Venetian cicchetti

What are cicchetti veneziani?

It is a snack that is consumed in Venetian taverns, the “Bacari”.

They are served with the inevitable “ombra di vin or spritz”; the “ombra de vin” was born in Venice, when the wine sellers went around the bell tower following its shadow to keep the wine cool.

It seems the name “Bacaro” derives from Bacchus, or from “far bàcara”, a Venetian dialectal expression which means “to celebrate”.

Bacaro

These bacari have the characteristic of being small, few seats, sometimes they do not have any, they have a counter where they display the cicchetti they offer.
They are very characteristic and well known and they are frequented not only by residents but also by tourists.

Spritz

In the bacari you can also taste the famous “Spritz“. you will find them all over Venice but the place where they are most concentrated is San Polo.

Cicchetti were born as an accompaniment to a glass of wine in order not to have it on an empty stomach.

Cicchetti

Cicchetti are made with fish, meat or cold cuts; they can be hot or cold.

Very often they are served on bread or polenta.

It is customary to go around the bacari, that is passing by various bacari and taste two or three cicchetti and “un’ombra de vin”, then continue along the calli and stop at another bacaro to taste another white accompanied by another cicchetto.

Prices for each cicchetto vary from 1,50 to 2 or 3 € and many bacari in fact have their own very appreciated specialties.

Venetian cicchetti