As a post-grad celebration, my family and I took a weeklong trip to Italy, specifically Ischia, a volcanic island off the coast of Naples. The island was the perfect getaway, and its food culture was incredible. As a coastal destination, Ischia is known for its fresh seafood and abundance of seaside restaurants. I’m not usually as big a fan of seafood as the rest of my family, but I used this trip as an opportunity to expand my palate and try new foods.
Everything I ate was fresh, light, and satisfying, and it genuinely made me feel good after every meal. Along with trying unfamiliar dishes, I also indulged in classic Italian favorites. Here’s a menu of some of the best things I ate on vacation that I’d absolutely recommend if you ever get the chance to visit Naples and the surrounding islands.
Appetizers
My family and I went crazy with the appetizers. At every meal, our eyes were definitely bigger than our stomachs, but we couldn’t resist the huge variety of options. One of the standout dishes from the trip was eggplant parmesan. I had never really liked eggplant before, but after trying it on the first night, I was completely hooked. We ordered it at almost every restaurant afterward, and it never disappointed. We also fell in love with the meatballs we had as an appetizer and they were probably the best meatballs I’ve ever eaten. Another favorite was the bruschetta and crostini. We tried classic tomato and basil bruschetta, along with a crostini topped with prosciutto, creamy buffalo mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes, and a touch of basil pesto. We also had plenty of fresh calamari, which ended up being the perfect introduction to seafood for me. Another seafood dish we loved was tuna tartare. It was so fresh and flavorful that I genuinely think I’ll be dreaming about it forever.
Pasta
Eating pasta in Ischia was completely unmatched. On our first night, I had a life-changing spaghetti carbonara. The pork was crispy and flavorful, and the sauce was perfectly creamy. I also had a classic spaghetti with fresh tomatoes, and even though it’s such a simple dish, the freshness of the ingredients made it incredibly delicious. Another pasta dish I tried was pesto gnocchi with fresh clams. I don’t usually enjoy clams, but this dish was so good that they blended perfectly into the flavors of the pesto and made the gnocchi even better. Another specialty in Ischia is rabbit, so I decided to try a rabbit gnocchi. It was so flavorful and well-prepared, reminiscent of chicken, that I almost forgot I was eating something so unfamiliar.
Pizza
Naples is known for inventing pizza, so it’s no surprise that Ischia had some incredible pizza options. One night, I tried a Neapolitan ripieno pizza, which is a folded, stuffed pizza (similar to a calzone) filled with prosciutto, fior di latte cheese, tomatoes, and basil. It was incredibly creamy, and the dough was soft, airy, and honestly unforgettable.
Desserts
I’ll always cherish classic Italian desserts. While I was there, I obviously had to try tiramisu everywhere we went. Tiramisu is one of my favorite desserts of all time because it has the perfect balance of sweetness and rich coffee flavor. One night, a waiter poured fresh espresso over the tiramisu right at the table, which made it even more delicious. Of course, I also had to get plenty of gelato. My favorite flavor is pistachio, but I also tried hazelnut and coffee together, which turned out to be the perfect combination. These desserts, paired with a cappuccino after dinner, truly ended each night on the perfect note.
Aperitivo
Aperitivo’s are a huge part of Italian culture that I wish were more popular in the U.S. It’s essentially a happy hour where you order a drink that comes paired with light snacks. My favorite drink of the trip was easily a Hugo Spritz, and I ended up having multiple throughout the day. As someone who isn’t a huge fan of Aperol, Hugo Spritzes were always my go-to. Some of my favorite aperitivo snacks were San Carlo Più Gusto tomato chips, fresh green olives, and mixed nuts. Simple snacks somehow tasted even better while sitting by the water in Ischia.