My cousin and I are planning to rent a car (maybe in Bologna or Parma) and heading out into the Emilia-Romagna countryside. I have a million bookmarks for this long-awaited trip from Chowhound.
I checked the one place I had in my notes to stay, Hosteria Da Ivan in Roccabianca doesnât seem to have room for us in their small guesthouse (we will need two rooms); but I will write to them and see.
In any case, I am encouraged that the Slow Food Italy app is now in English(!) and will try and figure from that where geographically we should base ourselves, but if you can help me with this, I would be grateful.
Hereâs the one long note I have from Chowhound days (it was almost certainly in response to my questions about Parma where I headed summer of 2025):
âUnfortunately a lot of the trattorie in Parma have become quite bland and uninspiring. If you want to experience good local cooking in an authentic atmosphere I would suggest that you get out of town (but not necessarily too far), although I guess youâre asking about places in town because you wonât have a car. However, if you do have wheels or your budget stretches to a couple of short taxi rides itâs worth heading to Trattoria da Romeo (in Botteghino, 10 mins from Parmal; tel: 0521 641167), Trattoria Milla (Sala Baganza, 15 mins; http://www.trattoriamilla.it/), or Antichi Sapori (Gaione, 10 mins; 0521648165). Il Granaio (10 mins; 0521 804110) in Lemignano was recommended to me by a local couple but I havenât got round to visiting yet. A bit further out in Fragnolo di Calestano is the fantastic Locanda Mariella (20 mins: 0525 52102). In town, the Tribunale and Sorelle Picchi have both changed hands recently but the food is still very good. Over the river in the Oltretorrente is the Antica Cereria, which has a lovely vaulted dining room and reliable parmigiano cooking. Bring an extra case for the parmigiano-reggiano and culatelloâŚâ
I think staying somewhere close to Parma and trying some of these restaurants would probably still be a good thought. But I am also looking for any suggestions for what areas/restaurants not to miss in a journey with a car in E-R. I am not looking to use Parma itself as a base (unless thereâs a feeling from people who have done this that it is a good idea). I will probably pick up my cousin in Bologna and drive from there, perhaps ending and dropping the car in Milan. And we may have as much as two weeks (loosely first two weeks of September).
Grazie mille!