Ten fun activities for food lovers in one of Italy’s prettiest regions..
1. Nip up to Ne
For a true taste of excellent traditional Ligurian cuisine, a trip to trattoria La Brinca, one of the region’s best trattorias, is a must. Here the Circella family will spoil you with herb ravioli in meat sauce, potato gnocchi with pesto, tomatoes and almonds, and roast rabbit stuffed with herbs. Booking advised. Loc. Campo di Ne 58, Ne in Valgraveglia www.labrinca.it
2. Make for La Meridiana
Treat yourself to a few days at the wonderful hotel La Meridiana set in the silvery-green countryside of Gerlenda, where the Segre family will greet you like old friends and treat you to their delicious Ligurian cuisine featuring a host of local herbs and olive oils. www.lameridianaresort.com
3. Make a pesto of yourself
At the height of the basil season, make like a Ligurian and whip up some pesto..Whiz together some basil, parmesan cheese, pine nuts, garlic, salt and olive oil and enjoy one of the tastiest (and easiest) sauces to be had. Great for freezing too!
4. Take the Lover's Walk
The Cinque Terre is an area not to be missed. Follow the panoramic trail Via dell’Amore from Riomaggiore to Manarola then scoot along to Monterosso where you should stop off at Enoteca Internazionale to reward yourself with a glass of local red or the area’s speciality, schiacchetrà. www.enotecainternazionale.com
5. Get into the kitchen
Laura Giannatempo’s book "A Ligurian Kitchen" is an enjoyable trip through the beautiful region of Liguria, with over 100 regionally-inspired recipes interspersed with character portraits and stories of the author’s time spent at her family’s seaside house here. A wonderful cookbook and memoir.
6. Order tea for two
After strolling round the beautiful port of Portofino, stop off for afternoon tea at Hotel Splendido Mare’s Chuflay Bar at the end of the pretty piazza. Alternatively, it’s just the place for enjoying an excellent coffee or aperitivo before wandering off for dinner. www.hotelsplendido.com
7. Fill up for Focaccia
You can’t come to Genova without trying the city’s original peasant food – the focaccia, a specialty awarded its own Slow Food presidium. Traditionally eaten accompanied by figs or salami, these focacce are perfect for a midmorning snack, or lunch on the go.
8. Enjoy flower power
Pietro Romanengo, the wonderful shops in Genova, sell all kinds of old-fashioned delights like rose syrup, rose jam, orange flower water and sugared violets. A veritable Aladdin’s cave of forgotten tastes. www.romanengo.com
9. Hedge your bets
Chance your luck at Sanremo’s splendid casino, then head upstairs to their beautiful Roof Garden restaurant and enjoy a special meal served under the stars and accompanied by live music. See website for details of special events and to book a table. www.casinosanremo.it
10. Take an eco-holiday
Book a week in the beautifully-restored medieval village of Colletta where great care has been taken to preserve all original features while offering every modern convenience. Eat at the village restaurant where you can sample traditional dishes with local ingredients. www.responsibletravel.com
