Following on from the pasticcerias and gelato, my aunt drove us up the Euganean Hills south-west of Padua to her favourite Trattoria al Bigolaro for our first dinner in Padua. This is one of the restaurants she’s frequented over 25 years so everybody knows her and she gets priority over her favourite table. The trattoria is beautiful inside and I believe it was recently refurbished, set with white tablecloths, plush furniture, carpet and curtains.
The trattoria is famous for its house made bigoli, a type of pasta, and other pastas which change daily. It’s the first time I’m introduced to bigoli, which I’ve never heard of, but is a signature pasta in the Veneto region. Bigoli is like a thick spaghetti that’s slightly rough so that it can ‘grab’ any sauces. The pasta is all handmade before being pushed through a bigolaro, a pasta-making contraption, to make bigoli and is a rather strenuous process.
For every meal, my aunt will always order some kind of local wine and water. During our stay in Italy, I noticed that wines are usually served in a glass carafe, not from a wine bottle with a label. A complimentary bread basket is also provided for the table.
We ordered our pasta mains, and thought that was all we were getting, when some starters arrived at the table. The affettati misti of cured meats (6€) with polenta, and the verdure pastellate fried vegetables (5€). The fried vegetables are delicious and very lightly fried, a batter similar to tempura, so that it isn’t overly oily or fatty.
I chose the bigoli al ragu (8€) a classic Italian dish. The bigoli reminds me of eating thick noodles, and really is just a thicker spaghetti. I taste lots of herbs and spices like bay leaf in the ragu, and can tell from the richness of the ragu that it had been stewing for a few hours.
We order the pappardelle all’anitra (8€) which is minced duck in a light olive oil. I really had to stir the duck through to coat the pappardelle. A very simple dish but with lots of flavour.
The last pasta dish is gnocchi al pomodoro – a plain tomato sauce using crushed tomatoes. I absolutely love gnocchi and this did not disappoint. The sauce is a lot more plain than I’m used to, it seems to be literally crushed tomatoes, but that’s how the Italians like to have it.
For dessert, I’m introduced to sorbetto as a dessert drink. My aunt translates for us and tells us this trattoria is one of the few that makes unique flavours (I think that day it was lavender), but I stick with the more traditional lemon sorbetto (4€). We also order the semifredo al torroncino (4.50€) – a nougat semifreddo which is wonderfully creamy and easy to finish off.
My aunt introduces us to zaetti (4.50€ and various spellings), the signature biscuit in the Veneto region. It’s made of polenta, pine nuts and raisins. It’s a little dry but goes perfectly well with tea or coffee.
As it is my aunt’s favourite, we went back to this trattoria a few days later.
This time I order the fettucine carbonara (8€) which is the best carbonara of my life! I never realised that Italian’s don’t actually use cream in carbonara – it’s all silky egg yolk and I’m assuming a bit of butter. This means the carbonara doesn’t give you that sickening feeling from all the heavy creaminess. Instead it’s very light and enjoyable.
We loved the duck sauce so much we ordered the bigoli all’anitra (8€) too.
To change things up, my aunt also orders the faraona ripiena (11€) a stuffed guinea fowl which is another common bird eaten in the north. This comes served with a side of fried polenta. I have a few bites and it doesn’t taste too gamey, but I’m so full from all the pasta.
But I do have room to share the coffee sorbetto for dessert. It’s thick and creamy, nothing like an icy sorbet at all.
Other things on the menu include wild boar stew, baked rabbit, and Venetian dove – all quite gamey.
Great quality food and at very reasonable prices. We were spoilt with service since my aunt knows the owners, and has been a loyal customer for so many years! It’s a beautiful restaurant, set in the hills, and is such a lovely authentic Italian experience. There are no views of the hills from the restaurant terrace, but the drive up is lovely.
Trattoria Al Bigolaro
Via Regazzoni Bassa, 19, 35030 Galzignano Terme PD, Italy
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