BE OUR GUEST IN THE PRIVATE VENICE
Artemisia syrup. Lilac sugar. Sea lavender cake. Cornelian cherry-apple cornetto. Just some of the recipes that set Venetian cuisine apart for centuries, and it's using the products from the gardens in Venice and those foraged in the Lagoon. Favorite stories and recipes popular in Venice for centuries, that hosts back in the 1950s and 1960s still served their guests.
INSIDE THE WINTER COLLECTION
When grandmother opened her first restaurant in Venice in 1945, she received help - and ingredients (!) from an unexpected source: The nuns living in the former monastery San Zaccaria, the oldest monastery in Venice! Their library hosted treasure books and stories of how for more than 1200 years, Venetians experimented with exotic herbs, and spices, developing the first fusion cuisine in the world. In the winter edit ONLINE FROM JANUARY 2025, we'll be sharing seasonal treats and treasure maps for you to discover the green and secret side of Venice.
For 12 centuries, Venice had been the premier hub for fragrant spices in the Mediterranean Sea: Essenze di Venezia (The Essences of Venice), created by La Venessiana - Venice Food and Garden Blog, offers you exclusive access to learn about and taste these culinary treasures: Both virtual resources like e-guides, a culinary community (for free!), and exclusive culinary experiences in Venice. Keep scrolling to see more!
YOU MAY HAVE SEEN US ON:
PLANNING TO VISIT VENICE IN THE WINTER?
Autumn is such a cozy yet festive time here in Venice. Discover our new one-day-in-Venice guides dedicated to making your planning easier.
What you need to know about the Lagoon in autumn, and about high tides (acqua alta).
Our new guide to the gardens in Venice will be online soon: Which gardens to visit in autumn, plus autumn inspiration from Venice for your own garden.
Spend one memorable day in Venice. What to eat, drink, what to see. Plus a special afternoon learning about coffee in Venice.
We start this monthly series showing you the most inspiring breakfast spots and bars in Venice. October = coffee month !!
NOVEMBER IN THE MEMBERSHIP / 1
Discover the oldest vineyard in Venice, and the harvest feast of the islands.
Plus, a delicious menu to be enjoyed with the new wine (vino novello).
NOVEMBER IN THE MEMBERSHIP / 2
Become inspired by the colors and tones of the Venetian gardens in autumn. This e-guide contains ideas for you to implement in your own garden, and which gardens in Venice to visit in autumn.
AUTUMN BUNDLE / PART 3
So Join us and see howthe olives are harvested in the Lagoon. Plus, a day tasting olive-based dishes in Venice, and a recipe booklet.
AUTUMN BUNDLE / PART 4
So isSquash is one of our favorite ingredients as you'll see. Discover grandmother's favorite menu in autumn, and where to taste it in Venice (includes a restaurant guide).
The story of Venice is fascinating and so much more omplex than I had once thought: It's like looking at someone with new eyes. - Chris Bean
For me, La Venessiana has always stood out because of its very personal insights and real beauty. Reflecting the personality of your incomparable city. It's filled with information I never knew, and is a joy for me. - Janet Rant
"50,000 Venetians live in the historic center. Their numbers are down from 150,000 two centuries ago but this core of residents holds a deep love for their home: Iris and her grandmother are passionate to show people that there's much, much more to Venice than just St Mark's, beautiful though it is.
So they write about the hidden, private side of Venice. From courtyard gardens to secret orchards, medicinal botany to vegetable patches. Most lie behind anonymus, vertiginous, red brick walls, totally unknown to passers-by or their guidebooks, and astonishingly gardens cover almost half the surface area of the city. Often the only clue you'll have to being near a secret sanctuary is a waft of heavy vanilla, jasmine or lemon balm as you pass by.
BE OUR GUEST IN A SECRET GARDEN IN VENICE:
Artemisia syrup. Lilac sugar. Sea lavender cake. Cornelian cherry-apple cornetto. Just some of the recipes that set Venetian cuisine apart for centuries, and it's using the products from the gardens in Venice and those foraged in the Lagoon. Favorite stories and recipes popular in Venice for centuries, that hosts back in the 1950s and 1960s still served their guests.
WHAT'S ON THE MENU
Traditional Venetian food. Rare cakes found only in a few restaurants. Garden produce and lost recipes. La Spezeria is a garden atelier in Venice where we examine old methods of using herbs, flowers, and spices. Since 2001, we have been sharing lost stories and recipes for making delicious and spicy food, flowery perfumes, and plant-based remedies.