It is always nice to make new friends in the blogosphere so it was good to meet up with Diana and the "Creative Structures" blog via Twitter yesterday.

Casa Dolcetto recommends this blog. Written by a former hospitality design industry exec turned potter and innkeeper close to us here in Piemonte. Diana came here five years ago and her blog reflects her stories and observations. Definitely a blog to peruse before visiting this beautiful part of Italy.

Diana also runs 'Baur B&B' with her husband Michael. This is a haven from which to enjoy and experience Italian culture, food, and wine. They have created a special place for people looking for comfort without pretense, friendliness and respect for privacy, a place to cook, drink, eat and explore.

For more Casa Dolcetto Piedmont links just click here

If you can receive English 'Channel 4' via your satellite receiver, you might want to check this out! - 'Dolce Vito - Dream Restaurant', a brand new series starting on the 13th August at 21:30 (CET)

Vito Cataffo, Italian born, restauranteur and entrepreneur sets out on his quest, alledgedly staking his personal fortune and his hard won reputation on his culinary crusade to Italy.

"The series follows Vito as he finds a failing Italian restaurant, rescues and renovates it, and then sets about transforming it into a shrine to British food. From managing the building project to navigating the murky world of Italian bureaucracy; from training-up local chefs and waiting staff to his exacting standards, to capturing the hearts and stomachs of the Italian public with Great British grub, Vito is facing the most daunting crusade of his life."

The restaurant is called 'Passion' and is situated in a 14th-century former merchants house in Bologna. Vito has sourced his beef from Lincolnshire, his pork sausages from
Gloucestershire, his cheeses from Cornwall and has fresh haddock 'dhl'd' in every day.

Should be fun, embarrasing or excruciatingly bad but definitely worth a peek...

For style and design in Piedmont, Casa Dolcetto recommends the Hotel Ca’ del Lupo, Montelupo Albese in the heart of the Langhe area.

This hotel sits atop a hill offering a breathtaking, panoramic view over the Langhe and its famous vineyards to the alps beyond. The hotels rooms and suites all have private terraces and beds dressed with cotton satin sheets and soft down covers.

Savio Drocco offers exceptional hospitality as host at this designer hotel set in a rich ancient landscape where stunning views are mandatory.

Adjacent to the hotel is the splendid restaurant which was built in 1975 as a private house and turned into the restaurant in 1991. The house was originally designed by the the architect Valerio Demaria. It was then restored by another architect Ginomario Bemer in order to make the rooms even cosier and full of charm.

The Restaurant Ca' del Lupo offers a cuisine based on traditional dishes with special attention being given to keeping it 'light' as well as reasonably priced. A sample menu follows:

Antipasti:

Insalatina di cortile con melograno
Vitello tonnato
Carne cruda di fassone
Terrina di finocchi gratinata
Patè di pollo alle cipolle rosse di tropea
Melanzane gratinate
Uovo in cocotte con tartufo bianco
Tris del Lupo(tre proposte del cuoco)

Primi piatti:

Tajarin con Tartufo bianco
Gnocchetti di patate al raschera
Tajarin con salciccia di vitello di nostra prod.
Agnolotti del plin al rosmarino
Ravioli al sugo di noci e radicchio


Secondi piatti:

Stinco di maiale alle erbe aromatiche
Coniglio cotto in forno a legna
Frittatina di broccoli con tuma
Rolata di faraona farcita
Arrosto di vitello fassone al nebbiolo

Assortimento di formaggi tipici con cugnà

Dolci della casa:

Cremino di torrone con crema di cacao amaro
Sorbetto al limone
Panna cotta con salsa di fragole
Strudel di mele con gelato alla cannella
Bignolone alla crema pasticcera
Mousse di pere con cioccolato

photo and text: © casa dolcetto 2009