Food, wine and sweets, Venice

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Baking, Venetian style. Much of this is different than the usual fare found in other parts of Italy. My favourite is the green pastry shown in the photo. Goes well with coffee.

Be aware, bakery goods are sold by weight, not per piece or by the loaf as is usual in North America. The exception would be a set price for one piece (higher) eaten at the counter.

What to pay: sold by weight, priced accordingly.

Italy is famous for many things and when it comes to eats and drinks, if you have a sweet tooth, give yourself as many treats as possible at the local pastry shops and bakeries. Most of them ellaborate local delicacies and also each of them have their own varieties of " tortas ", buscuits and other varities. One that specially was a big weakness for me was a pastiserria between rialto and ferrovia. I am sorry I did not take note of the name, was just excited trying different stuff from this place. The owner is sort of rough while he attends but what he sells is really worth, so look for it get in there and try out what he sells. A torta that I particularly liked very much was a green coloured one made of pistachos and wine - hmmm...

You gen buy some good homemade red wines by wandering along smaller side streets and loking for large (

You can find pretty good local red wines sold out of 30 gallon glass jugs in many tiny shops on smaller side alleys. The seller actually uses a simple foot pump to (re-) fill a 1-liter or larger plastic water container with your choice of wine. Cost under $2. US in 2007. If you're a germaphobe, bring your own container. You won't be displeased.

If you love sweets (who don’t?) then Venice is the place to be. Try the ice cream (gelato) in the special ice cream shops (gelaterie).

In Venice I saw blue chocolate (yes, it’s true) for the first time in my life.
It was a surrealistic feeling to eat the blue chocolate because it tastes just like regular brown chocolate. You think, and your brain tells you, it should taste completely different…

Pannetone is the Italian Christmas cake, available with a variety of flavours
To be continued.....

Visiting Burano we also advise you to pop into a cake shop on the island to taste the famous bussolai buranelli.