8 Foods to Try In The Cinque Terre

For me, the Cinque Terre has been a top destination while studying abroad.  Where else on this planet do you get to hike along a rugged coastline to stunning pastel-colored villages that sit atop  the Mediterranean Sea?  Sounds quite dreamy to me.  Once I finally arrived, I realized this place has a lot more to offer than just the breathtaking panoramic views.  The food is just as breathtaking.

The locals take pride in their fresh ingredients that grow right above their towns in the hilltops and in the ocean below. This is perfectly reflected in their local cuisine.  The food here is just as lively as their vibrant multicolored buildings.  My favorite thing to do here was to stop at each village along my hike to sample one of their local treats.  The food here is simple, yet completely unique due to its ideal location and it really never disappointed.  Take advantage of this, try foods that you normally would never order.  For me, that was the sardines.  Nothing about sardines has ever sounded appetizing.  However, when Rick Steves insisted that these were the fresh local specialties, I figured I might as well give it a try.  And you know what, it was actually quite delicious.  I’ve learned through my travels that you can uncover a lot about a place through their cuisine.  Try whatever specialty item they are known for even if it is something that doesn’t sound all that great.

In Cinque Terre, the food highlights the beautiful land it sits upon.  From my visit, I was fortunate enough to sample most of the local cuisine. I have written down some of my favorites. Here is a list of the top 8 food items you need to try while visiting the Cinque Terre!

Pesto: If there is one thing the people of Cinque Terre have perfected is definitely the pesto. This flavorful sauce is made from local basil, garlic, olive oil and pine nuts. You can find pesto on just about everything. Try it on a sandwich, pasta, focaccia or even just a straight bowl with bread

Gelato: During the hot summers, this is the perfect treat to cool you down. In every village, you can find gelato shops with all the classic flavors. Although Cornelia is very small and low key, they had a wide variety of gelato shops to choose from. This, to me, was the most perfect reward after hiking from Vernazza to Corniglia.

Focaccia Bread: Another local favorite is their Focaccia Bread. Yeah I know what you’re thinking, it’s just bread. But this is where you’re mistaken. This bread is out of bounds compared to the bland toast you might have as a side dish in the morning. The bakers who make this snack, brush the focaccia with a bit of salt water and top it with various ingredients which gives it a salty and flavorful punch. Toppings range from olives to sun roasted tomatoes to even anchovies. To be honest, no matter what the topping is, this Focaccia bread rocks. Who knew something so simple could be done so right?

Torta Monterossina: One dessert that is essential to try in Monterosso al Mar is the torta monterossina. This pie has three layers of chocolate pudding, cream and apricot jam all inside of a flaky crust. Try a sample at an authentic bakery called Pasticceria Laura.

Sea Food Cone: One street food item that is a real head turner is the fried seafood cones. Piled high in a paper cone with a few long skewers, you get to sample whole local shrimp, calamari, baby squid and anchovies. All it needs is a little squeeze of lemon and it’s ready to go!