Reggio Emilia - The home of Tortellini

With a couple of days to spare before we were due in Luigiana, we headed for a fabulous Agriturismo, La Razza, just outside of Reggio Emilia - this experience was all about food 🤣 The farm was huge, had various accommodation options, including a camper van parking area - but the main attraction was the highly recommended restaurant onsite. Knowing that Emilia Romagna is particularly famous within Italy for its food, we couldn’t afford to miss this opportunity 😃 

Agriturismo La Razza

Our camp for the night

I don’t know how many times Dave phoned the restaurant, or pitched up at their door to try to secure a reservation- each time the answer being sorry, fully booked - but do try again later 😃 Persistence paid off though, and miraculously a table for 2 was found! The restaurant was beautiful, housed in the old stables, decorated with old family photographs and curios. We were in for a treat 😃

Nibbles of pork scratching were brought while we perused the menu - not my favourite, but a tasty titbit to take back for Rubes 🤣 My starter was exquisite- a Mediterranean strudel topped with crispy potato swirls, on a bed of Parmigiano fondue - absolutely divine! Dave settled for the local specialty cheese mille-feuille of pecorino cheese, pears, fig jam and walnuts - also totally devine.

Pear and cheese Mille-feuille

Remnants of my vegetable strudel 🤣

Our primi course of pasta was equally delicious - I opted for pumpkin and cheese tortellini while Dave chose the crispy bacon and Camaro cheese tortellini, claiming that it was the most delicious thing he had ever eaten! Apparently Reggio Emilia is the home of tortellini - and we can see why 😃

Bacon & Camaro tortellini 

For our secondi we both opted for the grilled steak and roast potatoes - absolutely delicious too - but again I couldn’t manage all of mine so Rubes was in luck! That was us done then - no room for dessert - just a small espresso to finish things off. The local wine was fabulous too 🍷 A fabulous meal, one definitely to remember, and all came in at under 100 euros for the 2 of us, so we were well chuffed 👍

Happy with steak & roast potatoes 

The following day we cycled into Reggio Emilia - apparently the most bike friendly city within Italy. The old historic centre was beautiful, seemed like there were more cyclists than pedestrians, and a lovely tranquil feel to the city. Started off with croissants and coffee for breakfast, then a quick whizz round the major highlights before heading back home, to avoid the fast approaching storm that was catching up with us 😟 

Breakfast in Reggio Emilia

Historic centre

Beautiful archways 

We couldn’t leave the Agriturismo without visiting the farm shop - and what an absolute delight it was! The gorgonzola cheese was perhaps the best we’ve ever had (and we have certainly tried many, this being one of my favourite cheeses)  - so creamy and mature. The region is also famous for Parmigiano Reggiano cheese - couldn’t leave without buying some of that too. The woman in the shop was keen for us to taste the different aged cheeses before buying - 12, 24 and 36 months matured - we opted for the 36 month matured 👍 

12, 24 & 36 month aged Parmigiano Reggiano

Next came the balsamic vinegar tasting (with Modena - home of balsamic being just up the road). We had no idea there were so many different types of balsamic - some sweet, some more acidic, some better to pair with fish, others with cheeses or salad. 

Four different balsamic vinegars to try

Leaving the area to head south to Luigiana, we took a circuitous route, driving through the surrounding villages and stunning countryside, taking in the amazing landscape, and visiting some of the spectacular castles - the gateway to the Appennine mountains 

Rossanella - The lookout tower  protecting Castello Rossena

Castello Rossena

Out towards the Appennine Mountains 

Entering Castillo Rossena 

Lunch stop

We really enjoyed our brief visit to this region - a city that is not really on the tourist trail - but we totally loved it, and as we had hoped, the food was exquisite 😃 Onwards now to Luigiana, where we have another treat in store, as we are booked in at a lovely B&B  - recommended by Alastair Sawday - we are VERY excited 😃

Arrivederci 😃