Gastroville

Dear Gentlemen

refreshing it is to read your culinary experiences.

Now I know why people take photos of their dishes in the restaurants I visit when we travel.

When next in Italy pay a visit to Alba and try out the ristorante Duomo in Piazza Duomo. They opened a few months ago and the food prepared by Crippa, dare I say, beats some pretty high standards. Enrico is fantastic and his kitchen serves dishes with Swiss precision yet creative. We went there just a week after they opened and the kitchen was superbe but they needed to sort out their service. Now that the service is better, a mixture of italian charm and confortable precision, the food which is served is divine. Crippa is a master that can be compared to the best of the kitchens of the world. Enrico Crippa is young, daring, precise, rigorous and he takes the products of the earth and transforms them lovingly into works of art on your dish. Each bite is sublime. The simple yet researched and creative creations will leave you breathless. You cannot miss a visit to this restaurant in Alba. Actually, it is one of those places that I would fly to from a long distance to have the pleasure of that food on my palate. If you need to stay in a fantastic hotel, try out Ca del lupo in Montelupo Albese. Savio, the owner, will make you feel at home in his wonderful, yet minimalistic hotel, with the most superbe views on the hills of Piedmont. His breakfast is all home made and a compliment to nature.
And me? Just an enthusiastic perfectionist.
All best wishes from Switzerland
Nathalie, Lugano, 2.31pm December 12th 2006