For the uninitiated, busseto, province of Parma, is the birthplace of the famous composer Giuseppe Verdi.
In Busseto everything talks about Verdi, from home, Christmas, a beautiful villa surrounded by a moat, with the theater named after him, right in the central square, next to the town hall.
You don't have to take many steps from there to get to the most characteristic place where you can eat in the country, the Historic Salsamenteria e Verdiana Baratta. It doesn't take much to understand that this is a historic inn: the environment is small (if you are even a small group, it is better to book early) and still maintains the old furnishings; on the walls appear various representations of the composer and scores of the most famous works, at the back of the room, as the main counter, we find a real delicatessen counter complete with a slicer to serve what you want at the moment. The atmosphere is then made even more suggestive by the diffusion of the most famous arias of Verdi's operas.
What are we eating? We spoke a little while ago about the delicatessen counter. We are in Parma, the land of culatello, ham and in general any type of bagged, without forgetting the different cheeses. Assorted trays will arrive on the table, one better than the other, accompanied by sauces for all tastes. As an appetizer you can also taste pork cracklings, something that is now hard to find even in the most rustic of taverns.
In accompaniment to the various cold cuts, on your table there will certainly be excellent black lambrusco, that you will not drink from glasses (which, like cutlery, are not there); you can pour it into special bowls, which allow the wine to oxygenate itself at its best and be enjoyed at its best.
Il guest book at the entrance, it shows how the Salsamenteria has every year distinguished visitors and frequenters, even regulars, coming from all over the world, certainly attracted by the great composer, but also by such a particular environment that it is worth the trip even for itself. And don't imagine this place as the classic tourist-pluck trap: you come out fully satisfied by spending something around 15€, practically less than in a banal pizzeria.
"Baratta" Historical and Verdian Salsamenteria
Via Roma, 76 43011 - Busseto (PR)
Tel: 0524-91066 www.salsamenteriabaratta.it
