{"id":21709,"date":"2023-06-08T19:46:50","date_gmt":"2023-06-08T19:46:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2023\/06\/08\/food-tour-review-my-experience-eating-in-bologna\/"},"modified":"2023-06-08T19:46:50","modified_gmt":"2023-06-08T19:46:50","slug":"food-tour-review-my-experience-eating-in-bologna","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2023\/06\/08\/food-tour-review-my-experience-eating-in-bologna\/","title":{"rendered":"Food Tour Review: My Experience Eating in Bologna"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n


Posted<\/strong>: 6\/8\/2023 | June 8th, 2023<\/p>\n

Bologna is considered one of the food capitals of Italy<\/a>. And that\u2019s saying something, because, well, Italy<\/em> is a food capital in itself. The city has some of the most protected designations in the country and is fast become a center for culinary tourism. <\/p>\n

And the food is what drew me to Bologna. I had gone there to eat. Over the years, I\u2019d heard about it from all my friends, so, on my way from Prague to Rome, I decided to stop and see<\/s> eat for myself.<\/p>\n

But where to start? <\/p>\n

As a fan of food tours, I decided to sign up for one via Get Your Guide<\/a>. These walks help you learn about the unique cuisine of a region and its history, all from a local who can tell you about the best places to eat. <\/p>\n

Get Your Guide is an activities and experience booking website. Name an experience and it has it. Think of it like Expedia but for tours and activities. <\/p>\n

There are a lot of food tours in Get Your Guide. I went with the 3-Hour Secret Food Tour<\/a> as it had a lot of positive reviews, was offered during lunch (at peak hunger), and seemed to last a long time (value for your money). <\/p>\n

What was it like? Was it worth it? I\u2019ll tell you.<\/p>\n

It started at Piazza di Porta Ravegnana, where we got a traditional pastry and an introduction to the tour. After that, it was a walk through the markets right off Via degli Orefici, an area that, despite being in a touristy part of town (right next to the main square), is still frequented by locals.<\/p>\n

\"A

It was there that we stopped at Osteria del Sole. This affordable wine bar is in fact one that was recommended to me by a reader, famous for having been around for hundreds of years and for letting people bring in outside food. It\u2019s very popular with locals. I had actually stopped there the night before so it was interesting to go back and learn more about it. (In fact, lots of food tours stop there, so it\u2019s not exactly a secret.)<\/p>\n

Our guide went across the street to get us a ton of meat and cheese from shop across the street (as the wine bar doesn\u2019t have food). We tried some mortadella, which is the most famous sausage from the region, as well as Parma ham, a light cheese, parmigiana cheese, and one other type I can\u2019t remember. We were off to a good start!<\/p>\n

After that, we walked through the backstreets to a restaurant, where we had more wine and traditional tortelloni. There we learned the difference between tortelloni and tortellini \u2014 I honestly had no idea there was a difference. Turns out that the former is primarily made with cheeses, herbs, and vegetables, while the latter is filled with meat. <\/p>\n

\"A

We also learned that this region serves its pasta al dente<\/em> (cooked just enough to retain a somewhat firm texture). I\u2019m not a huge fan of that method, but that\u2019s because I grew up in middle-class suburbia and became accustomed to overcooked pasta, but nonetheless, it was great. We tried some more red wine and, since some on the tour didn\u2019t drink, I happily finished off their glasses. <\/p>\n

This was also where we really got to sit down and chat with our super knowledgeable guide. He had moved to Bologna over ten years ago and was really passionate about the city\u2019s culinary scene. He was also good to talk to about life in Bologna and rising tourism<\/a> (he was not a fan of Airbnb).<\/p>\n

\"Visiting

Then we went to back to the market from the beginning of the tour for a balsamic vinegar tasting. Nearby Modena is the<\/em> spot for balsamic vinegar, and no food tour would be complete without some. We tried three: a 5 year, 15 year, and 25 year. As balsamic ages, it becomes thicker and a lot more flavorful. Personally, I liked the 15 year the best. It just had a better consistency and taste. I found the 25 year too rich. <\/p>\n

After that it was time for gelato and goodbyes. (Frankly I think all goodbyes should involve gelato.)<\/p>\n

Was this the best food tour I\u2019ve gone on? No. It was pretty standard. And I felt there was a lot of walking between stops \u2014 maybe if they were closer together, we could have gone to more places. We also finished where we started, so it was kind of like going in a circle. <\/p>\n

But it gave me everything I wanted, even if it didn\u2019t blow me away.<\/p>\n

I left full, and that is always the most important aspect of a food tour. Plus, our guide really knew what he was talking about and was super passionate about food. He wasn\u2019t going through the motions. He loved to eat! <\/p>\n

So, if you\u2019re are looking to book this food tour, click the link here<\/a>. <\/p>\n

And if you want to see what others tours and activities you can book in Italy, this page has everything you need!<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Get Your In-Depth Budget Guide to Europe!<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n