Piatti Tipici di Bergamo - Polenta Taragna e Carne - Typical Bergamo dishes

Typical Bergamo dishes: a Journey through Tradition and Taste

22 January 2025

The city of Bergamo has a rich and varied gastronomic tradition. Its cuisine, strongly influenced by its peasant roots and mountain environment, is a combination of authentic and genuine flavours.

The typical dishes of Bergamo tell stories of tradition, seasonality and love for the territory, turning every meal into a unique experience. In this article, we will explore the specialties that make this city a must for food lovers.

Typical Bergamo dishes

Bergamo cuisine offers a variety of dishes ranging from appetisers to desserts, each reflecting local history and traditions.

Among the most famous typical Bergamo dishes we can find:

  • casoncelli,
  • polenta taragna,
  • polenta e osei,
  • and the various DOP / PDO cheeses from the area, such as Taleggio, Branzi and Formai de Mut.

Each and every recipe is a tribute to the simplicity and richness of typical Bergamo products.

Typical Bergamo appetisers

The typical Bergamo appetisers are the perfect way to open a tasty meal. Here are some of the most representative ones:

  • Local cured meats and salami: Bergamo tradition includes high-quality cured meats and salami, such as pancetta bergamasca – bacon from Bergamo, salame nostrano – local salami, and coppa. Often served with homemade bread and butter, they are a simple but tasty starter.
  • DOP / PDO cheese: Taleggio, Branzi, Strachitunt and Formai de Mut are some of the Bergamo cheeses that find their way into the appetisers, often accompanied by honey and homemade jams.
  • Savoury pies with mountain herbs: Rustic preparations made of puff or brisée pastry, filled with wild herbs harvested in the surrounding area, local cheese and eggs. A true specialty that enhances the flavours of the land.
  • Sciatt: Small, crispy buckwheat and melted cheese fritters, also typical in the nearby Valtellina, but popular in Bergamo for their unique, enveloping flavour.
Taleggio - DOP / PDO Typical Cheese

Taleggio – DOP / PDO Typical Cheese

Typical Bergamo first courses

Bergamo cuisine is famous above all for its first courses, which represent the essence of local tradition. Here are the main ones:

  • Casoncelli alla bergamasca: The typical Bergamo dish par excellence. These are ravioli filled with meat, breadcrumbs, cheese, raisins and amaretti biscuits, seasoned with melted butter, bacon and sage. Their flavour is a perfect balance of sweet and savoury.
  • Polenta Taragna: Prepared with a mixture of corn and buckwheat flours, it is enriched with cheeses such as Taleggio or Branzi, which give it a creamy texture and an intense flavour.
  • Risotto al Taleggio: A sophisticated first course combining the creaminess of Taleggio cheese with the delicate taste of carnaroli rice, often flavoured with herbs or walnuts.
  • Risotto al Valcalepio rosso: a dish with a truly inimitable and exquisite taste given by the combination and refinement of flavour that only Valcalepio wine can offer. Sometimes it can also be paired with local Strachitunt cheese and blueberries.
  • Scarpinocc di Parre: Similar to casoncelli, but without meat in the filling, scarpinocc are originally from the village of Parre. Their filling is made of cheese, breadcrumbs, butter and spices, making them more delicate than casoncelli. They are also served with melted butter and sage, maintaining a lighter, vegetarian taste profile.
Bergamo Casoncelli

Bergamo Casoncelli

What kind of pasta can you eat in Bergamo?

In addition to Casoncelli and Scarpinocc, filled pasta is the star of Bergamo cuisine. Along with it, we can find traditional preparations such as pizzoccheri from the neighbouring Valtellina, sometimes reinterpreted with typical Bergamasque products. Fresh pasta, often home-made, is an essential ingredient for many dishes.

Typical Bergamo second courses

Traditional Bergamo second courses reflect the mountain and peasant culture of the region, with robust and tasty dishes. Here are some examples:

  • Polenta e osei: This typical Bergamo dish consists of wild birds (nowadays they have been replaced by chicken or pork), barbecued or pan-fried, served on a polenta base.
  • Bergamasque-style rabbit: Rabbit meat slowly cooked with white wine, rosemary, garlic and olives for a tender and tasty result.
  • Brasato al Valcalepio: A classic meat stew cooked with Valcalepio DOC / CDO red wine, typical of the Bergamo hills.
  • Capù: Savoy cabbage rolls stuffed with minced meat, stale bread and spices, slowly stewed.
Polenta e Osei

Polenta e Osei

Where can you eat typical food in Bergamo?

To enjoy typical Bergamo dishes in their authenticity, there are several trattorias and restaurants offering an immersive dining experience. Some of the most popular venues include:

  • Ol Giopì e la Margì: located in the central area of Bergamo Bassa, it is a combination of local culinary tradition and creativity, with exclusive and delicious dishes.
  • Trattoria Parietti: Located in the Città Alta, it is famous for its casoncelli and polenta taragna.
  • Da Mimmo: An institution in Bergamo, famous for its traditional dishes reinterpreted with a modern touch.
  • Antica Osteria del Vino Buono: Perfect for those who are looking for an intimate atmosphere and traditional dishes.
  • Agritourism: The area around Bergamo features many agritourism structures and farmhouses where you can enjoy typical dishes prepared with local, zero-kilometre ingredients. Among the most popular ones there are Agriturismo Marco in Stezzano, Cascina La Sogliola in Clusone and Fattoria della Felicità in San Pellegrino Terme, each with authentic specialties and cosy environments.
Polenta Taragna

Polenta Taragna

Typical Bergamo Products to Gift

If you want to take a ‘piece of Bergamo’ with you or make a special gift, typical Bergamo products are a good choice:

  • DOP / PDO Cheese: Taleggio, Strachitunt and Formai de Mut, Branzi, and Formaggella from the Seriana Valley are perfect gifts, especially if accompanied by a bottle of local wine.
  • Cured meats and salami: Salame nostrano – local salami from Bergamo is an excellence to be shared.
  • Vino Valcalepio DOC / CDO: Red or white, this wine represents the oenological soul of the territory.
  • Mountain honey: A genuine product, ideal to accompany cheese.
  • Typical desserts: Polenta e Osei (in its sweet version) is a dessert made of sponge cake, custard and marzipan, reproducing the appearance of the traditional dish. The Bigio biscuit, a typical Bergamasque creation from San Pellegrino by the pastry shop bearing the same name, is also an excellent gift idea.

Enjoying typical Bergamo food with a Tuk Tuk tour

Bergamo cuisine is a real journey through authentic flavours and traditions rooted in the territory. The typical Bergamo dishes, from appetisers to desserts, tell us a story of passion, culture and love for good food.

Whether you are in town for a short visit or to go on a Tour with our Tuk Tuks, or in search of typical products to take home, Bergamo will fascinate you with its gastronomic richness.

Tuk Tuk Tours in Bergamo To Discover its Typical Dishes

Tuk Tuk Tours in Bergamo To Discover its Typical Dishes

Discovering Bergamo through Traditional Food, Art and Culture

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