Holiday Homes at Lake Orta

Tell me about... local food

Food is a delight throughout Italy, and particularly so at Lake Orta, indeed you are likely to be delighted by just how good the food is in all price ranges, how healthy it is, and how reasonably priced it is in this area. There is a very wide range of food shops, pizzerias, trattorias and restaurants for varying pockets and tastes, within easy reach of all our holiday homes. In fact, you can come to Lake Orta just for the food: as an area providing waiters, restaurant owners and hoteliers to the rest of the world, the local restaurants are really quite special. Here are just a few to whet your appetite...

We particularly recommend the recently-opened Cucchiaio di Legno ("wooden spoon") at Legro, this agriturismo provides a really special gastronomic experience at an incredibly low price, and uses a lot of home-grown produce.
For a superb lake-side setting, great food, warm service, and reasonable prices, go to Cà dal Rat ("rat home") (web site www.lustaria.it), located on the main road (SR229) along the east shore of Lake Orta, about 2 km south of Orta San Giulio. If you are staying at Orta San Giulio without a car, ask the boatmen to take you there (and arrange for them to bring you back!) - the restaurant has its own landing stage!
A great but more modest local restaurant on the lake-front is Ristorante Sant Antonio at Tortirogno, about 1 km north of Orta San Giulio.
There are no less than five great local pizzerias: Berimbao at Pettenasco, Pizzeria Del Ponte at Bassola, Golden Star at Armeno, Sirena at Bolzano Novarese, and Campana in Orta San Giulio.
For serious restaurants for special occasions, there is the two-Michelin-stars Villa Crespi (www.hotelvillacrespi.it) outside Orta San Giulio, the Gufo Nero (www.gufonero.it) at Ghemme, and Ristorante Due Santi in the main square of Orta San Giulio.

For healthy living, the local dairy farm outlet l'Agrifoglio at Bolzano Novarese (www.lagrifoglio.altervista.org) sells home-produced milk, cheese, yoghurt and ice-cream, and is particularly handy for those staying at Villa Gelsomina, Casa Miralago, and Casa Bartula.

A longer and more detailed list of recommendations with locations, days closed, and contact numbers, covering all prices ranges, is provided as part of your location pack.

Like Italian food? These articles in Italy Magazine (www.italymag.co.uk/italy/food-drink) will make your mouth water just reading them!