If I ate one frittella from Pasticceria Riazzardini in January, then I must have eaten 100. The thing is, I enjoyed them so much and I stopped bye so frequently, that I completely forgot to think of it as "work". So, Pasticceria Rizzardini was first on my list for this update of OG Venice and it is taking the top spot in our Bakeries & Pastry Shops section. Yummm…
And, though today was the fist time that I've met Paolo Brandolisio, it was certainly not the first time that I looked into his studio near San Zaccaria. What can I say? I love the smell of a woodshop! I've long been curious about where "forcole" come from anyway. Everyone knows where gondolas come from, but those funny looking oar locks? Those come from Paolo! For Paolo, who won't call himself a master craftsman though he certainly must be, I decided to rename an entire section of this guide. He is taking the top spot in our Artisan Shops section. This makes perfect sense when you think about it… Most of the best souvenirs from Venice are made in real artisan shops. A sculptural oar lock would make quite a souvenir… I personally desperately wish I had a way of bringing one of his handmade wooden kayak paddles home with me… They are just so beautiful!
Do pastries and carpentry appear to be incongruous as two new favorites? I don't think so! Here we have one of the oldest continuously operated pastry shops in Venice, Pasticceria Rizzardini has been a pastry shop since the 1700's, and one of the last masters of the truly uniquely Venetian crafts of Forcole e Remi. Enjoy!