La Zucca
via Nicolaj Gogol 1/A
42100 Reggio Emilia

La Zucca is no longer to be found in charming Piazza Fontanesi. Unfortunately, the very old building was in need of major works, in particular in the ground floor kitchen, so the restaurant has moved outiside the centro storico, in a depressing area on the via Emilia. But the owners are the same, the menu is the same, and the chef now can work in a fantastic brand new kitchen - and I want a happy chef - therefore the new location is ok with me. At least as long as they keep that painting of old Piazza Fontanesi hanged on the wall, to remind me the time when I was too young to go out to dinner in fancy restaurant and I would sit in Piazza Fontanesi, where friend V.’s aunt and uncle used to have a bar, near La Zucca, and people watch.

My dentist, instead, still works near Piazza Fontanesi. I have to see him in Autumn. After all this eating, it seems like my 1985 fillings are in need of some attention.

The most interesting items on the menu at La Zucca are the gnocchetti alla zucca (dumplings with pumpkin), and buffalo meat (coming from a nearby farm).

Eating buffalo meat is uncommon in Italy. Buffalos are raised for their milk, as buffalo mozzarella is a delicacy. But together with delicious buffalo mozzarella comes an ethical problem. In order for buffalo cows to produce milk they have to produce calves, and of course half of them are males. As buffalo meat is not requested by the Italian market, male buffalos are often killed as soon as they are born.
Therefore, as paradoxical as it may sound, and as hard as it is to know, eating buffalo can save a buffalo.