16/11/2025: Pleasant and good lunch, simple and good home cooking.
10/11/2025: Right next to one of the most iconic mountains in the Ossola valleys, Cistella, stands the trattoria that proudly bears its name.
And what an honor, because not only does the food taste great, but it's also an authentic experience of Ossola cuisine and mountain hospitality, one of the finest I've ever experienced.
As mentioned before, the ingredients from the Ossola valleys are the star of the show.
We started with an excellent platter of local cured meats and some fantastic lard that melted in the mouth, with honey and walnuts.
For the first course, the real highlight of the dinner arrived: homemade Ossola gnocchi with porcini mushroom cream.
I won't beat around the bush, but for me, it was the best plate of gnocchi I've ever eaten, I swear: the gnocchi were delicious, perfectly cooked, and not too stringy like sometimes happens; the mushrooms were fragrant and fresh, and the creamy sauce completed this whirlwind of incredible flavors.
My friend, who doesn't like mushrooms, had gnocchi swimming (in a good way) in a generous portion of venison ragù.
We practically mopped up the sauce with it, it was so good.
We finished with grilled lamb chops, a great classic here, enhanced by the quality of the meat, and tender venison stew accompanied by sautéed potatoes.
The homemade desserts were very good, especially the mascarpone with amaretti biscuits.
The bulk wine was excellent, all Piedmontese. I chose the Garrone winery, a perfect pairing for a dinner like this.
The gentian, always amazing, helps digestion.
The service was very kind, helpful, and cheerful.
The price was surprising: all this goodness cost us just over €40 each.
An exceptional dinner that truly thrilled us; I couldn't find anything out of place. Congratulations!
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