Excellence for all senses, “Il Mercato”

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EXCELLENCE FOR ALL SENSES, “Il Mercato”

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The local markets are the center of life in Italian towns and villages. Usually the markets are located in the heart of the village. A multi-sensorial experience that you cannot miss as it offers the opportunity to enjoy the local taste and the exclusive food specialties of the area. It is the most fascinating atmosphere with vendors yelling out their daily produce such as carciofi, melanzane, pomodori, and locals closely inspecting every fruit, vegetable and herb stacked perfectly on the stands. The peppers, eggplants, melons and flowers create a patchwork of color and spark your senses to want to partake in all the activity.

 It is where the real people are and the specific tastes and gastronomic traditions can be found. While studing Italian in Bologna I spent everyday visiting the market and little local restaurants located within the market district. Most markets have a coffee bar where you can sit and enjoy an espresso and people watching. Having rented an apartment, I prepared my meals and found myself in the midst of what seems to be a lot of confusion and activity. The hustle of Italians and vendors can be intimidating and I could never seem to purchase the right thing. But one day having an espresso at a bar in the district, I met a woman who told me the key is to ask the vendor's advise on the best product for the dish you plan to prepare. They are proud to help you to select just the right tomato for a sauce or tell you how to prepare a vegetable or fish. I tried this and Surprise! Surprise! I never bought the wrong thing again. I have since gotten recipes and advise on restaurants from market vendors who are more then happy to help. In fact you probably will have several vendors all giving you their view and recipes at the same time.

Every 6 weeks I travel to the market in Como. The city is famous for its charismatic street cafes and wine bars that serve antipasti, snacks and aperitifs. The lake, promenade, old city and views are what attract most visitors to Como. But I go to the market. Here I find the most beautiful artichokes, Porcini mushrooms, huge red peppers and produce from all over Italy. You can purchase and sample prepared foods, select fish from a large array of seafood from Italy and other parts of Europe. Vegetables, fruits, herbs, nuts, cheese and meats are stacked in perfectly arranged stands in 3 different halls. A large area of flowers and plants fill another hall with color and scents. Enjoy a visual feast- next time you visit an Italian town, don’t miss the experience of the local atmosphere. Visit the local “Mercato”.