pedalaforte
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Posts posted by pedalaforte
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Trattoria Meloncello. It's a bit off the beaten path, but the food is great and the setting informal -- and cheap.
We too went to Del Rosso, and found both great and average. I would send her there for certain, as it is unbelieveably inexpensive and in the student area of the city. Get the crescentini. Baaaad panna cotta.
Della Rossa (with an "a") is a bit more expensive but still moderate and their food was excellent and not snooty. One of the highlight meals of our trip, with all the classics on the menu. I'm certain lunch would be even more reasonably priced.
Tamburini? Definitely touoristy, but the food was good. Tell her to get take outs and eat outside at the beautiful square down the street at Santo Stephano Church. Before eating there, she could make two noteworthy stops: (1) at the Artiginnasio to see its amazing, intricate, anatomical wood carvings that cover the walls of a 15th century medical school classroom. Mesmerizing. (2) and, at the small church, Santa Maria della Vita, to see a unique pieta by sculptor Nicolo del Arco, who crafted a life-sized series of seven terra cotta figures in various and expressive stages of remorse. Death sure is brilliant in stone under dimly lit alcoves.
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Peter: We are sold completely on staying in Oleggio, a town with a quaint central section just west of Malpensa. We like the Hotel Roma, just outside the small centro and within a five-minute walk of a fantastic restaurant, Il Gatto e La Volpe (a Slow Food place). There also is a great pizza place rigth on the central square if you want to go cheap.
Oleggio is an EASY 15-minute drive on a back road to Malpensa. It is the most convenient, traffic-free place I've found that still has some character -- great character, in fact.
Do consider it if you are looking for some thing besides the lakes region. It's nice for a final night. I would, however, try to book a room at the Roma. I think people are beginning to find out aboutthis town and the hotel. It was filled on a Monday night in November when we were there last, and we had an awaful night at one of the polished new ugly places. It still was a short hop tot he airport, just not as quaint.
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That lasagna looks stunning, as do the tortellini.
For our Christmas dinner, I also made a lasagna based on a recipe from "Splendid Table" -- Dukes of Ferrara lasagna, maybe? But I didn't want it to be quite as sweet as that one given the side dishes we were having, so I altered it to be this:
-- the lasagna: homemade noodles (cooked slightly!), homemade lemon ricotta (our daughter brought fresh Meyers lemons off their tree in California), braised-roasted fennel bulb, raisins, lots of Parm-Reggiano (from Parma, where we went in late November), toasted almonds, and bechamel. Wish I had a pic.
Side dishes were butternut squash, balsamic-glazed roasted red onions, stewed peppers in tomato sauce.
We also made these "arancini"-evolved things that turned out great after some experimentation with the cooking method. First, made plain risotto with lots of cheese (Parm-Regg). Let it cool, then rolled it into small balls (maybe 1-2 inches diameter). Punched a little hole in each one, then stuffed inside with 2-3 dried cherries that had been steeped in Pedro Ximinez sherry (bought on actual sherry turf last year). Closed the rice around the cherries, flattened each one a bit, then breaded them in plain bread crumbs.
The tricky part was how to "deep fry" them, which I didn't want to do. So I tried pan frying them in a bit of olive oil -- they fell apart before they browned enough to hold them together. Eventually, i decided to just bake them -- they turned out fantastic. In fact, I made them early, then just reheated them (350 degrees, maybe 10 minutes, covered), so they were really convenient to serve as a one-bite dish. They were a hit. Is this an ER dish? !!!!! Oh well.
Just sharing. Info, I wish it were food!
Cheers
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Does anyone have a good recipe for mostarda di Cremona or any Emilia Romagna mostarda? We just returned from ER and my wife loved this stuff, and we want to put some in our Christmas dinner tortelli di zucca!
She tried several internet recipes and none seemed to produce the syrupy, even runny, sharp mostarda we had in Zibello, Bologna, Modena, etc. The two recipes she tried produced a thick, jammy mostarda and most had mustard seed, which is not what we had there.
I did find a former post that discussed using "senape" instead of mustard. Is this "mustard oil" that we get in the U.S.? We definitely are looking for that punchy bite that the ones in ER had.
We especially would like a recipe that uses our apples. Of course, we can put apples in place of any fruit mentioned in the recipes.
Thanks.
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Thanks for that detailed report. We leave for Piemonte two weeks from today, so your report interests me greatly. Sounds like we need to get to La Ciau di Tornavento some day.
Would it be appropriate to ask for prices? Dinner for two w/wine, that kind of thing?
Cheers
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You sound like vegetarians in the same vein as my wife, who also is not stuffy or too resolute with her demands. We leave in 2 1/2 weeks for Piemonte, and we expect no problems. I think you'll find dozens of restaurant choices, with most welcoming you with no problem.
I think Lexma's post lists some of the top items. It's fall, pumpkin/winter squash season, so expect to find stuffed pasta with pumpkin/squash. All the sformati, as already stated. Bagna cauda=anchovies, indeed! (They and sardines are two of the fish my wife truly loves.)
Do you know Italian? Mine is poor, but I did learn the following phrase, which I hope is greeted with smiles -- and great food:
"La mia moglie e una vegetariana, pero lei e’ tranquilla e lei non fa fastidio di carne.
Lei e’ brava con il brodo di carne e i pezzetti della carne, e lei mangia cio che’ noi mangiamo tranne la carne – quindi pasti, verdure certimente, e i contorni."
... My wife is a vegetarian, but (paraphrasing) she's not a pain in the ass (I''m kidding. It doesn't mean that.)
She is fine with meat stock and small amounts of meat. She eats mostly what we eat, except the meat -- so pasta, vegetables certainly, and the side dishes. ...
I don't know. Maybe they'll throw us out!
Best of luck with the trip. Let us know if you find anything magical. Well, of course you'll find things magical. Tell us!
Cheers
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We've grown them (and cooked them and eat them) for several years now.
I don't know what you mean by traditional, but "traditional" to me means simple, fresh and keep it lively.
We just dice them into rounds and saute them in olive oil. We'll add maybe a few fennel seeds, or maybe some red pepper flakes (the Abruzzo blood in me). Often, in fact most often, when they're about half-way done, we'll add bread crumbs into the pan then turn the heat up and brown them. At the end we might add a little cheese, but we don't do that very often.
And a question: how is it that you can't grow these things? They seem like a weed sometimes when they're pumping out way too many of these things and we can't keep up in mid summer! And that's here in the frozen wastelands of Utah in the western U.S.!
Cheers
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I have ... heard that it is better to visit San Miniato as some truffles in Alba are actually from San Miniato. You would get cheaper and fresher truffle there.
Hi kkwc. I'm certainly no expert, but here's my answer from my extensive reading.
Yes, some Alba truffles are not from Alba; perhaps some are from San Miniato. But the context of that, from what I understand, is that people bring cheaper truffles to Alba and try to pawn them off as Alba truffles. That is, they try to make huge profits on their out-of-Piedmont truffles by claiming that they are actually from Piedmont. So, yes, you can get "cheaper" truffles in many places; but those cheaper truffles won't be the same.
The short of it is that if you want the best truffles, pay the price in Piedmont. If you just want "truffles," then you can get them many, many places. But be assured that they are not the exquisite truffles for which Piedmont is famous. (And not just Alba, by the way. In fact, others here will argue -- convincingly -- that perhaps better and definitely less expensive truffles can be found in other areas of Piedmont.)
Ciao
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RISTORANTE TRATTORIA DELLA POSTA
MONFORTE D'ALBA (CN)
Loc. Sant'Anna, 87
Tel. 0 173 78120 - www.trattoriadellaposta.it
There's a web site to get more info.
In fact, here's a list I copied before from our infamous friend and colleague "Swiss Chef." Look like a great list to me!
DUEMALLEVINI (THE ASSOCIATION OF ITALIAN SOMMELIERS)
2007 TOP RESTAURANT PICKS IN PIEDMONT
(Listed according to town)
RISTORANTE I CAFFI
ACQUI TERME (AL)
Via Verdi ang.Via del Voltone, 1
Tel. 0144 325206 - www.icaffi.it
RISTORANTE PISTERNA
ACQUI TERME (AL)
Via Scatilazzi, 15 -
Tel. 0144 325114 - www.pistema.it
RISTORANTE DULCIS VITIS
ALBA (CN)
Via Rattazzi, 7
Tel. 0173 364633 - www.dulcisvitis.it
RISTORANTE LOCANDA DEL PILONE
ALBA (CN)
Fraz. Madonna di Corno, 34
Tel. 0 173 366616 - www.locandadeipilone.com
RISTORANTE PIAZZA DUOMO
Alba (CN)
P.zza Risorgimento, 4
Tel. 0173 366167 - www.piazzaduomoalba.it
RISTORANTE L'ARCIMBOLDO
Alessandria
Via Legnano, 2
Tel. 0131 52022 - www.RISTORANTEarcimboldo.it
RISTORANTE LA FERMATA
ALESSANDRIA - Fraz. Spinetta Marengo
Via Bolla, 2
Tel. 0131251350 - www.lafermata-al.it
RISTORANTE IL GRAPPOLO
ALESSANDRIA -
Via Casale, 28 -
Tel. 0131 253217 - www.RISTORANTEiigrappolo.it
RISTORANTE VECCHIA ARONA
ARONA (NO)
Lungolago Marconi, 17
Tel. 0322 242469
RISTORANTE L'ANGOLO DEL BEATO
ASTI
Via Guttuari, 12
Tel. 0141531668 - www.angolodelbeato.it
RISTORANTE GENER NEUV
ASTI
Lungo Tanaro dei Pescatori, 4
Tel. 0141 557270 - www.generneuv.it
OSTERIA Al BINARI
ASTI -
S.S. Asti-Chivasso Fraz. Mombarone, 145
Tel. 0141294228
OSTERIA DEL DIAVOLO
ASTI
P.zza San Martino, 6
Tel. 0 141 30221 - 339 4286857 - www.osteriadeldiavolo.it
TACABANDA
ASTI
Via al Teatro Alfieri, 5
Tel. 0141 530999
RISTORANTE ANTINÉ
BARBARESCO (CN)
Via Torino, 16
Tel. 0 173 635294 - www.antine.it
RISTORANTE AL VECCHIO TRE STELLE
BARBARESCO (CN)
Fraz. Tre Stelle
Tel. 0173 638192 - www.vecchiotrestelle.it
RISTORANTE D'LA PICOCARDA
BARGE (CN)
Loc. Crocera Via Cardè, 71
Tel. 0175 30300
RISTORANTE LOCANDA NEL BORGO ANTICO
BAROLO (CN)
Via Boschetti, 4
Tel. 0173 56355 - www.locandanelborgo,it
RISTORANTE OSTERIA LA CANTINELLA
BAROLO (CN)
Via Acqua Gelata, 4/a
Tel. 0173 56267
RISTORANTE VILLA D'AMELIA
BENEVELLO (CN)
Fraz. Manera Loc. Bonelli Bianchi, 1
Tel. 0173 529225 - www.villadamelia.com
RISTORANTE BUNET
BERGOLO (CN)
Via Roma, 24
Tel. 0173 87013 - www.lbunet.it
RISTORANTE PRINZ GRILL
BIELLA
Via Torino, 14
Tel. 015 30302
RISTORANTE PINOCCHIO
BORGOMANERO (NO)
Via Matteotti, 147
Tel. 0322 82273 - www.RISTORANTEpinocchio.it
RISTORANTE TRATTORIA DEI COMMERCIANTI
BORGOMANERO (NO)
Via Cornice, 35
Tel. 0322 841392 - www.trattoriadeicommercianti.it
RESTORANTE OSTERIA CASCINA DEI FIORI
BORGOVERCELLI (VC)
Reg. Forte Cascina dei Fiori
Tel. 0161 32827
RISTORANTE AL RODODENDRO
BOVES (CN)
Via San Giacomo, 73
Tel. 0171380372
RISTORANTE LA CORTE ALBERTINA
BRA (CN) Fraz. Pollenzo
P.zza Vittorio Emanuele 3
Tel. 0172 458189 - www.lacortealbertina.it
RISTORANTE GUIDO A POLLENZO
BRA (CN) - Fraz. Pollenzo
Via Fossano, 19
Tel. 0172 458422 - www.guidoRISTORANTE.it
RISTORANTE OSTERIA DEL BOCCONDIVINO
BRA (CN)
Via Mendicità Istruita, 14
Tel. 0172 425674 - www.boccondivinoslow.it
RISTORANTE MARSUPINO
BRIAGLIA (CN)
Via Roma, 20
Tel. 0174 563888 - www.trattoriamarsupino.it
RISTORANTE VIOLETTA
CALAMANDRANA (AT)
Via Valle San Giovanni, 1
Tel. 0 141 769011
OSTERIA DELLA GALLINA SVERSA
CALOSSO (AT) - Fraz. Piana del Salto
Via Battibò, 9
Tel. 0141853483 - www.gallinasversa.com
RISTORANTE GARDENIA
CALUSO (TO)
C.so Torino, 9
Tel. 011 9832249 - www.gardeniacaluso.it
RISTORANTE TAVERNA DI CAMPAGNA DAL 1997
CAMAGNA MONFERRATO (AL)
Vicolo Sallina, 20
Tel. 0142 925645
RISTORANTE AL CAMINETTO
CAMERI (NO)
Via Cavour, 30
Tel. 0321 518780
RISTORANTE ALL ENOTECA
L CANALE (CN)
Via Roma, 57
Tel. 0173 95857
RISTORANTE VILLA TIBOLDI
CANELLI (CN) - Loc. Tiboldi
Case Sparse, 127
Tel. 0173 970388 - www.villatiboldi.it
RISTORANTE SAN MARCO
CANELLI (AT)
Via Alba, 136
Tel. 0141 823544 - www.sanmarcoRISTORANTE.it
RISTORANTE LOCANDA MALPASSUTI
CARBONARA SCRIVIA (AL)
Vicolo A. Cantù, 11
Tel. 0131 892643 - www.locandamalpassuti.it
RISTORANTE OSTERIA DEL BORGO
CARRÙ (CN)
Via Garibaldi, 19
Tel. 0173 759184 - www.osteriaborgo.it
RISTORANTE CACCIATORI
CARTOSIO (AL)
Via Moreno, 30
Tel. 0 144 40123
RISTORANTE LA TORRE
CASALE MONFERRATO (AL)
Via Candiani d'Olivola, 36
Tel. 0142 70295 - www.RISTORANTE-latorre.it
RISTORANTE LA FIORAIA
CASTELLO DI ANNONE (AT)
Via Mondo, 26
Tel. 0141401106
RISTORANTE ARIANNA
CAVAGLIETTO (NO)
Via Umberto, 4
Tel. 0322 806l34 - www.jre.it
RISTORANTE ANTICA CORONA REALE
CERVERE (CN)
Via Fossano, 13
Tel. 0 172 474132
RISTORANTE OPERTI 1772 DA FAUSTO
CHERASCO (CN)
Via Vittorio Emanuele, 103
Tel. 0172 487048 - www.opertil772.it
RISTORANTE OSTERIA DELLA ROSA ROSSA
CHERASCO (CN)
Via San Pietro, 31
Tel. 0172 488133
RISTORANTE SAN DOMENICO
CHIERI (TO)
Via San Domenico, 2/b
Tel. 0 11 9411864
RISTORANTE DOLCE STIL NOVO
CIRIÈ (TO) - Loc. Devesi
Via San Pietro, 71
Tel. 011 9211110 - www.dolcestilnovo.com
RISTORANTE LOCANDA DELL 'ARCO
CISSONE (CN)
Pzza dell'Olmo, 1
Tel. 0 173 748200 - www.locandadellarco.com
RISTORANTE VILLA SAN CARLO
CORTEMILIA (CN)
C.so Divisioni Alpine, 41
Tel. 0173 81546 - www.hotelsancarlo.it
ENOTECA CAFFÈ ROMA
COSTIGLIOLE D'ASTI (AT)
Pzza Umberto 1, 14
Tel. 0141 966544 - www.enotecafferoma.com
RISTORANTE COLLAVINI
COSTIGLIOLE D'ASTI (AT)
S.da Traniera 24
Tel. 0141966440 - www.fistorantecollavini.it
RISTORANTE DA MAURIZIO
CRAVANZANA (CN) - Via San Rocco, 16
Tel. 0173 855019 - www.RISTORANTEdamaurizio.it
RISTORANTE BEL SOGGIORNO
CREMOLINO (AL)
Via Umberto 1, 69
Tel. 0143 879012 - www.RISTORANTEbelsoggiorno.it
RISTORANTE DELLE ANTICHE CONTRADE
CUNEO
Via Savigliano, 11
Tel. 0171 690429 - www.antichecontrade.it
RISTORANTE OSTERIA DELLA CHIOCCIOLA
CUNEO
Via Fossano, 1
Tel. 0 171 66277
RISTORANTE TRATTORIA DEI TACCONOTTI
FRASCARO (AL) -
Fraz. Tacconotti, 17
Tel. 0131278488
RISTORANTE NUOVO IMPERO
GATTINARA (NO)
Via E Mattai, 4
Tel. 0 163 833234
RISTORANTE CANTINE DEL GAVI
GAVI (AL)
Via G. Manneli, 69
Tel. 0 143 642458
RISTORANTE OSTERIA LA MADERNASSA
GUARENE (CN)
Fraz. Castelrotto Loc. Lora, 2
Tel: 0 173 611716 - www.osterialamadernassa.it
RISTORANTE IL CASCINALENUOVO
ISOLA D'ASTI (AT)
Statale Asti-Alba, 15
Tel. 0141958166 - www.ilcascinalenuovo.it
RISTORANTE DA MANUELA
ISOLA SANT' ANTONI0 (AL)
Via Po, 31
Tel. 0131857177
RESTORANTE BELVEDERE
LA MORRA (CN)
Pzza Castello, 5
Tel: 017350190 - www.belvederelamorra.it
RISTORANTE OSTERIA VEGLIO
LA MORRA (CN) - Fraz. Annunziata, 9 -
Tel. 0173 509341
RISTORANTE LA PIOLA DEL BARBON
MANTA (CN)
Via Garibaldi, 190
Tel. 0175 88088
RISTORANTE NOVECENTO
MEINA (NO)
Via Ing. Bonomi, 13
Tel. 0322 669600 - www.nov-ece-nto.it
RISTORANTE MACALLÉ
Momo (NO)
Via Boniperti, 2
Tel. 0321926064 - www.macalle.it
RISTORANTE AMETISTA
MONCALVO (AT)
P.zza Antico Castello, 15
Tel. 0 141 917423
RISTORANTE GIARDINO DA FELICIN
MONFORTE D'ALBA (CN)
Via Vallada, 18
Tel. 0 173 78225 - www.felicin.it
OSTERIA LA SALITA
MONFORTE D'ALBA (CN)
Via Marconi, 2/a
Tel. 0 173 787196
RISTORANTE TRATTORIA DELLA POSTA
MONFORTE D'ALBA (CN)
Loc. Sant'Anna, 87
Tel. 0 173 78120 - www.trattoriadellaposta.it
RISTORANTE LA BRAJA
MONTEMAGNO (AT)
Via San Giovanni Bosco, 11
Tel. 0141653925 - www.labraja.it
RISTORANTE CONTI ROERO
MONTICELLO D'ALBA (CN)
Pzza San Ponzio, 3
Tel. 0173 64155 - www.contiroero.com
RISTORANTE CASCINA MARTINI
MURISENGO (AL) - Fraz. Corteranzo
Via Gianoli, 15
Tel. 0 141693015 - www.cascinamartini.com
RISTORANTE LA CONTEA
NEIVE (CN)
Pzza Cocito, 8
Tel. 0173 67126-677558 - www.la-contea.it
CANTINA DEL RONDÒ
NIEVE (CN)
Loc. Fausoni, 7
Tel. 0173 679808 - www.cantinadelrondo.it
LA SIGNORA IN ROSSO
NIZZA MONFERRATO (AT)
Via Crova, 2
Tel: 0141 793350 - www.signorainrosso.com
RISTORANTE TANTRIS
NOVARA
C.so Risorgimento, 384
Tel. 0321657343
RISTORANTE VILLA CRESPI
ORTA SAN GIULIO (NO)
Via G. Fava, 18
Tel. 0322 911902 - www.hotelvillacrespi.it
RISTORANTE OSTERIA DEL BRUTTO ANATROCCOLO
PEZZOLO VALLE UZZONE (CN)
Via Roma, 31
Tel. 0173 827505
RISTORANTE LE CLIVIE
PIOBESI D'ALBA (CN) -
Loc. Carretta, 2
Tel. 0173 619261
RISTORANTE AI NOVE MERLI
PIOSSASCO (TO)
Via Rapida ai Castelli, 10
Tel:. 011 90413 8 8 - www.novemerli.it
RISTORANTE IL PATIO
POLLONE (BI)
Via Oremo, 14
Tel. 0 15 61568
RISTORANTE IL CENTRO
PRIOCCA (CN) - Via Uimberto 1, 5
Tel. 0173 616112 - www.RISTORANTEilcentro.com
RISTORANTE COMBAL.ZERO
RIVOLI (TO) -
Pzza Mafalda di Savoia
Tel. 011 9565225 - www.combal.org
VINERIA TASCHET
ROCCHETTA
TANARO (AT)
P.zza Piacentino, 11
Tel. 0 141 644424
I BOLOGNA, ROCCHETTA TANARO
RISTORANTE L’OSTU DIJ BALOSS
SALUZZO (CN) - Via Gualtieri 38
Tel. 0175 248618 - www.ostudijbaloss.it
RISTORANTE MALAN LOCANDA DEL POSTALE
SAN GERMANO CHISONE (TO)
Via Ponte Palestro, 25
Tel. 0121 58822 - www.RISTORANTErnalan.it
RISTORANTE CASTELLO DI SAN GIORGIO
SAN GIORGIO MONFERRATO (AL)
Via Cavalli d'Olivola, 3
Tel. 0142 806203 - www.castellodisangiorgio.it
RISTORANTE DEL BELBO DA BARDON
SAN MARZANO OLIVETO (AT)
Loc. Valle Asinari, 25
Tel. 0 141 831340
RISTORANTE LA CREDENZA
SAN MAURIZIO CANAVESE (TO)
Via Cavour, 22
Tel: 0 11 9278014 - www.fistorantelacredenza.it
RISTORANTE IL RISTORANTE DI GUIDO DA COSTIGLIOLE
SANTO STEFANO BELBO (CN)
Loc. San Maurizio, 39
Tel: 0 141 844455 - www.relaissanmaurizio.it
RISTORANTE LA ROSA DEI VINI
SERRALUNGA D'ALBA (CN)
Loc. Parafada, 4
Tel. 0 173 613219 - www.larosadeivini.com
RISTORANTE LA COCCINELLA
SERRAVALLE LANGHE (CN)
Via Provinciale, 5
Tel: 0173 748220 - www.the-weber.com/coccinella
RISTORANTE AL SORRISO
SORRISO (NO)
Via Roma, 18
Tel: 0322 983228 - www.alsorriso.com
RISTORANTE PIEMONTESE
STRESA (VB)
Via Mazzini, 25
Tel. 0323 30235 - www.stresa.org
RISTORANTE OSTERIA IL MELOGRANO
TERRUGGIA (AL)
Pzza Vittorio Emanuele III, 9
Tel. 0142 401531 - www.osteriailmelograno.com
RISTORANTE VITTORIA
TIGLIOLE (AT)
Via Roma, 14
Tel. 0141667713 - www.RISTORANTEvittoria.it
RISTORANTE AB+
TORINO
Via della Basilica 13
Tel. 0114390618 - www.progettocluster.com
RISTORANTE LA BARRIQUE
TORINO
C.so Dante, 53/a
Tel. 011 657900
RISTORANTE CASA VICINA
TORINO
Via A. Massena, 66
Tel. 0 11 590949 - www.casavicina.it
RISTORANTE CUBICO
TORINO
Via Saluzzo, 86 bis
Tel. 011 19714546 - www.cubicoRISTORANTE.it
RISTORANTE DEL CAMBIO
TORINO
P.zza Carignano, 2
Tel. 0 11 546690 - www.thi.it
RISTORANTE AL GARAMOND
TORINO
Via Pomba, 14
Tel. 011 8122781 - www.algaramond.it
RISTORANTE AL GATTO NERO
TORINO
C.so Filippo Turati, 14
Tel. 011 590477-590414 - www.gattonero.it
RISTORANTE LOCANDA MONGRENO
TORINO
S.da comunale Mongreno, 50
Tel. 011 8980417
RISTORANTE LA PISTA TORINO
Via Nizza, 262
Tel. 0116313523 - www.lapista.to.it
RISTORANTE TRE GALLINE
TORINO
Via G. Bellezia, 37
Tel. 0114366553 - www.3galline.it
OSTERIA ANTICHE SERE
TORINO
Via Cenischia, 9
Tel. 0 11 3 854347
RISTORANTE VINTAGE 1997
TORINO
P.zza Solferino, 16/h
Tel. 011 535948 - www.vintagel997.com
LE VITEL ETONNÉ
TORINO
Via San Francesco da Paola, 4
Tel. 011 8124621 - www.leviteletonne.com
RISTORANTE FLIPOT
TORRE PELLICE (TO)
C.so A. Gramsci 17
Tel. 0121 953465 - www.flipot.com
RISTORANTE CAFFÉ GROPPI
TRECATE (NO)
V.le G. Mameli, 20
Tel. 0321 71154 - www.caffegroppi.it
RISTORANTE LA CIAU DEL TORNAVENTO
TREISO (CN)
P.zza Baracco, 7
Tel. 0173 638333 - www.lacialadeltornavento.it
RISTORANTE PICCOLO LAGO
VERBANIA Fraz. Fondotoce
Via E Turati, 87
Tel. 0323 586792 - www.piccololago.it
RISTORANTE GIARDINETTO
VERCELLI
Via L. Sereno, 3
Tel. 0161 257230 - www.hrgiardinetto.com
RISTORANTE REAL CASTELLO
VERDUNO (CN)
Via Umberto 1, 9
Tel. 0172 470125 - www.castellodiverduno.com
RISTORANTE LA PERGOLA
VEZZA D'ALBA (CN)
Loc. Borgonuovo P.zza San Carlo, 1
Tel. 0173 65178
VINERIA OSTERIA PERBACCO
VILLA SAN SECONDO (AT) -
Fraz. San Secondo Via Montechiaro, 26
Tel. 0141 905525 - www.osteriaperbacco.it
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How long of a list do you want?
Off the top of my head, and being late:
-- Vignaiola near La Morra
-- Tornavento, Treiso
-- Antine, Barabaresco
-- Antica Torre, Barbaresco
-- Crota, Calosso
-- Belvedere, La Morra
-- Guido, Pollenzo
--La Libera, Alba,
-- dell'Arco, ALba
-- Il Laghetto, La Morra pizza
That's the quick list. Gotta go.
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Mark, do consider the small place in Calosso called Crota (it's on your list, I think). I'm not certain what your dining style is, but Crota is a low-key place with high-key food. It's definitely simple, but it definitely has some liveliness. A nice lunch out might work while you're visiting, say, Canelli. Calosso is just north toward Castigliole d'Asti. In fact, we're stopping for lunch after we do our morning truffle excursion near Castigliole -- tha place Sampaguita mentions above.
Also, there is Il Bardon in Calamandrana that comes highly recommeded both here and from another friend who runs cycle tours through the area. I think it, too, is near where you'll be. (It's slightly east, NE of Canelli.)
Then there's always I Bologna in Rochetta Tanaro.
I'm sure I'm not surprising you with these picks, but I thought I'd throw them out there. Enjoy.
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Although I'm still holding out for a cute young runner......
What are you "holding out"? Maybe I'll come over!
Of course, I'm neither "cute" nor, in any way, "young." I can run, however.
Be well and, in all seriousness, best of luck. This place looks exceptional.
Cheers
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Wow! Thanks for the details, both of you. I think we're going to have problems narrowing our restaurant list -- to say nothing of narrowing our waists at the conclusion of this trip. Vignaiola, Rina Cucina, Al'Enoteca, I Bologna, and now Gener Neuv? And my wife says she likes the small trattorias!
In fact, I do have a serious question. La mia moglia e' una vegetariana, pero lei e' tranquilla. Can we get stuff from the a la carte menu at these places for her without offending the chefs? She does love anchovies, and she is definitely, definitely not militant in any way about her vegetarian ways. She likes to just quietly blend in and not make any scene.
Be well.
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Thanks for the schedule, T&T. Let's see, what should we do on Nov. 25?? I had planned to go to Cocconato and Vezzolana for the day, but maybe we should stop in Villafranca d'Asti or Castelnuovo Don Bosco in the morning? Or will we be tired of truffles by then! Villafranca is your neighbor, correct?
I hope all is calm and that the grapes see sun soon.
Ci vediamo
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That is not a "review," it's an advertisement. No, magazines do not sell reviews. In fact, I'm "reviewing" restaurants this month for Spring's "Best of ..." issue. We are NOT allowed to be comped anything; in fact, we are not even allowed to tell them we're reviewing them.
I guess there are different ways to do things; in particular, there are are different ways to make money!
That menu looks great.
Cheers
EDIT: This probably is obvious, but if you do decide to pay for the review space, maybe wait until the walls stop weeping? Take a few weeks to iron the wrinkles, get the trendy headsets tuned, put a bigger smile on tomato head. You deserve a chance to settle a bit, don't they think? Reviews in your first weeks of operation are tough indeed.
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Many place now have adapted to tourism, I have even found grocery store balsmic vinegar replacing the classic red wine vinegar, and then bringing you a plate and a basket of bread for dipping.
Globilization
Reminds me of my most embarrassing story:
About 10 years ago, we were in Bella Donna in Florence for lunch -- total rookies. Well, they brought us bread, there was oil on the table. So, we poured the oil in those quait little colorful bowls on the table and began dipping our bread.
The kind waiter showed, picked up the bowl and quietly removed it, very subtley and seemingly non-judgmentally pointing to the next table at which two gentlemen were depositing the ashes from their cigarettes into an exact replica of our dipping bowl. We had been using the ash tray to dip bread! We ordered another bottle of wine.
Cheers
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Two thoughts. Well, three.
One, since the experience was in tourist-ridden Florence, perhaps the owners tired of tourists from, say, Baltimore asking for red pepper flakes! (Or tourists from Philly, like me, askng the same thing!)
Two, red pepper flakes were strongly in evidence throughout Abruzzo when we visited there. My grandparents were from there and they brought the red-pepper-flake culture with them to our turf. As I understand it, those flakes are traditional in Abruzzo.
And third? Just the standard "can't wait for your report of youor finds" thing. In other words, as always, thanks.
Ciao
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We're struggling to find a good system to communicate between FOH and the way-BOH. Head sets are weird. Walkie talkies are obnoxious....if it's in the bar and you're in the garden you can't hear it. So, any suggestions would be nice. Not too expensive. Needs to work thru very thick stone walls.
Carrier pigeons. Buy a flock, use a couple of them a day, then serve those two the next dinner. Move on to the next two, serve, ... buon appetito!
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Congratulations -- for surviving that first week and for having such a great sense of humor (I suppose that's what gets you through all this, no?).
The place looks fabulous. I mean that. I'm sure you know that, but you deserve so much credit for making it happen.
Best of luck. Things cerainly will smooth out (the water from the walls over geologic time will polish things nicely! Bad joke?)
Be well, be proud, go forth and feed hungry people. And, if you can't feed them so seamlessly these initial days, then have plenty of wine on hand to fog their opinions and memories!
Cheers
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Salutistagolosa: Thanks for the recommendations. We, too, are going to Bologna -- in November -- and I respect your advice. We like those moderately priced trattorias, instead of the Michelin-starred place. Well, we like those too.
I love the blog, by the way. I was trying to figure out how to comment there, but I was unsuccessful.
A little off track here, but I did have one suggestion for you in Bolzano if you go back. Try the Basenhausel restaurant. It was a Fred Plotkin recommendation and it was excellent at all levels. Very reasonable prices and great wine selection.
We're going back to Trento and Bolzano in June with your Trento list in hand. Great write-ups and it gave me some new ideas. (I was particularly glad to read your Due Spade thoughts as we almost went there last time and planned to go for certain this trip. Maybe not!) We'll be there six nights and then to Bolzano for two.
Cheers
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glad you like the blog!
By the way, I too like your blog. I've cut and pasted many, many well-written suggestions from you into my "Bolzano" and "Trento" files! Thanks.
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I love Trento and Bolzano. We're going again in June '08 with bicycles. To the great advice offered already, I'd add:
-- near Fumane, in San Giorgio (maybe just west of Fumane in a straight shot), we ate at and loved the restaurant Dalla Alda Rosa.
-- scenic drive (or cycle) up Mount Baldo. There is a long ridge road along the west side of the peak; we went S-N along this beautiful, narrow ridge road to the summit, then dropped down though a spectacular gash through huge limestone cliffs to Avio along the Adige River. Bring lunch to feast on top. Beautiful views.
-- Trento. We stayed at the Hotel America. SOunds strange to come from America (north) to stay in a Hotel America, but the place was convenient and inexpensive.
-- In Bolzano: We loved a restaurant called -- and I know I'll get the exact name incorrect -- called Basenhausel. It was moderately priced, great wines, great food.
-- scenic drives from Bolzano? Put car in "drive" and go any way! Stunning scenery every which way.
-- In fact, I could say the same about the drives from Trento. Altopiano to Asiago, which you could do just as easily from Fumane, I think. Check that one out.
Do you have the Touring Club Italiano maps -- Trentino-Alto Adige? Fantastic map. Mine is falling apart. Actually, my second one is falling apart after the first one disintegrated.
Email me and I will forward a compiled list I have made for both areas. Free info, much of it scammed right here from our gracious fellow travelers, including Signore Parsons!
Cheers
(tim.vitale@usu.edu)
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General List of Approved Products
Aloe Vera (above ground parts)
Bat nut or devil pod (Trapa bicornis)
Breads, cakes, cookies, and other bakery goods
Candies
Cannonball fruit
Chinese water chestnut
Coffee (roasted beans only)
Fish
* Flower bulbs
Fruits, canned
Garlic cloves (peeled)
Lily bulbs (Lilium spp.) for planting
Maguey leaf
Matsutake
Mushrooms
Nuts (roasted only)
Palm hearts (peeled)
Sauces, canned or processed
Seaweed
* Seeds for planting or consumption
Shamrocks leaves without roots or soil
St. John's Bread
Singhara nut (Trapa bispinosa)
Tamarind bean pod
Truffles
Vegetables, canned or processed
Water chestnut (Trapa natans)
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/clearing...i_prod_inus.xml
From the official web site for customs. Print it. I had the same thought in mind, but I decided I'll probably while I'm there just eat a lot more than thought to be humanly possible.
Cheers
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You know, of course, that I'm collecting all these write-ups you do so we can repeat the gastronomic debauchery! This one sounds fantastic. The pictures of the dining room on the web site seem a bit grand, but the food -- wow, the food.
What will my vegetarian wife do, watch the rest of us eat seemingly every part of every beast in the country? I'm kidding. Lei e' tranquilla. It looks as if there is much on the menu for her also -- like every dessert and cheese you mentioned.
Thanks for the updated review. Cheers
Root vegetable (wild), picked at snowline
in Italy: Cooking & Baking
Posted · Edited by pedalaforte (log)
This is a weird one. Does anyone know what edible wild root vegetable, or wild plant, would be picked at snowline in the late spring/early summer. It must be an alpine/mountain plant, since we saw people picking it in late May in teh western Alps at altitude. It seemed they were digging right at the edge, where the snow had melted in recent days. This was on the Colle di Fauniera, west of Cuneo in Piemonte, but the plant certainly could grow elsewhere.
Sorry, I can't remember even what it looked like. We tried to talk to the people (an older couple -- rough and tough folks!) but they were speaking some kind of dialect and I had no idea what they were telling me.
Any ideas? I've always wanted to know, and we're going back in early June.
Thanks.