Here are some pictures from my recent trip(s) from the Artigiano in Fiera at Milan, Milan’s International Handicrafts and Food fair. I’ve posted pictures and some videos from past years.
The fair includes food and products from all over Italy as well as various parts of the world. My favorite pavilions, besides the Southern Italy pavilion (Sicily, Campania, Calabria, Puglia) are the Europe and Africa/Middle East pavilions.
I bought a belly-dancing belt that I had been pricing out for at least five years, and I got a good deal on one. There are so many coins on it, I can’t wear it around my apartment in the evening. I’m hoping to get good enough before I have children that I can imitate Santa’s sleigh bells to create some confusion in their heads while they’re sleeping. Now to take a class! Susan is trying to convincing me to sign up for a belly dancing class through the Milan Comune’s Ufficio Tempo Libero which has a pretty good course selection if you’re in the Milan area.
Of course, most of my pictures from the fair are food-related! I was there shopping for my Menu for Hope basket that will be unveiled shortly. If you are a food blogger, and are interested in offering a prize, read the Menu for Hope IV information at Chez Pim and contact your regional host. Bloggers in Europe (except UK), Fanny at Foodbeam is our host, so contact her immediately!
So many mozzarella, so little time. Braids, little balls, fresh ricotta wrapped up so prettily.
Here there are quite a few scamorza and caciocavallo (the cheese with the rope tied around its neck) – you can see the famous burrata cheese I paired with fresh pasta down in the right corner with a green leaf-like tie around its neck.
Here a truffle seller cleverly pre-weighed and priced his truffles. This way the clients just pointed at the size they wanted and they already knew the price! Who wants that basket of truffles?
I liked this huge display of meats – the red pepper encrusted prosciutto in the background is mouthwatering.
Here’s some gelato from the Bronte pistachio seller that gave me the pistachio cream. My Sicilian friend who came with me declared it to be “possibly the best pistachio gelato I’ve ever eaten” – it deserves its own stop on the Tour del Gelato!
How can those pistachios be so impossibly green? The skins are definitely removed before being chopped up. You could buy them already chopped in little containers to take home and manipulate at will.
While the prices at the fair are not always the cheapest (this spice seller’s display was impressive but quite expensive), you will always find a unique gift. I justified several gifts for myself (see bellydancing belt above) and a few for others, too.
I realize that I might not have mentioned where I’ll be spending my the winter holidays and New Year’s….can anyone take a guess? Here’s a picture as a hint. I’m going to need your tips!!
Be sure to stop by Bleeding Espresso’s blog today to comment on the Sweet Apple Omelet from Dolce Italiano, and Shelley’s At Home in Rome tomorrow! Only three days left!!
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So much good stuff here! That prosciutto *does* look amazing…but that gelato? I have to find some pistachios STAT!
Love all the photos! But, where’s the photo of the belly-dancing belt? :)
Oooh, you’re going to India?!
Once again my timing off and did not get to enjoy this slice of Milan. Thank you for sharing and letting us live vicariously.
Great photos!
Oooh, India? You lucky girl (that massala spice looks incredible – the colors!)
You have to stop torturing me with pictures of cheese and salumi (waterboarding my foot, there ought to be a law against this!). I absolutely cannot afford a trip to Italy now or in the foreseeable future and now I have this unreasonable craving for fresh mutz and scamorza…..
And what was with that prosciutto? I have never seen one encrusted with anything, much less all that gorgeous pepperoncino! I’ll be drooling all day.
I should really read your blog after I have breakfast. Now my cereal seems boring and I’d rather have something with prosciutto.
When you take photos, do you ask the vendors first or just start snapping away? I wanted to take some photos when I was at the St. Lawrence market in Toronto but chickened out.
We didn’t have enough wild boar heads on the Food Show here in in Cleveland. :-) I bought a wild boar salami once when I was in Italy. It was quite delicious.
And that mountain of truffles! Oh, my.
Can that pistachio possibly top il massimo del gelato?
That pistachio gelato looks superb and it was great to read about all of the food fare at the fair! Thanks!
Love the green massala photo. Is this fair about the same time every year? Would love to make a trip to Milano for that next year.
Everything looks delicious! Thanks for the photos. Definately take a belly dancing class. It’s wonderful!
The cheeses look amazing, how many did you buy? I would have blown it out!!
Sara, what a market! I’m so jealous… (There’s nothing like it where I live.) Are you going to India? Have you been before? I’ve been three times, and would be glad to advise you. What do you want to know, specifically?
I wish I could have gone to this event. I had a dream last night about pistachio gelato! I suppose I’ll have to wait until I’m next in Italy to have any that’s good!
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