An introduction, an ancient road, the journey through Emilia Romagna begins!
Due Torri-Bologna
Due Torri – Torre degli Asinelli e Garisenda: icons of Bologna, standing proudly where the ancient Via Emilia first entered the city.
The Via Emilia, carved by the Romans in 187 BC, stretches from Rimini on the Adriatic coast to Piacenza on the River Po. Built to connect and establish new colonies—Bologna (pictured), Modena, Reggio Emilia, and Parma—it remains the backbone of this extraordinary food and cultural corridor.
My goal here is simple: to share my journey—past, present, and future—through this rich, fertile land I’ve grown to know and love: Emilia-Romagna.
I was born in Australia, trained at culinary school in New York City, ran a successful salumeria in North Carolina, and now find myself fully immersed in Emilia-Romagna. Through this newsletter, I’ll bring you along: restaurant discoveries, honest reviews, local traditions, historical insights, travel stories, and, of course, the joys of Cucina Emiliana. 🐖
Writing isn’t new to me. Back in 2009, I ran a blog (dmanburger.wordpress.com) chronicling the quest for the best burger in one of the world’s great food cities, and even had pieces published on New York Magazines Grub Street, among others.Today, I’ve swapped burgers for salumi, prosciutto, gnocco fritto, tagliatelle al ragù, friggione, stracchino, and Parmigiano Reggiano Vacca Bianca Modenese from Caseificio Rosola.
Caseificio Rosola-Zocca, MO
Along the way, I’ve discovered the Terre di Castelli, the Lands of Castles: a stretch of terrain bridging the fertile plains of Emilia with the rolling hills of the Apennines, on the border of Modena and Bologna provinces. Comprising eight towns within the Unione di Castelli, each village offers its own cultural and gastronomic treasures—more stories to come, and I can’t wait to share them with you.
Iniziamo un viaggio!
—Darren