Eating out in Scalea
The restaurants in Scalea are friendly, family run places serving typical Calabrian food at very affordable prices . The most popular meat in Calabria is pork and wild boar - Calabrian salami is famous throughout the world. Lamb iand chicken are widely available and there is seafood in abundance – particularly shell fish, anchovies, cod, sardines, swordfish and tuna. Peppers are probably the most important ingredient in Calabrian cuisine. Here they come in all shapes, sizes and colours and are widely grown throughout the region. Cheeses include Caciocavallo, Silano, Mozzarella, Pecorino and Crotonese – a pure sheep's milk cheese which is delicious served thinly sliced and drizzled with Calabrian olive oil. 25% of all Italian olive oil is produced in Calabria and the quality is superb. To accompany your meal try a glass or two of the "vino locale" ... locally produced wines available everywhere.
In Scalea you must try :
VIGRI offers exceptionally fine food served in a relaxed and elegant atmosphere and there is an outside terrace with sea views for summer dining. Chef Enzo is widely recognised as a talented and innovative chef, using the freshest of local ingredients to prepare modern and traditional dishes which draw diners back time and time again. Vigri has a small but very well chosen wine list, as well as the easy to drink local wines .
For more information please go to http://www.ristorantevigri.it/
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IL CORSARO
IL CORSARO is a family run trattoria and pizzeria, serving traditional dishes in friendly and welcoming surroundings. Located just 100 metres from the Talao Tower, the restaurant is one of the most popular places for locals to eat. particularly in summer where the covered terrace offers a cool setting for al fresco dining.Their traditional Neopolitan giant pizzas are wonderful and the friendly service draws diners back again and again .
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Outside the town centre there are excellent restaurants in most villages, and the surrounding countryside is becoming well known as an agri tourism centre, with restaurants serving organic food produced in an eco friendly manner and cooked and served at its absolute best. Many of the village resturants have speciality pasta dishes that are unique to the village. There are some wonderful dishes just waiting to be discovered!
One of the best is Villa Brazzano .
gardens restaurant interior
The restaurant is part of the Villa Brazzano eco village complex , set in tranquil forest surroundings and flower filled gardens just a few kilometres outside town. It is well known for the superb quality of its food, almost all of which is produced on the on the farm. Owner Angelo and his family also produce their own wine and olive oil. In summer diners have a choice of inside or outside dining by the poolside. In winter the dining room with its blazing fire is warm and comfortable setting for the gastronomic delights on offer. http://www.forestvillabrazzano.it/
Wines of Calabria: the abundance of vineyards throughout the region produce some of Italy's finest wines. Probably the best known is the classic red Cirò; this is Calabria’s oldest wine and it can be very high in alcohol. Ciro was originally produced in the low hills along the Ionian coast between the ancient Greek cities of Sybaris and Kroton (Sibari and Crotone today). Local legend has it that Ciro descended directly from Krimisa, the very strong wine that Calabrian athletes drank to celebrate victories in early Olympiads. Modern manufacturing methods and careful temperature control have reduced the alcohol content to produce a delicious fruity wine which is very easy to drink. The best known white wine is made from the abundant Greco grapes and is available almost everywhere.
For more information on Calabrian wines, please visit http://italianfood.about.com and http://www.italianmade.com/regions/wines18.cfm
Salute!
