Umbria is a beautiful part of Italy year-round, but it’s in the autumn that you’ll find the best eating. Truffles are everywhere, being grated over risottos, blended into cheese and folded through eggs. Mushrooms of all kinds take centre stage on the dinner table, with legions of basket-donning fungi hunters taking to the countryside and fiercely defending their secret spots. But while we’d happily feast on fresh truffles and mushrooms all day long, it’s the wild game found in Umbria that takes pride of place on restaurant menus.
Ever since the Etruscans (an ancient pre-Roman Italian civilisation) ruled over western Umbria, game has been essential to the local diet. As a predominantly rural region, there’s plenty of wild woodland and hillsides for wild animals to thrive in, and hunters over the centuries have made the most of the bounty. Likewise, Lake Trasimeno – Umbria’s only major lake – is home to various freshwater fish that more than make up for the region’s lack of coastline.
Whether you’re planning a trip to Umbria and are wondering what’s in store for when you get there or simply want to know more about some of the region’s most famous game dishes, there are dozens of different recipes that make the most of these wild beasts and fish. Below are some of the most iconic.