24/02/2025: Ca' di Ratt - Mangià de sciôr
On the nostalgic notes of "Io vagabondo" you could find yourself one day in a remote rural village (apparently) like many others in the Vigevano area, but this idea immediately passes over you if you look around, along its streets lined with reproductions of famous works of art.
Following the latter in a narrow street in the centre, you come across a colourful, unexpected period courtyard and the entrance to the restaurant, with a typically Lombard name, and with its portico which introduces you directly to the interior, but with a wooden door which still hides everything from you, leaving room for a final act of mystery and surprise to your imagination.
Inside, Stefano and his father at the counter welcome you more than affably, while in the kitchen the family is completed with sister and mother; Three rooms visually await you in front of you which, with materials and colors (combined with the probably intentional "dim" lighting), take you back in time, suggesting the original peasant architecture, with entablatures and not very high ceilings.
All the contents of the à la carte menu (which is periodically revisited) are particular, and with flavors of bygone eras. The aromatic Ippocrasso wine is certainly noteworthy: red version for cheeses and desserts, white version for pairing with desserts. The cutting boards, metro or smaller ones, feature local or national cured meats and cheeses.
The first courses are presented with tagliatelle or spaghettoni, with house or venison ragù. For those who want to immerse themselves in the surrounding environments, the risotto with gorgonzola and porcini mushrooms is certainly worth tempting.
The second courses enthrall you with wild boar or pork with an ancient flavour, accompanied by spices, baked potatoes and porcini mushrooms here too. If you don't want to forget anything about the poor art in the kitchen, you can request polenta concia, which has its origins in Piedmont, Lombardy and Val d'Aosta by throwing in toma, gorgonzola and fontina. The recommended wine is a red and organic Bufnìs, IGT, from 2019 (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc vines).
What about desserts? Suffer or try? I would say give it a try, if you are still physically fit after the above (the portions are certainly not small)!!! You can start from the tart (with plum jam), moving on to the cakes (with amaretto and Grand Marnier, or cocoa with cream, coconut and rum). Along the lines of a fried egg, you are instead treated to a succulent panna cotta with berries.
As a first-time guest, I can only give a positive expression to everything, the environmental scenography and the food. Definitely worth trying again and more calmly, to be able to fully enjoy the combination just mentioned offered by the very cordial family management.
Only note, without knowing the underlying reasons for their creation: the toilets should be presented in a form more suited to the convenience of all types of customers who arrive, to fully adapt to what is offered in other respects.
09/02/2025: On a rainy Sunday, chance brought us to this very characteristic place. Warm and welcoming environment, fireplace lit, well-composed and varied menu. The Byzantine soup and the pomegranate cheeks and, in the end, biscuits with white seahorse are highly recommended
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