Atlantica - 01.05.2002, Page 28

26 A T L A N T I C A
Parma
PARMA: THE CRADLE OF CUISINE
The first thing that comes to mind when mentioning the
town of Parma is food. Not surprisingly, for Parma ham
(Prosciutto di Parma) and Parmesan cheese (Parmiggiano
Reggiano) are world-famous. And it’s the culinary arts that
draw tourists to this small, friendly hamlet, which has been
known for years as the ‘Capital of the Food Valley’, the val-
ley being the fertile Po valley. This region is responsible for
dishes such as lasagne, tortellini and spaghetti bolognese; a
region which uses heavier ingredients and more cream than
the more spice-laden southern parts of Italy. One of the
region’s specialities is Cavello Pesto: The dish resembles a
beef tartare except instead of the beef, the meat used is raw
horse meat, accompanied by salt, pepper, lemon, olive oil
and bread.
Parma overflows with excellent restaurants. A good bet for
a warm and relaxed atmosphere is the Antica Cereria (Via
Rodolfo Tanzi 5, tel: (+39) 052-1-207387), located in an old
candle factory as the Italian name implies. This is a family-
run establishment, where both husband and wife conjure up
traditional north-Italian dishes with a twist. But food is cer-
tainly not all Parma offers. The town’s history reaches back
many centuries and you’ll find a multitude of beautiful
buildings and a small, friendly city centre aimed toward
pedestrians. Through the old town lies the 2000-year-old
road Via Emilia, a prime example of the Roman Empire’s
road construction. Via Emilia runs in a straight line from
Milan to Rimini on the Adriatic coast and traverses the
towns of Parma, Piacenza, Modena and Bologna, to name
only the largest.
Since food is, however, the bottom line in Parma, here’s a
final piece of advice. Never ask for a cappuccino after a
meal, whether it’s at someone’s home or at a restaurant.
This is considered very insulting and a message that there
wasn’t enough food on offer. Italians believe that a cappuc-
cino is a meal unto itself, only to be enjoyed before
lunchtime. Buon appetito.
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