A phrase commonly heard in restaurants in Piemonte. I wrote about this a while ago, but since what I like to call “The Barolo Season” is upon us I though a friendly reminder was due.
Restaurants (and wineries) really appreciate it when you call ahead and make a reservation.
Ristoria has a very good brunch spot, and from what I can tell a good regular restaurant as well. The brunch is buffet style, all you can eat, with food ranging from egg and bacon to various pasta salads and of course dessert.
As a Norwegian, everything is very cheap in Sweden, so I thought their buffet was very affordable. And the food quality was good as well, so it’s definitely worth a try.
Ristoria is an italian inspired restaurant, with items on the menu like burrata and gnocchi. My top choices were the pizza and the pasta (no surprises there) and although I didn’t have any dessert myself, the dessert looked delicious! You can check out the rest of their menu here.
Every Christmas I go to Theatercafeen with the family. The pictures are not very good, but the food was! And the wine was even better. It’s always nice to have some traditions, and I am already looking forward to next year’s dinner.
You visit https://www.theatercafeen.no/ and have a look at their wine list, which in my opinion is pretty good!
During my last trip to London, Granger & Co was my favorite stop. It seems it’s a popular spot, because we had to wait in line for quite a bit. But it was worth it once we got inside. Beautiful decor, nice staff and incredible food! I rarely brunch, but since I was on vacation, brunch was on the schedule. It’s usually when I am travelling I do brunch. Last time I think was in NYC with Silvia Altare, at Little Park.
Granger & Co was started by Bill Granger, an australian restaurateur and he has restaurants in four locations in the London area. His restaurants can also be found abroad in Sydney, Honolulu, Tokyo and Seoul.
Even though I had the Ricotta Hotcakes, there are other more healthy alternatives, so that your brunch experience doesn’t have to be all butter and sugar. To accompany my hotcakes I had a delicious glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, which was one of their many options on the drink menu. Yum!
Anyways, if you go to one of Bill Granger’s restaurants or if you have already been, let me know what you think! Always nice to share stories and experiences.
Ho Prenotato? Did you make a reservation?
These phrases are commonly heard in the local restaurants in Langhe. As the region is becoming more and more popular, the restaurants are of course filling up, especially during the busiest seasons. Restaurants like More e Macine and Osteria Veglio are often very full! So, my advice to you? Make a reservation!
Don’t expect to show up with 10 people on a Friday and have there be a table available. Ok, maybe you’ll get lucky and they’ll have one for you, but you can expect them to say: Ho prenotato? And if you make a reservation you are guaranteed to eat at the place you want, instead of having to find a random place and potentially be really disappointed. And the restaurants appreciate it too 😉
Fyr happens to be a stown throw away from my apartment; It’s always fun when a new place opens up nearby.
Located in one of Oslo’s busiest streets, Bogstadveien, it’s the perfect place to stop for lunch on a shopping trip, or a nice place to eat dinner. In the summer you can sit outside in the cozy garden, and in true norwegian style there are blankets so you can use up the last of the summer days even when it’s gettin a little cold.
When I visired I opted for mussels, one of my favorite dishes, but there were many other tasty items on the menu. And as for wine, they had Rocche de Bellene on the list, for which I give them a thumbs up!
The inside of the restaurant is very well executed. I almost wish I had gotten a table inside instead of outside. Thankfully winter is coming so I’m sure I’ll have the chance soon!
Ever been to Perno? Ever heard of this restaurant?
Marco Forneris, the chef
This cozy gem is tucked away in a little town called Perno, near Castilione Falletto. It’s not very far way from my usual stomping grounds (La Morra) but it feels far away because of the small windy roads and the fact that you have to drive all the way around Castiglione. Anyways, if you have never been here, you should go!
Repubblica di Perno is “simple” but exquisite. They serve traditional food with a creative spin and the result is out of this world. Marco Froneris, the chef, used to work at La Libera in Alba. Ever been there? Anyways, Marco and his wife create a truly wonderful experience at this small restaurant in the middle of this small town, with good service and good food! The ingredients are fresh and the food made with a little TLC.
If you go, I recommend the tajarin, maltagliati and the bistecchine. And if you’re more adventurous than me. I have been told that the lingua and the uovo are amazing! I can’t guarantee that the menu pictured will be the same if you go, as the dishes vary seasonally and probably also based on the raw materials. But anything should be delicious!
How To Wine Travel has also written about Repubblica di Perno if you want to take a look!
One of the things I like to do is ask the “professional” foodies where they go to eat and drink, and I’m rarely disappointed. La Bottega del Vino was recommended by Ciccio from Centro Storico and he was not wrong to recommend this place. I think I spent 20 minutes with the wine list alone, and because the wine list was so amazing I had to first pick the wine and then the food — struggles.
I went safe with the food: Vitello Tonnato, Raviolo cacio & pepe and a lava cake for dessert. The ravioli was really good, with tons of good flavors. I did not get a picture because I got too excited didn’t have time to take a photo… But it was good! The Vitello Tonnato was also good, but I still prefer the versions in Barolo. And chocholate cake is never a bad idea. So food wise it was a pretty good night!
Now the wine… I know it might be strange to order french wine in Italy but when I saw they had Marc Colin on the wine list I did not have much choice. I think he makes some of the best wines in the world, and even his most “basic” wines are incredible. So you don’t have to break the bank to enjoy a good glass of chardonnay. Apart from Marc Colin they had many other amazing french wines from Matror, Liger-Belair and Domaine Leflaive. In the Piemonte section they had a good selection of Gusieppe Rinaldi, Capellano, Vietti, Cavallotto, Brezza, Gaja and Conterno. I was not disappointed and hope to return here very soon!
Blurry but the wine was still good 😉
Le Torri is a restaurant located in Castiglione, and I think it is one of the restaurants with the best views. If you are lucky enough to sit on the balcony, you have a beautiful view of Langhe. And the food is very good! They recently changed owners, and the new ones are doing very well! I usually eat the traditional dishes, like Vitello Tonnato and Tajarin Ragu, but they have a variety of dishes you can try. 
The wine list is great; not surprising, since its located in the Barolo region. You find wines from the town, like Cavallotto or Vietti, but also wines from the other areas near by. By the glass or a full bottle, either way are you in good shape! Definitely worth a try, maybe after a winery visit with Guiseppe Cavallotto?
BA53, where the wonderful Kari Innerå runs the show, opened not long ago in Oslo. The restaurant is located along Bygdøy Alle, a fairly historic neighborhood in Oslo. Kari Innerå is a well know chef with many awards tied to her name, and before she opened BA53 you could find her at Cru.
BA53 has an elegant yet rough vibe, both regarding the interior and the food. The concept here is that you can choose from many different dishes that are appetizer size, so it’s a little tapas like in the structure. On the menu you can find traditional Norwegian style food alongside Thai inspired soup and a loose interpretation of a Singapore king crab dish. The large range of dishes provide for an interesting dining experience. I personally really like the concept of choosing 3-5 small dishes instead of one large plate, because then you can taste a wide variety of amazing foods.
This time I ordered the Green Curry Soup, Pepper King Crab and Ox tail ravioli. I was not disappointed. I have had the crab before but I just had to have it again because it’s incredibly good. The curry soup was a little too spicy for me but still delicious. And the ravioli was incredible, served with this broth/sauce that was just as good by itself. A fantastic dining experience, one I will gladly repeat.
PIEMONTEGIRL 