Zucca means squash in Italian. Specifically those pumpkin-like green-skinned orange-fleshed squashes perfect for pasta filling, roasting, grilling, and all-around indulging in tasty earthiness that’s also SO good for you.

The restaurant La Zucca is in the sestiere Santa Croce in Venice, a bit of a ways from the neighborhood we stayed in of Dorsoduro. But with map in hand we strolled from calle to calle to campo to campo, getting lost but finding beauty at every lost turn…it’s inevitable…it’s Venice. Getting lost is actually on many top 10 lists of what to do in the city. I highly recommend it!

Up a pretty bridge and over a pretty canal we finally found La Zucca. We all agreed it was so worth the effort.

Different than a typical Italian restaurant, this one had a lovely creative focus on vegetarian cuisine, but didn’t shy away from meats, too. The interior immediately hugs you upon entering in a warm, yet modern way. The walls are covered in multiple slats of comforting wood. The tables are of the same wood. The menus are beautiful little sculptures of yellow shaped like small houses. And the place mats match the friendly yellow.

Just reading the menu is an impressive culinary journey. Deciding what to order is the hardest part. You want to try everything.

I ordered the tagliatelle with lamb ragu. The flavors were deep, multilayered and PERfect.

Duane ordered Porri Grattinati…leeks in a gratin of cheese & cream…seriously heavenly.

Lana ordered the red rice with tofu and almonds…the creative winner of our table …light and scrumptious.

Our co-travelers sat at another table and enjoyed more and wonderful menu choices.

Of course, we could not resist dessert. Duane had the luscious limoncello mousse…

Lana the panna cotta, a dessert of gorgeous taste and color!

And I had a fig topped cake drenched in bittersweet chocolate. Yes. To die for.

If you’re in Venice this is a must visit. Here’s their website:

La Zucca

Thanks to Lana who suggested it (and Whitney, too!)