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Discovering the delights of the extraordinary Italian city of Venice is to unearth its unique history and geography, which permeates not only the waterways, culture and architecture, but also its culinary traditions.
To absorb the rich history and equally profound food offering, there's no better place than seated at a Venetian table discovering some of the best dishes the city on water has on its menu.
And, while you're there, why not order your favourite new dish in Italian, with our handy audio guide below. After all, no holiday experience is complete without at least having a go at the local lingo. And once you fall in love with the wonderfully characteristic Venetian dishes you're likely to want to order them again.
Here are five of Venice's must try dishes, along with audio on how to correctly pronounce them in Italian. Just listen, repeat, order and eat!
1. BACCALA' MANTECATO
HOW YOU CAN ORDER IT:
No trip to Venice would be complete without a taste of this most local and historical of dishes. Creamed dried cod served on slices of crusty bread as a traditional Venetian 'chiccheti' or with polenta.
2. RISI E BISI
HOW YOU CAN ORDER IT:
This wonderfully simple dish of sweet spring peas and rice served in a broth is a Venetian staple. Here's the recipe to try out at home.
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3. SARDE IN SAOR
HOW TO ORDER IT:
If you're a seafood lover try this classic sweet and sour sardine dish, which originally arrived from Constantinople. Fried sardines are served with sweet and sour cooked onions, raisins, pine nuts and vinegar.
4. FEGATO ALLA VENEZIANA
HOW TO ORDER IT:
Among the various typical Venetian dishes, this is certainly one of the best known in the world for its unmistakable and unique flavour of liver with onion. The origins of the dish date back to Roman times, when liver was cooked together with the figs, which the Venetians adapted over time, replacing figs with onion.
