Salsamenteria Storica e Verdiana Baratta

The concept of a Salsamenteria is immediately likeable. Imagine a place full of amazing cured meats like hams, salamis, and sausages...now, imagine you can add a bottle of wine or lambrusco to the table. That's a salsamenteria! You go to the counter, pick what you want, and they bring it to the table.

This Salsamenteria in the historic district of Busseto has really unusual decor. Verdi went there to eat after working on his operas and over the years it has become something of a temple to the composer. There are items, photos, and drawing of him everywhere. This little museum-cafe is tremendously charming and the owners couldn't be friendlier.

If you visit Italy, you have to eat at a Salsamenteria. What are they? They're shops where you can buy authentic regional products but also eat them on the spot. With Verdi's music in the background and a tasty platter of ham in front of us, we listed to the owner talk about the years when Verdi came to the restaurant. Oh, and their sauces are more than 100 years old!