Local food of the Alps of Piedmont, Italy
After tromping the Alps of Piedmont, Italy, it’s always a pleasure to replenish at a typical mountain restaurant. One that serves hearty stews of local vegetables and Fassona alla piemontese the renowned local beef and wine of the region. It’s also an added bonus if the proprietor is willing to share amusing stories and sprinkle each course with laughter. Andre Tolasano, owner of La Taverna degli Orsi, is such a host. He calls his establishment in the Italian ski town of Limone “a typical mountain restaurant,” but it is anything but ordinary. Every item on the ever-changing menu is skillfully prepared in his kitchen from the best available local foods and then perfectly paired with the appropriate wine.
I met Andre, who goes by the nickname, of ‘Prince,’ at his restaurant while on a Hedonistic Hiking gourmet walking holiday. We hiked high into the Alps during the day and at night, our small group of sixteen reconvened for gourmet feasts. Dinners always included local fare and this night, Prince had hand-written our menu cards and entitled them “Bear Night.” For the name of his restaurant, La Taverna degli Orsi, means Tavern of the Bear and the mountain restaurant was decorated with the mammal’s motif.
