The Apennine hills bring all kinds of game to the tables, from wild boar to birds; mushrooms and a robust black truffle, which grows in the Norcia area and pairs perfectly with the generous reds of the region (Sagrantino di Montefalco, Rosso Torgiano…).
The restaurants of Perugia and the medieval towns dotting the hills offer typical dishes such as gnocchi (excellent are the potato ones from Colfiorito), farro soups, lentil purées produced on the Sibillini Mountains plateaus, enriched by the prized extra virgin olive oil. Also exquisite are the pasta dishes seasoned with saffron grown in the Cascia area. Flavorful and unmistakable are also the cured meats produced in Norcia, such as ham and the thousands of types of sausages. Meanwhile, the clear waters of Val Nerina offer trout and river crayfish, and Lake Trasimeno a delicate perch fish.
Addresses for good eating include, among many: the Antica Trattoria San Lorenzo and Civico 25 in Perugia; La Buca di San Francesco in Assisi; La Mulinella in Todi; Sabatini and Il Tartufo in Spoleto; Dal Francese and Beccofino in Norcia; I Sette Consoli in Orvieto; L’Alchimista and Villa Pambuffetti in Montefalco; La Piazzetta in Terni.
