Outside of being associated with Milan, a dish alla milanese can mean many things, although if you see simply 'milanese' on a menu, it usually means a cutlet fried in breadcrumbs. Many local dishes, such as risotto alla milanese, include saffron, the city's totem spice ever since the Middle Ages. Another classic Milanese dish is osso buco, often served with risotto alla milanese.
Other dishes, such as cassouela, have neither breadcrumbs or saffron, but were invented or popular in Milan.
Image by Giorgio Minguzzi