One of the things I love about is travel is getting to eat delicious foods in the places that boast their origin. The city of Pizzo in Calabria is one of those places, however, they not only boast a signature dish, the location itself is absolutely beautiful.
If you spend some time researching Pizzo, you’ll discover that it is a port city on a cliff. It has beaches and a main square with restaurants, bars, and tiny shops combined with a breathtaking view. As with any tourist attraction, it’s important to “know before you go” in order to get the best of the experience without getting caught in a tourist trap. I try to visit Pizzo every year so that I can eat the delicious tartufo (a cross between a truffle and gelato) which is said to have originated here in the 1950s.
If you live in the U.S., you’ve probably eaten at an Italian restaurant that offers tartufo for dessert. What you will get in the states is nothing like the delicious confection you’ll get in Pizzo though– and now that I have been there, it has ruined the American facsimile for me forever. In the states, you’ll get a frozen ball that contains a dark chocolate center surrounded with ice cream and a hard chocolate shell. In Pizzo, however, you’ll get this:
That’s not a hard chocolate shell, it’s chocolate powder and when you break it open, look at what happens….
See how it oozes? You’re probably thinking to your self that it’s heavenly, and you would be right. A dark chocolate center surrounded by hazelnut gelato all covered with chocolate powder provides a sweet dessert, but not so sticky sweet that you feel like you should be running to the dentist. They cater to a wide variety of tastes, so there are dozens of combinations and flavors to please everyone in the family. I think you can understand why I make it a point to stop in Pizzo every year when I go to Italy. (It helps that it’s only a forty-five minute car ride from my family which makes it a perfect place to spend the afternoon.)
Of course, there’s more to Pizzo than just tartufo. Pizzo is home to many tiny shops that offer souvenir and handmade items. However, if you’re really looking for a good excuse, the views are spectacular:
But even if you want to walk around the streets, you’ll find beauty.
If you’re in Calabria, this is a great place for an afternoon. Come here for their famous dessert, but be forewarned about eating in the main square. Those restaurants with the beautiful views don’t have the best food (I’ve tried all of them). There are a couple off the beaten path and one at the entrance of the square to get a good meal, but no matter which café you choose for the tartufo, you’ll be sure to get great quality.
Do you know someone who loves desserts? Be sure to share this post with them!
