The foods of Cilento

Tired of the crowds on the Amalfi Coast? Check out our tips for a Weekend escape to Cilento.

Here is a brief photo-essay of the delicious foods enjoyed during a recent 2-day escape to this gorgeous and lesser-known part of southern Italy.

If Cilento could be condensed into one specialty, it would be the anchovies caught in the “menaica” nets. Here they are simply dusted in flour and deep fried for 1 minute. The flavor of the sea is delicate and refreshing.

Another symbolic product of Cilento are the area’s native white figs. I had a tree growing outside my room, every morning I’d pick a few figs to eat at breakfast.

Scialatielli noodles with tomato and basil are a classic souther Italian dish. These in particular had been hand stretched and rolled out that same morning. A simple recipe that’s actually not that easy to make well.

Yellow tomatoes are another local specialty. In the above dish they complemented delicious ricotta-filled melt-in-your-mouth tortelli.

Fried calamari and flying squid (locally called totano) are a favorite, but dangerous dish: I always eat more than I should!

I tasted many great local wines while I was in Cilento, the dry white pictured above complemented the seafood to perfection.

If you’re curious where I enjoyed all these delights, check out Locanda Tre Sorelle in Casal Velino. They also have lodging. And a pool.

Locanda Tre Sorelle
Via Roma, 50, 84040 Casal Velino (SA)
Tel- +30 0974 902024

I was treated to this delicious meal. However, all opinions in this post remain my own and I was in no way influenced or asked to write this post by the restaurant.