Cuisine: Italian
Price: EUR40 per person (what we paid for)
Visited: 9 October 2014
Food: 8/10
Atmosphere: 7/10
Value for money: 8/10
Services: 8/10
Scale: [1=poor ---- 5=average/standard ---- 10=outstanding/exceptional]
Here is another restaurant in Piedmont with prestigious tag of a Michelin Star, Ristorante al Castello di Alessandro Boglione at Grinzane Cavour. The special thing about this restaurant is it is located right in the Castello di Grinzane Cavour. I personally like this place a lot. The price tag is not ridiculously high. Staffs are nice and helpful. The ambient is unique but cosy: love the comfortable feeling and non crowded tables.
The place, which is currently headed by Alessandro Boglione, serves one of the very best Piedmontese cuisine in the region. Like its menu, the wine list is as well interesting. It comprises mainly with the recent vintages of selection in the area and they are priced at the modest level. I would really say that this is a really fabulous restaurant in the region and would urge those who are visiting Piedmont to give it a visit. Please be ware that as of now November 2014, there is news that the restaurant and the owner of the property might not be able mutually agree of the rent terms and the restaurant might longer not existing from 2015. It would be a real shame from my view if the restaurant is forced to leave as it would not be able to afford rental cost. So check the place well before visiting to avoid disappointment.
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| walking path to the castle |
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| view for the castle at night |
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| view with vineyard by the castle |
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| castle restaurant ambient |
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| the wine shop in the castle |
As usual amuse bouche was firstly served to greet guests and it was salted cheese with potato cream, which was delicious, for this case. Sadly, I lost the note of Ristorante al Castello (T_T)" but will try to put things from my memory. I had asked for wine by glass to go along with the meal and a glass of Langhe Nebbiolo and a glass of Barolo were recommended. Cascina Morassino Langhe Nebbiolo 2011 (89 pts) was the lighter of the two. It was elegant in style with red cherry and acidic balsamic notes. Fine and medium body but still present strong tannins. The second one was Gabutti Boasso Barolo Gabutti 2009 (91 pts). This was the one with class and power. Rose on the nose. Bigger body than the previous one. Rather ready to be accessed at youth. Oak and balance acidity with raspberry were there.
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| Salted Cheese with Potato Cream |
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| Cascina Morassino Nebbiolo DOC 2011 |
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| Gabutti Boasso Barolo Gabutti DOCG 2009 |
For our first plates, we had Quail Two Ways: Black Truffle and Red Cabbage with Anchovies (7/10) and Sauteed Salted Codfish Cake, Soft Potato Puree, and Lavazza Coffee Powder (9/10). For the quail, I can hardly recall how it was. All I remember is it was nice but not great. The cabbage was kind of similar to sauerkraut. But the sauteed salted codfish cake ravioli thing was superb. Fabulous texture of al dente of the pasta balanced well with soft touch filling. The potato puree was as well smooth and delicious. Another dimension was from the coffee power. Really like this dish.
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| Quail Two Ways: Black Truffle and Red Cabbage with Anchovies (EUR14) |
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| Sauteed Salted Codfish Cake, Soft Potato Puree, and Lavazza Coffee Powder (EUR15) |
Next, it was Mezze Maniche Wheat Pasta with Mussels and Burrata Cheese (9/10). This was another wonderful pasta dish from Alessandro Boglione. The perfectly cooked mezze maniche were filled with yummy creamy burrata and flavourful fresh mussels. A touch of tomato based sauce complimented well with the dish. Pasta dishes here are really delicious. Wish I could have a chance to go back there (fingers crossed). Lastly, it was Tender Veal with Cream of Jerusalem Artichoke, Anchovies, and Black Truffle (7/10). This was a nice and classic. Really tender veal with jus and black truffles. Pairing with barolo and it was yum.
It would be really pity if Ristorante al Castello would not longer exist from 2015. This is definitely a place with nice food and at a unique location. It would be hard to find a valuable and reasonable priced restaurant with star tagged elsewhere.
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| Mezze Maniche Wheat Pasta with Mussels and Burrata Cheese (EUR15) |
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| Tender Veal with Cream of Jerusalem Artichoke, Anchovies, and Black Truffle (EUR20) |
Ristorante al Castello di Alessandro Boglione @ Grinzane Cavour, Cuneo, Italy
5 Via Castello
Grinzane Cavour 12060
Cuneo
Italy
Open Hours: daily except Tuesday from 07:30pm for dinner
