trifle or not, it was not only pretty, but refreshing and delicious. I believe we finished it all, too.
Ah, limoncello! I became quite fond of ending meals with a bit of limoncello, the Italian lemon liqueur that we enjoyed throughout Italy. It’s totally habit-forming.
Limoncello
After the feast
We took some time to look around at the many photos, letters from former patrons, and other memorabilia decorating the walls of the restaurant.
Photos inside Trattoria Ciccioni
In talking to our hosts, we learned about the traditional osterias in Italy which were small places where locals would come to drink wine, have conversation and play cards. The restaurant staff brought out this deck of Napoletane playing cards that were commonly used.
Napoletane playing cards
We said our goodbyes to our wonderful hosts and Trattoria Ciccioni staff and made our way back down the hill to Sant’Agata. We had more to see of Emilia-Romagna and more to eat back in Verucchio!
Bloggers with our host, Giancarlo Dall’Ara and friends
With the owner of Trattoria Ciccioni
Contact:
Trattoria Ciccioni
Via Pereto, 11, 61019 Sant’Agata Feltria, Italia
tel: (+39) 0541 929633 – fax: (+39) 0541 929633 – baby8518@gmail.com
Disclosure: Thanks to Al Vecchio Convento for providing our accommodations, meals and activities. Thanks also to Alessandra of 21Grammy and Associazione Internazionale Alberghi Diffusi for making this project possible.
Oh my, Cathy, I just finished dinner moments before reading this post but it has managed to make me hungry all the same! I think I would have to be getting a lot of exercise to make up for all the food I was eating if I spent much time in Emilia-Romagna!
I get hungry looking at the pics, too. Wish I could actually convey the taste of some of these dishes via the post. We did a lot of walking in Italy, but still came home up a few pounds. 🙂
I am so hungry right now!
Me, too 🙂
Ooh, love these dishes presented here. I do love my mushrooms. Will certainly try that porcini with lentils. First time I see this pairing.
Before this trip, mushrooms weren’t super high on my list. Wish I could have them prepared as they were in these dishes all the time.
Very good 🙂
Thanks. Always appreciate you coming by! 🙂
I shouldn’t have read this when I’m hungry. Everything looks delicious, especially the spinach and porcini fritters.
We weren’t actually expecting to have so many different dishes served — I didn’t have pics of them all. Each one was delicious.
Yum! The lential and porcini soup looks delicious. I always love a good mushroom soup, which is often hard to find in Italy. I’ll have to remember that there is also a white truffle festival here. Usually, I only hear about the Alba truffle festival, which is much further away from us from Venice.
Yes, definitely check out the white truffle festival in October since you’re kind of “in the neighborhood”. 🙂
mmm, prosciutto and mushrooms. And limoncello. Love limoncello 🙂
The limoncello hit all the right notes — especially on really warm days during our trip. Refreshing!
Wow to everything here!!
Wow to your comment — thanks!
Emilia-Romagna seems like the place for some delicious food.
Emphatic yes! I’ve got more about the food in the area coming soon.
I’ve never seen a white lentil soup. Wonder if it was milky based?
Oh, that’s a good question. Don’t know how it was made, just that it was delicious. If I can find out, I’ll let you know.
What a delicious post my friend!! Your mouthwatering photos have left me wanting to hop on a plane and head to Emilia Romagna for the feast!! Keep these scrumptious posts coming.
Stay tuned….. more to come about food and other things about Emilia-Romagna.
Wow – the lentils and porcini soup looks so decadent, and the porcini and spinach fritters – yum! I’m looking forward to visiting Italy someday and eating my way from the top of the boot right down to the heel!
That sounds like a good plan, Dana. 🙂
I fell in love with Sant’Agata Feltria!
http://www.moretimetotravel.com/santagata-feltria-on-the-trail-of-the-white-truffle-festival/
Your post makes me die to return!
Best, Irene
Hopping over to read your post!
OMG, Cathy, what a meal! I’d love to try the fritters and the lentil soup and the scallopini and the prosciutto and, and, and. Delicious!!
Looks like I got the reaction I intended with the photos.
I liked that photo of the countryside you slipped in there so I could see how beautiful it is there. You had me a cheese lol! The cheese and truffle spread sounds amazing but my eyes really lit up with the cheese and porcini stuffed pasta. The spinach and porcini fritters too. That was fun how you have a view of the whole journey that accompanied the food. Great post! 🙂
Thanks — yes, the countryside was lovely throughout the area. More posts to come with scenery pics, too.
It’s 8.45 in the morning and I want some of that now. A taste of everything, please.
You sure know how to create an appetite:)
Sometimes time of day just doesn’t seem to matter when it comes to craving good food. I get it!
The trouble with reading awesome food posts like this after midnight is that I will be dreaming of food on an empty stomach. All that food looks delicious and I’m not much of a mushroom fan. Who knew you can make all that with porcini. You really were treated so well on this trip. I have been enjoying learning about Emilia-Romagna through your posts. That pudding with the Limoncello looks so refreshing.
Glad you’re enjoying the virtual tour of Emilia-Romagna with me. I wasn’t a big fan of mushroom before the trip either. But believe me, these dishes an others I had converted me.
This is really a feast! I would love to have some of that prosciutto and black truffles. Yummy!
Going through all the comments tonight, I’m getting pretty hungry, too. Wish we could all get together for a big feast in Emilia-Romagna.
Hmmm. So how exactly does one EAT a blog post?? Instructions please!
Someone needs to invent that.
Mushrooms are my absolute fav!! This looks heavenly
If you love mushroom, Emilia-Romagna is a place you must visit. Go!
I would love to have some of that pasta! And some black truffles too!
I’ve always loved pasta, but having freshly made like this is really special.
I’m not sure which delicacy here sounds the most divine! Perhaps the Spinach & Porcini Fritters?
I haven’t been back to Italy since I had to start eating gluten free, but am quite eager to return since I’ve read that the restaurants cook with alternative flours (almond, chestnut, etc.) and are quite flexible in whipping up alternatives.
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