Ah Venice, the city at the top of almost everyone’s bucket list. And, for good reason. Venice is beautiful, historic….and crowded. You haven’t seen crowds until you’ve tried to get a table at Caffè Florian on St. Mark’s Square or cross the Rialto Bridge in July.
But, the hassles are so worth it. The Rialto Market, early in the morning when the fishermen bring their catch in, riding across the Grand Canal for a couple Euro in a classic Traghetti, sipping a Select Spritz next to a canal, or munching Cicchetti at a local Bacari are unforgettable memories.
In this food & travel guide, I’ll give you my favorite spots to eat and drink in Venice, including some hidden gems. Plus, some tips for saving money and avoiding the lines in this expensive and busy Italian city.
I always knew Polpette as Italian meatballs; little globes of beef and/or veal deep-fried and sometimes coated with breadcrumbs.
Then, I arrived in Venice. Polpette in Venice are much more than just meatballs. Sure, you can find them made with typical cheap cuts of meat. But, this is Venice, where the water is more important than the land, so seafood Polpette is often on offer at your local Bacari. All types of fish, tuna, sardines, white fish, are used. Sometimes they’re all combined together and mixed with breadcrumbs and herbs and bound with potatoes before frying.
These days you’ll even find vegetarian versions made with chickpeas, spinach, and/or seasonal vegetables. Others are made with potatoes and herbs. Sometimes the Polpette is a mishmash of whatever’s available or leftover. After all, this is Italy and nothing goes to waste.
Most Bacari will have Polpette on display with other Cicchetti. My favorite is…
Brent Petersen is the Editor-in-Chief of Destination Eat Drink. He currently resides in Setubal, Portugal. Brent has written the novel “Truffle Hunt” (Eckhartz Press) and the short story collection “That Bird.” He’s also written dozens of foodie travel guides on Destination Eat Drink, including several in Italy. Brent’s podcast, also called Destination Eat Drink, is available on all major podcasting platforms and is distributed by the Radio Misfits Podcast Network.
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