Antica Corona Reale

You have to go back to 1815 to find the first Vivalda at the helm of this typical Italian restaurant whose fine reputation has been handed down from generation to generation for more than 200 years. Gian Piero Vivalda is heir to this tradition and honed his skills in the company of fine master chefs of the calibre of Georges Blanc and Alain Dutournier before returning to the family restaurant to give it a whole new stature. His cuisine, which is deeply rooted in the Piedmont region, draws on the very best of local ingredients: game and vegetables and herbs from the cottage garden, which he uses in traditional recipes such as foie gras with Madernassa pears and ravioli with ceps, to which he gives a modern twist. The strong sense of family and the authentic ambiance of a restaurant that has stood the test of time simply add to its charm. ...Read more
Italy, Cervere

Al Sorriso
Restaurant of a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux and hotel in a village
At the foot of the Alps, close to Lake Orta – one of the most romantic places in the Padan Plain – Grand Chef Luisa Marelli has created a stellar reputation for her celebrated cuisine. This self-taught former humanities student has forged her own culinary style by scouring cookery books and experimenting, with the help of her husband, Angelo Valazza. Incredibly gifted, she could now write the books herself. She describes her style as “a combination of Piedmont, Mediterranean and international influences, brought together and inspired by the mountains” where she loves to walk. Ingredients like the white Alba truffles and the porcini mushrooms come from the mountains and the potato with eggs and served with white truffles is a delight not to be missed. ...Read more
Italy, Soriso

Villa Crespi
Hotel and restaurant on a lake
Just a few steps from the enchanting Lake Orta, Villa Crespi is a spectacular Moorish villa built in 1879. The villa’s arabesque architecture, stunning gardens and the hospitality of Grand Chef Antonino Cannavacciuolo and his wife Cinzia mingle to make a stay here magical. Antonino’s superb innovative Mediterranean cuisine is deeply influenced by the places and flavours experienced during his professional journey. One of the menus is an itinerary from southern to northern Italy, starting with a brochette of scallops and scampi and ending with a main course of pigeon and foie gras. The period bedrooms with their canopy beds and marble bathrooms enhance the romantic atmosphere. Villa Crespi is an excellent base from which to explore this beautiful corner of Italy, particularly the medieval village of Orta and the Island of San Giulio, the Unesco World Heritage site of Sacro Monte, and the Lake Maggiore. ...Read more
Italy, Orta San Giulio