Buffet da Pepi, Traditional restaurant in Trieste, Italy.
Buffet da Pepi is a traditional restaurant in central Trieste, specializing in boiled meats prepared using the local Caldaia method, where cuts of pork are simmered slowly in a large pot. The menu also includes cured meats and sandwiches made with local bread.
The restaurant opened in 1897, during the period when Trieste was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the cooking methods date from that same era. The recipes and preparation techniques have passed through several generations without major changes.
The food here reflects the long tie between Trieste and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, visible in dishes like boiled pork knuckle served with horseradish. These are not tourist dishes but things locals still eat on a regular basis.
The restaurant is in the city center and easy to reach on foot from most central points in Trieste. It is worth checking opening days in advance, as it closes on certain days of the week.
The Caldaia method used here involves keeping all the meat cuts simmering together in a single pot from morning until closing, which gives each cut a different texture depending on how long it has been in the pot. This means the food on your plate changes slightly depending on what time of day you visit.
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