3 Traditional Foods
You Have To Try in Udine

Cjarsons is a traditional dish originating from Friuli. The dish consists of stuffed pasta that's similar to ravioli. However, the pasta is made from potatoes, similar to gnocchi, while the ingredients in the filling range from wild herbs, ricotta, raisins, potatoes, cocoa, cinnamon, and other spices. Cjarson should always have a flavor that's somewhere between sweet and savory, or both at the same time. Each family has their own recipe that has been handed down over generations, because in the past cjarsons was a festive dish and the recipe was kept secret by the head of each family. Once prepared, the cjarsons are cooked in boiling water, then traditionally topped with melted butter and grated smoked ricotta.Expand

Frico is a traditional dish from the Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, made with a local delicacy known as Montasio cheese. There are two versions: the frico friabile, a crunchy snack made with cheese fried in olive oil until crunchy, and the more famous frico morbido, the soft one, combining the cheese with potatoes and onions in a succulent, rich pancake, baked or fried until it turns golden and crispy on both sides. Full of flavor, frico is a delicious example of cucina povera. It was invented in the 15th century as a clever way to use strissulis, the leftovers from cheese production. Like with many other popular traditional recipes, many varieties exist, so it can be additionally enriched with pancetta, mushrooms, or tomatoes. The flavor of this dish also changes significantly depending on the aging time of cheese used in its preparation: frico made with fresco and mezzano is not as intense as the one prepared with stagionato or stravecchio. The dish is best served hot, while the cheese is still melted, stringy, and gooey. It can be served as a garnish for soups and stews, or enjoyed sliced, paired with polenta and a glass of hearty red wine.Expand

Even though tiramisù is actually a fairly recent invention, this dessert of coffee-soaked ladyfingers layered with mascarpone cream enjoys an iconic status among Italian desserts. Its name stems from the phrase tirami sù, an Italian expression which literally means pick me up, a reference to the uplifting effects of sugar, liquor, and coffee. The origins of tiramisù are heavily disputed between Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia regions, but it is often suggested that the first was made in Veneto in the early 1960s. The earliest documented recipe for tiramisù (interestingly, without alcohol!) was printed in the 1981 spring edition of Vin Veneto magazine in an article on coffee-based desserts by Giuseppe Maffioli, a renowned food critic and member of the Italian Academy of Cuisine. However, in August 2017, Friuli-Venezia Giulia's tiramisu was officially added to the list of traditional regional dishes, but a Veneto local won the Tiramisu World Cup in November 2017, so the playing field is somewhat levelled once again. Regardless of these disputes, the perfect tiramisù should always deliver a serious caffeine kick from a shot of strong espresso, while brandy-fortified Marsala wine adds a nice sweet buzz. In 2021, Ado Campeol, the owner of the restaurant where tiramisù is widely thought to have been invented, has died.Expand