La Stamberga del Drago In Gabiano

Chef Alessandro Zanotto's family history is a manifesto of Monferrato. Today, his 23-year-old grandson has already designed the winery you're visiting, and he cooks with the energy and cultural clarity of his home, having gained significant experience at the Mudec in Milan, one of Italy's international cultural centers. Lower Monferrato. Varengo, a hamlet of Gabiano. Hillside. A rare example of "family style and culture" that knows how to create refined cuisine. Perfect portions. A small wine cellar, but a place for meditation and a delight for the senses. The restaurant is by reservation only—or rather, "reservation"—and offers a highly personalized menu based on guest requests. The menu changes every three months. Refined local ingredients are used, including meat. Whipped maple butter, homemade bread, pretzels, spreadable gorgonzola, and the boiled meats with green sauce in a Chinese ravioli set us on a path to dinner. Innovative appetizers, and the first course, a beetroot and gorgonzola risotto, with rare flavor and balance. The second course's tender and flavorful diaphragm cooked on a silken potato. A genuine, artisanal, unfiltered Grignolino. A Catalan cream with a surprising flavor and color.