Italian Days: Food Experience Bologna

Whilst researching Bologna, Italy, I came across the Italian Days food experience, I knew from having over a thousand excellent reviews on trip advisor we had to experience this and see what it was all about. We booked this online before we visited, it was £100 each which seems quite pricy however it was the BEST day ever and worth every single penny!

It included visiting the parmigiano reggiano factory where we saw the entire production of the cheese, made only in the Emilia – Romagna countryside. We watched the early morning delivery of the milk to crafting of the curds by the master cheese – maker, to the final ageing process. What I learnt is that there’s parmesan and then there’s parmigiano reggiano. It has definitely changed the way I buy cheese (I think it will change the way you look at it too). It’s a highly regulated product with specific characteristics which means not all parmesan cheese can be called parmigiano reggiano. Whenever a product has DOP stamp of approval it means it meets all the criteria for production, quality and ingredients.

Next stop we visited was a family – owned farmhouse where the famous Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena D.O.P is made. True D.O.P balsamic vinegar must be aged for a minimum of 12 years. Over that time, in ages in a series of five barrels called a battaria. This is not your typical balsamic vinegar. This is certified D.O.P artisanal balsamic that can only be made in Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. We were able to sample each grade of balsamic vinegar.

We then went on to visit one of the best prosciutto factories in the region. We met a family at the factory that for over three generations has been committed to making one of the world’s most delicious pork product. Prosciutto has to go through strict regulations, a lengthy curing process and they make sure it meets D.O.P standards, which we learnt all about. We then got to sample some freshly cut prosciutto and drank some lambrusco wine which was delicious!

Next and final stop was an authentic Italian lunch in the countryside of Trattoria, in the hills just outside Bologna. There were lots of homemade Italian dishes where we could all sit back, relax, and eat and drink lots of delicious food! If you have visited Bologna or Modena let me know in the comments, I would love to know! G xx