Traditional sweets in Venice

Traditional sweets

Rizzardini is a pastry shop, one of the four I loved in Venice, that has been there since 1742. During carnival time, people lose their minds from their fritoli, but for the rest of the year I am completely ok with eating their large zaeti, almond pies filled with marzipan, and giant walnut dried fruit cookies. Address: Sestiere San Polo, 1415, Campiello dei Meloni, Venezia; www.facebook.com/pages/Pasticceria-Rizzardini

Most famous fugassa

They say this place makes the best Venetian fugassa. I did not try others, but I love theirs. So soft, so airy, so moist, so perfect. They are what I always think about how great Italian sweet breads should be. It’s all there. Locals run in for a coffee that they finish right there at the counter, together with some focaccia or a cookie. By the way – the bussolà buranello cookie is more than good and so is the … everything else.
Address: Calle Lunga de San Barnaba, 2867A, Venezia; www.dalnonocolussi.com

Pasticceria Italo Didovich

I looked and looked for a pasticceria in Venice that serves something reasonable and good, and I found four. Pasticceria Italo Didivich is one of them, a bit off the tourist track and I believe my favorite – their sfogliatina with cream is to die for and the “doughnut” with cream is meant to finish alone. They know how to make great lemon tartlets and pastry cream tarts. Their chocolate artichoke cake is as sweet and tasty as can be, and although I'm talking only about sweet stuff, locals run in for savory things like small pizzas and tartlets with meat or cheese. Address: Sestiere Castello, 5909, Venezia

Pistacio bread and sfoglia at its best

It was the first pasticceria I went into in Venice and I bought pistachio bread. It was the last place I visited before leaving – I bought pistachio bread again. Plus – sfoglia (it’s a shame I did not know how good they were the whole time). I returned back home with a bag full of those Pasticceria Pitteri pistachio quarters from the whole bread to give to my friends. That super moist marzipan-like pistachio bread is heavenly good. It is heavy, it is dense, it is sweet, and it is totally fantastic (if you like marzipan). Their sfoglia is, so far, the best I had in Venice and Knipfer is on the right track too. When I finish that pistachio bread, I will look for someone to send me some from Venice, and I will finish soon.
Address: Strada Nova 3843A, Sestiere Cannaregio, Venezia; www.facebook.com/PasticceriaPitteri

Text and pictures: Signe Meirane
Photos taken with Sony alpha 7s