Cicheti (cicchetti) translates to small quantity. They are small snacks or side dishes similar to small tapas (pintxos), typically served in a bacari, a type of tavern in Venice, Italy.

Cantina Do Mori was founded in 1462 and is the oldest bacari in Venice. It is situated close to the Rialto Bridge and, according to the legend, the young Giacomo Casanova used to take his conquests here for their first dates.

This type of establishment was created for people to stop on their way home from work for an aperitivo and a cicchetti and is a social hub where locals gather for a quick drink, a bite to eat and lively conversation. Cicheti are often seafood based, served on top of a slice of bread or polenta and eaten with fingers and toothpicks, usually standing up at the counter.

Nowadays Venice’s bacaro offer cicheti virtually all day long and are perfect for a late morning or afternoon snack. They are usually accompanied with a small glass of local wine which the locals refer to as ombra (shadow). The term is a remnant of the period when wines were unloaded in the Riva degli Schiavoni and then sold in shaded stands located at the base of the Bell Tower of Saint Mark’s Basilica.

Cicheti are fabulous if friends pop in unexpectedly as there are no set rules as to what the cicheti are topped with so feel free to experiment. The first is a simple pate made with tinned sardines and egg and the second is Welsh goat’s cheese topped with pickled strawberries.

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