Regione LombardiaTurismo

and wineBresc ia : a l l o f I t a ly in one c i t y.Food

and wineThis guide is dedicated to the pleasures of Brescia cuisine.

From wine to olive oil, from meats to cheeses to freshwater specialties that triumph on dinner tables around the world.The purpose of the guide is to introduce the gourmet tourist to the enchantment of the finest products, and to the locations where traditional Brescia cuisine can be found.

Alessio MerigoPresident, Bresciatourism

Bresc ia : a l l o f I t a ly in one c i t y.Food

BY TRAIN:Brennero-Modena LineMilan-Venice Line

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Brescia is strategically located a short distance from Milan and Venice and at the intersection of the great European corridors connecting France to Austria (from west to east) and Germany and Central Europe to Rome (from north to south).

BY AIR:Verona - VillafrancaValerio Catullo Airport (50 km) www.aeroportoverona.itMontichiari (Province of Brescia)Gabriele D’Annunzio Airport (15 km)wwww.aeroportobrescia.itBergamo, Orio al Serio Airport (80 km)www.sacbo.itMilan, Linate and Malpensa Airports (100 km)www.sea-aeroportimilano.itVenice, Marco Polo Airport (100 km)

BY CAR:From Torino and Milan, highway A4, Brescia Centro exit. Alternate route: from Torino, highway A21.From Venice or Verona, highway A4 in the direction of Milan, Brescia Centro exit.From Bologna, Florence or Rome, highway A1 to Modena, highway A22 to Verona, highway A4 to Brescia Centro. From Genoa and Liguria, highway A7 to Tortona, highway A21 to Brescia.

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Verona

Bergamo Venezia

BresciaTorino

Modena

Milano

Bologna

MALPENSA

LINATE

Mantova

ORIO

MONTICHIARI

Cremona

Roma

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Brescia is a halfway point in a circuit of cities of art such as Verona, Trento, Bergamo, Milan, Mantua and Cremona. Brescia and its lakes are, therefore, the perfect jumping-off spot for visiting these cities, shopping or going to concerts. Its geographic location and scenery, along with its historic, artistic and cultural treasures, food and wine, and events and facilities, make the Province of Brescia a perfect tourist destination.

Easy to reach by highway,

rail or air

Monaco di BAviera

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Food, wine and hospitality“A marvellous voyage to the flavours of Brescia”

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The many high-quality products of Brescia are characterized by powerful ties between companies, their products and the land. The headquarters of the Consorzio per la Tutela del Grana Padano, an organisation to protect and promote one of the most famous Italian cheeses, is located in the province. Franciacorta wine was the first product in Italy to be granted the Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG). It is among the hills, mountains and lakes of this area that tourist-gourmets can get to know the great culinary traditions of Italy, discovering niche products in the best shops and large supermarkets or having fun seeking them out on their own, guided only by instinct and a rudimentary knowledge of the area.Cheese that comes only from certain pastures; excellent white, red, rosé and sparkling wines; DOP extra virgin olive oil (Garda and Sebino) and a thousand other products form the basis of a varied and always unique cuisine.

Brescia invites the tourist to enjoy the quest, the discovery and the unique experience, and to share it with friends.

Mountains, lakes, plains, rivers, hills. And still more: vineyards,

olive trees, chestnuts, farms, food processing businesses,

small producers, and dairy farm and agricultural cooperatives.

There are modern facilities processing meat, cheese and

dairy products, pressing olives, creating top-quality wines and distributing finished products

throughout the world.

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The many producers of beef in Brescia take pride in their long history of certified products. That means that long before there were national and local laws mandating these protections, they were guarding the integrity of their work and the quality of their products, keeping the consumer informed about how the animals were raised and conditions in the processing facilities, and adhering to a strict production code. Safety and quality always go hand in hand.

Brescia leads Italy in agricultural production.

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Why is that? There are at least three reasons: quality products; the variety of the settings, and their beauty, which inspire romantic restaurants facing the lake, near impressive Liberty-style villas, in noble palaces; and trattorias where taste, tradition and the love of good company blend easily together.

Brescia is also one of the provinces that boasts the

greatest number of first-class restaurants cited in culinary guides for their high quality,

elegance and taste.

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It is probably not possible to speak in general terms about the cuisine of Brescia or a single dish that characterizes it. Thanks to its diverse environments, there are a number of typical dishes and representative products tied to specific areas. The authenticity and uniqueness of the ingredients, along with tradition and a pinch of innovation, are the common elements you will encounter at the tables of the restaurants of Brescia. World-renowned chefs and young restaurateurs wishing to bring a hint of innovation to a great Italian culinary tradition are at your service.

Eating and drinking are pleasures we cannot live without. They also provide a perfect opportunity to gain a deep understanding of the way of life in the province, to get to know its ambiance, to live its art and culture and to be led on this voyage by the flavours of its traditional food and wines.

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During your voyage of discovery to the cuisine of Brescia, you will very likely taste spiedo, a flavourful roast spit prepared slowly and meticulously (6-8 hours of cooking time).Spiedo, served with polenta and a good red wine is perhaps the best-known dish in the province. Its inimitable flavour combines an ancient hunting tradition with culinary passion. There are other “historical” dishes tied to local tradition: capretto (kid) alla bresciana, oven roasted, a dish with a flavour that is at once distinct and delicate; manzo (beef) all’olio, a stew flavoured with Brescia olive oil, whose history dates to the old cattle market of Rovato, which continues to this day. There are also first courses: pasta, vegetable soups, and especially casoncelli, ravioli filled with cheese, egg, breadcrumbs, sometimes beef meat.

Spring, summer, autumn, winter

PolentaThis dish with humble origins has become a favourite side dish with roasts and fish recipes. Polenta is served in every restaurant. Some people even say that it is an aphrodisiac.

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The waters of the lakes of Brescia are clean and safe for swimming. They are home to numerous species of fish. Some of the most unusual include large carp and lake crawfish; more common are trout, pike, sardines and chub.

Lake f ish

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Many fish dishes come from the lakes of Brescia. On Lake Garda some of the most widely known include whitefish (served grilled), pike alla barcarola (stewed and served with oil, anchovies and capers) and filet of perch. Carp is a rare treat. It is a salmanoid fish that is difficult to catch because it lives in the deepest part of the lake, which, in the northernmost part, reaches a depth of 360 metres.

The many modern restaurants on the lake offer updated ancient recipes and new dishes that blend nouvelle cuisine, Italian tradition and young chefs’ personal touches.On Lake Iseo tradition rules. Tinca al forno is a typical dish of the small town of Clusane d’Iseo. Sardines and dried chub are served in Montisola and still prepared following ancient recipes. Here the trattorias are a triumph (sometimes they are run by the fishermen themselves) and the cuisine is at its most traditional - a true pleasure to be shared with friends. From the clear waters of Lake Idro, teeming with fish, trout goes right into the frying pan with a drop of oil, or is poached or grilled.

Particularly during the summer, the towns along the lake host culinary events, festivals and village fairs to promote tourism and their local specialities.

Some of the most noteworthy events include: “La settimana della tinca al forno” (stuffed tench festival in Clusane di Iseo), “A week of chiaretto rosé, extra virgin olive oil and whitefish” (on Lake Garda) and a host of events that combine fish, wine and fun.

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Contrary to popular belief, sturgeon is a species that is indigenous to the great Italian rivers.

In the countryside of the Brescia plain, in the town of Calvisano, farms have been established for the cultivation of caviar. The caviar of Brescia is sold around the world and recently received the “Villani Prize,” a prestigious award given by the Brescia delegation of the Accademia Italiana della Cucina. Brescia leads Europe in the cultivation of white sturgeon. It is real caviar, with a superb taste, an elegant culinary delight that graces the best tables at Christmas, and is produced in sufficient quantity to place Italy and Brescia among the largest producers in the world.

Luxuryin the kitchen speak the language of Brescia with high-end products like truffles and caviar.

Nine varieties of truffles, which mature at different times of the year, grow on the hills of Valtenesi, overlooking Lake Garda. This flavourful treat lends a unique taste to any dish, imbuing and enriching it with its penetrating aroma. It is not unusual to see truffle hunters wandering in the hills, accompanied by their faithful little dogs. Try it yourself. Aren’t porcini mushrooms and truffles worth spending your vacation in this unusual way?

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The famous Grana Padano cheese is produced by companies located on the Brescia plain. It is perhaps the cheese with the greatest number of imitators, but the cheese produced in Brescia has the trademark guarantee stamped on its rind. Bagoss, produced in the town of Bagolino, can take up to two years to ripen and is the most prized cheese in the entire province, with its strong taste, its intense yellow colour and its distinct mountain flavour. The most typical cheese is Rosa Camuna, a valley cheese whose shape recalls a prehistoric drawing from the Val Camonica that has been adopted by the Lombardy Region as its symbol.

Taleggio, gorgonzola, quartirolo, caprini and many other cheeses complete Brescia’s rich dairy tradition, and will gladly be served to cheese lovers in any restaurant.

The Province of Brescia produces an amazing variety of excellent cheeses.

Franciacortain BiancoA show featuring dairy products that takes place in Castegnato in October. It includes lectures and samplings of the unique products of the Brescia dairy industry.

Puegnago FairIn autumn the

Puegnago Fair, in the town of Valtenesi,

features wine tasting, cheese and the king of fine cuisine, the truffle.

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From Franciacorta to the shores of Lake

Garda, the Province of Brescia is the land of

exceptional wines.

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If you ask for a Franciacorta wine you won’t have to say anything else; the DOCG mark, denominazione di origine controllata e garantita, will take care of the rest and you will be served Italian champagne. A product of Chardonnay and Pinot white and red grapes, Franciacorta DOCG is one of the most famous Italian wines. It is straw-coloured and has a fresh, delicate flavour. Of the 10 million bottles of wine produced in Franciacorta, 5 million are DOCG: one-third of the Italian sparkling wine produced. This says a lot, not only about its quality, but also about efficient production methods and this wine’s great success. Thanks to fertile land, a breezy microclimate and the proverbial ingenuity of the Franciacorta people, this area has become a feather in the cap of Italian wine production.

Words cannot describe the Brescia wine producing tradition, now known and admired throughout the world. There are three basic wine producing areas, accompanied by additional “wine routes”: Franciacorta, the region of the wines and flavours of Lake Garda, and the Colli Longobardi (Brescia and the area south of the city).“Franciacorta” is defined in various ways: Italian champagne, the most famous sparkling wine, the best bubbles around. Lake Garda wines such as Groppello and Rosso Superiore, Lugana, the rosé and red wines of the Botticino area and Cellatica go with every dish. They must be tasted almost with reverence, savouring every nuance, and are a time-tested way to brighten the mood of any gathering.

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Begin with Lugana, a white wine of ancient origin produced in the area around Sirmione. It is straw-coloured and goes well with antipasto and fish dishes. On the hills of Valtenesi, Garda Classico is produced in several varieties: Bianco, Rosso, Chiaretto, Groppello, Rosso Superiore and Novello.

The wine is produced primarily in the area on the Brescia side of Lake Garda, where wine cultivation boasts ancient origins.In 1996, Garda received the right to use the term “classico,” which is granted only to the most ancient and traditional wines. Of the various wines that go with different dishes, from fish to meat, from antipasto to dessert, Groppello is the most typical, precisely because it is cultivated exclusively in this area.

From Sirmione to Limone del Garda, the “Lake Garda route of wine and flavours”

runs through a landscape of olive trees, cypresses and vineyards, famous for its

production of great wines.

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The other DOCs of the Province of Brescia are Botticino, Cellatica and Capriano del Colle, whose names correspond to the towns in which they are produced.

Botticino is produced from Barbera, Marzemino and Sangiovese vines growing on the same hills from which prized marble is quarried. It is a unique wine, aged in wooden barrels, that has a velvety, aromatic bouquet. The production of red and white Capriano del Colle is limited and it goes with the typical flavours of the area: cheese, sausages and chestnuts. Cellatica is a wine that goes with everything, full-bodied and fragrant.

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It is produced only in Italy, using Italian grapes. Grappa production in Brescia is very advanced; it is produced by the only permissible method; that is, by storing grape skins and seeds, from which the juice has been removed, in glass bottles.

GrappaGrappa is a

distilled spirit that is 100

percent Italian.

The flavour is unique and the alcoholic content is never less than 40 percent. To get an idea of the importance of grappa , bear in mind that Brescia has an Association of Grappa Tasters that protects and establishes the value of the grappa. More and more people are getting to know this powerful and aristocratic drink.

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There’s no oil here - just extra virgin olive oil. It is produced on the hills around Lake Garda (since medieval times) and on those around Lake Iseo. Its characteristics, low acidity and velvety, light flavour make the olive oil of Brescia unique, and that is why the variety called “Gargnà” is considered one of the best in Italy. Since 1997 another Brescia product has received the Denominazione di Origine Protetta: the oil produced on the shores of Lake Iseo.

Olive oil

Trivia: Brescia is the northernmost

point in Europe where olive trees are

cultivated.

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Bossolà, a typical dessert built on white flour and potato starch, traditional panettone and cakes and cookies of every shape and size will be the delicious finishing touch to your voyage through the specialties of the cuisine of Brescia.

Every meal worthy of respect must finish with something sweet

and, here as well, the traditional Brescia cuisine will spoil you.

Desserts

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Young cooks and master pastry chefs mix tradition with innovation to serve you true culinary masterpieces.

Info, hotel, booking:www.bresciatourism.itGRAPHIC DESIGN:

CLERICI & ASSOCIATI, BRESCIA

PICTURES:LONATIPINIRAPUZZIREPORTER

THANKS TO: ADAMELLO SKI, AGROITTICA CALVISANO, BARONE PIZZINI - RISTORANTE S. GIULIA, BOGLIACO GOLF, BRESCIAMUSEI, CENTRO COMMERCIALE LE PORTE FRANCHE, COMUNE DI BAGOLINO, COMUNE DI BRESCIA - UFFICIO TURISMO, CONSORZIO TUTELA FRANCIACORTA, CONSORZIO OLIO DOP DEI LAGHI LOMBARDI, CONSORZIO BOTTICINO DOC, CONSORZIO OPERATORI TURISTICI LAGO DI IDRO, CONSORZIO PRO LOCO CAMUNO-SABINE, DISTILLERIE FRANCIACORTA, FESTIVAL PIANISTICO INT. A.B. MICHELANGELI, FONDAZIONE ANDRÉ HELLER, FONDAZIONE IL VITTORIALE DEGLI ITALIANI, FONDAZIONE UGO DA COMO, FRANCIACORTA OUTLET VILLAGE, GARDAGOLF, LA PAMPA - AGRITURISMO, MUSEO MILLE MIGLIA, PINACOTECA INT. DELL’ETÁ EVOLUTIVA, PINACOTECA PALAZZO MARTINENGO, PALAZZO ARZAGA, RISTORANTE CASCINA CAPUZZA, RISTORANTE ESPLANADE, RISTORANTE IL VOLTO, RISTORANTE LE DUE COLOMBE, RUGBY CALVISANO, STRADE DEI VINI S.MARTINO D/B, TEATRO GRANDE, TENDER SURF, TERME DI ANGOLO, TERME DI BOARIO, TERME DI SIRMIONE - AQUARIA, VILLA FELTRINELLI

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Provincia di Brescia