3 Essential Dishes in Milan

When it comes to eating, the Milanese are very traditional and here are the 3 classic dishes essential to any Milan stopover.

Cotoletta Milanese

Cotoletta Milanese, sometimes called Costoletta Milanese, is a thinly pounded, breaded and fried veal chop. It's the Milanese twist on the Austrian Wiener Schnitzel and typically includes the bone not only for a more dramatic presentation, but also for flavor.

Most trattoria and osteria have a version of cotoletta, but we like the versions at Conchetta and Antica Trattoria della Pesa. Next time we are in Milan we will try Al Garghet which is our Italian neighbor's favorite located just south of the city and the version there makes Conchetta's seem piccolo! 😳

Osso Buco

Osso (bone) Buco (hole) is cross-cut section of veal shank with the bone in cooked until meltingly tender. Osso Buco is most always served with Risotto Milanese, which is the 3rd essential dish to eat in Milan. This combo is one of the rare times you will see a primo (the pasta, rice or soup course) and secondo (the meat or fish course) sharing a plate and served together. It marries together so well that one bite will turn you into a devotee. Don't forget to spoon the marrow out of the hole! Della Pesa has a good version as does Trattoria Arlati and Trattoria Milanese.

Risotto Milanese

Risotto Milanese is not just an adjunct to Osso Buco, but a worthy dish on it's own. Dousing the rice and broth with saffron threads turns the dish into its characteristic glistening gold. Trattoria Masuelli and Il Baretto have great versions.

But if you love risotti like the Milanese do, Casa Fontana, 23 Risotti is a must. Yes, they have 23 different versions, traditional to creative and all perfectly chewy.

And For Dessert

A slice of panattone at Caffè Cucchi always seems right. It's not just for Christmas at Cucchi!

Ciao for now,

Andrea