| When you think of Italy, what is the first thing that | | | | in the hollow of the bone. In Milan centre, hotel and |
| comes to your mind? Chances are that the words | | | | restaurant chefs will all have their own special version |
| that rolled off your tongue (hopefully with a wonderful | | | | of this traditional Lombardian dish; you decide whose is |
| Italian accent!) are food, food, food! We can talk all we | | | | best! |
| like about the fashion, the art and the music (and | | | | Not Just Risotto |
| indeed, these are the other true joys of the country), | | | | Risotto dishes have become virtually mainstream the |
| but what we really want to experience is the | | | | world over, and there aren't many top celebrity chefs |
| spectacular culinary culture for which Italy is renowned. | | | | who don't have their own special translation of this |
| Each region of Italy has its own particular style of | | | | traditional Italian recipe. In Milan, you will often find risotto |
| cuisine, and if you're heading to Milan you're in for a | | | | served as an accompaniment to Osso Buco and, as |
| treat. Situated in the northern region of Lombardy, the | | | | with everything else from this stylish city, the Risotto |
| city is a food lover's paradise and when you're staying | | | | alla Milanese does it just that little bit better. The |
| in Milan centre, hotels, restaurants, cafes and bars are | | | | difference between Milanese risotto and others is the |
| all on your doorstep, and all ready to tempt you with | | | | addition of beef bone marrow and the precious |
| their mouth-watering array of delicacies. Being | | | | saffron threads which give it its distinctive yellow |
| landlocked, seafood doesn't feature as highly on the | | | | colouring. In Milan centre, hotel food is often 5 star |
| menu as some coastal provinces but that isn't a | | | | quality and you may find it hard to even leave the |
| problem; in Lombardy, it's all about the meat! Here is | | | | building to try other restaurants in the city once you've |
| just a selection of what you can expect to enjoy. | | | | sampled your hotel's risotto - but we recommend you |
| Famous Food | | | | do, if only to seek out your next course... |
| In Milan centre, hotels are used to playing host to | | | | Milan - Cheese Heaven? |
| famous guests from all over the world; movie stars, | | | | What better way to round out your evening meal than |
| politicians, rock stars, they all come to experience the | | | | with a cheese board topped with some Lombardy |
| history and ambience of this fascinating city. But | | | | regional varieties and a chaser of wine! So what are |
| visitors to Milan are rubbing shoulders with something | | | | the regional cheeses around Milan? Well, chances are |
| much more famous than any celebrity will ever be; the | | | | you already know them. The fabulously rich, |
| region's signature dish Osso Buco. The authentic | | | | blue-veined Gorgonzola is probably the best-known |
| version of this dish is nothing short of divine and the | | | | specialty, named after a village outside of Milan; but |
| stars of the show are the melt-in-your-mouth veal | | | | you may also recognize the mild, creamy taste of Bel |
| shanks which form the basis of the meal. Literally | | | | Paese, another local made good; as well as Grana |
| translated as 'hole in bone' the meat is cooked in a | | | | Padano and Taleggio. |
| mixture of tomato, wine, stock and onion then topped | | | | Returning to your Milan centre hotel after a |
| with a 'gremolata' of parsley, lemon and garlic. Slow | | | | gastronomic excursion, before you drift off to sleep it |
| cooked in the oven for a few hours, Osso Buco's | | | | only remains to decide what's on the menu for |
| tastiest morsel is the delicious marrow which remains | | | | breakfast.... |