Villa Crespi – Orta San Giulio – Italy
This is the second time I talked about restaurants in Orta San Giulio, surely I think that Orta is the smallest town I ever seen (1.100 citizens) with the most higher concentration of very interesting & high quality restaurants.
I can also tell you that this is not the last time that I talk about Orta…
So, if you’re interested in more info about the town, please read my previous post about Pan&Vino or visit the web site: Link Sorry but it’s only in Italian…or in English: Link
Now I’m really excited to talk about this great place to visit!
Villa Crespi (Link) is not only an hotel, entered Relais & Châteaux in 2012, but is also a great restaurant with two Michelin guide stars (Link)
Villa Crespi is also the restaurant owned by Antonino Cannvacciuolo, the much awarded Chef Patron of Relais et Châteaux Villa Crespi boats two MIchelin stars and recognition in the most renowned food guides in Italy. For the Cooking Show addicted, Antonino is also one of the “Master Chef” judge & the Kitchen Nightmares (Masterchef link - Kitchen Nightmare link).
Villa Crespi is a very interesting places where quality & appearance live together & where you’ll find Food expert & Restaurant passionate but also people interested only in a “Selfie with Antonino Cannavacciolo”!
Unfortunately this is Italy..Great Food, Great Quality, Great Places, Great Services but sometimes Italians are not so great ;)
From the outside Villa Crespi seems to be a Jaipur Maharaja Palace but inside the architectural style is a typical rich Italian 19th century residence.
I choose “The Italian route from South to North” Menù & wine pairing suggested (5 glasses):
- A welcome entrée from Antonino Cannavacciuolo (Fresh Oyster with radish souce – homemade bread with pasture butter – foie gras macaron)
- Raw scampi from Sicily “Pizzaiola”, octopus water
- Linguine from Gragnano with baby squid, rye bread sauce
- Red mullet, aubergine, smoked cheese broth
- Beef Millefeuille with Porcini mushrooms
- Cheese selection from our trolley (mainly from France/Corse – Italy & Switzerland)
- Pre dessert (not alcoholic Pina Colada..really interesting)
- Villa Crespi Dessert (Fresh Porcini mushrooms with its ice cream (wonderful!), thyme mousse & chocolate grain.
- Small pastries.
After this great dinner, I drunk a fantastic Luak Coffee from Bali that I tasted during my honeymoon in Bali at Oka Agricolture (Oka Link & Luwak Link). This is not a cheap restaurant but this could be an Italian Food Museum in a fantastic location! This is a place to be visited considering the great menu & wines that Cannavacciuolo can offer to his customers.