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yestravel Mar 20th, 2023 06:58 AM

Restaurants Rec in Genoa & Turin
 
We have visited Italy many times and are looking forward to exploring Turin & Genoa this spring. I am looking for restaurants recs for those 2 cities. Esp interested in Sunday lunch places. We want mostly traditional food of the region. The newer places that experiment with the traditional dishes is ok for a few nights. We like anything from small, family trattorias to Michelin places. Would love to hear your suggestions. Thanks

Leely2 Mar 20th, 2023 09:14 AM

I'll try to see where else I ate in Turin (all my meals there were good), but off the top of my head Scannabue was excellent. I think the lunch menu is quite limited; I had dinner there. Taverna dell'Oca was also good, though I seem to remember some dishes were more on the creative side. Depends what you order.

yestravel Mar 20th, 2023 10:47 AM


Originally Posted by Leely2 (Post 17448072)
I'll try to see where else I ate in Turin (all my meals there were good), but off the top of my head Scannabue was excellent. I think the lunch menu is quite limited; I had dinner there. Taverna dell'Oca was also good, though I seem to remember some dishes were more on the creative side. Depends what you order.

Thank you! So may restaurants that it was overwhelming to try and a pick a few. Any tips you have on what ou visited would be appreciated too.

Leely2 Mar 20th, 2023 12:02 PM

Looks like some of the folks behind Scannabue have since opened another restaurant quite nearby, La Gallina Scannata. I might give that a try too: https://www.facebook.com/lagallinascannata

I've heard great things about Il Consorzio.

My luggage was delayed for several days while I was in Torino, so I actually did a lot of shopping while I was there, very unusual for me, but turns out it's a great strolling-and-shopping town. Other than that, I hit all the palazzi and musei I could: Palazzo Reale with Galleria Sabauda, the Duomo, Palazzo Madama, Palazzo Carignano, Santuario della Consolata, San Domenico, plus Mole Antonelliana, parks, modern galleries and a big flea market. There was definitely more I wanted to see and I hope to go back someday.

yestravel Mar 20th, 2023 12:40 PM


Originally Posted by Leely2 (Post 17448125)
Looks like some of the folks behind Scannabue have since opened another restaurant quite nearby, La Gallina Scannata. I might give that a try too: https://www.facebook.com/lagallinascannata

I've heard great things about Il Consorzio.

My luggage was delayed for several days while I was in Torino, so I actually did a lot of shopping while I was there, very unusual for me, but turns out it's a great strolling-and-shopping town. Other than that, I hit all the palazzi and musei I could: Palazzo Reale with Galleria Sabauda, the Duomo, Palazzo Madama, Palazzo Carignano, Santuario della Consolata, San Domenico, plus Mole Antonelliana, parks, modern galleries and a big flea market. There was definitely more I wanted to see and I hope to go back someday.

Thanks! Sounds like lots to see and do. I enjoy shopping and wandering.

shelemm Mar 20th, 2023 12:45 PM

I have not been to Genoa or Turin.... but I do have a helpful tip in researching food. Just Google "slow food Genoa" or Turin, and you will find all kinds of interesting information about the traditional specialties of a place and where to get them.. Here is the first example that came up from Slow Food International:"When you think of Genoa you think of pesto, and that’s only right. But there are many gastronomic traditions in this former maritime republic: focaccia, panissa and farinata, to name some of the more famous ones.

🌹 Then there are the roses: their use has a long history, going back to the 18th century at least. If you didn’t have a rose bush you collected the buds in the Scrivia valley or bought petals from the grocer or florist. Once upon a time, rose syrup was used as a medicine for sore throats, thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties.

Today, there are still a few boutiques in Genoa that sell rose petals to those rare Genoese who still make their own homemade rose syrup, and, in may, you can find baskets full of rose petals next to crates of artichokes and asparagus."


yestravel Mar 20th, 2023 01:08 PM


Originally Posted by shelemm (Post 17448135)
I have not been to Genoa or Turin.... but I do have a helpful tip in researching food. Just Google "slow food Genoa" or Turin, and you will find all kinds of interesting information about the traditional specialties of a place and where to get them.. Here is the first example that came up from Slow Food International:"When you think of Genoa you think of pesto, and that’s only right. But there are many gastronomic traditions in this former maritime republic: focaccia, panissa and farinata, to name some of the more famous ones.

🌹 Then there are the roses: their use has a long history, going back to the 18th century at least. If you didn’t have a rose bush you collected the buds in the Scrivia valley or bought petals from the grocer or florist. Once upon a time, rose syrup was used as a medicine for sore throats, thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties.

Today, there are still a few boutiques in Genoa that sell rose petals to those rare Genoese who still make their own homemade rose syrup, and, in may, you can find baskets full of rose petals next to crates of artichokes and asparagus."

Thanks -- yes, I always google for best restaurants and the like. Slow food is a great resource. There are soooo many for both towns that I thought some personal experiences would be nice.

milaedg Mar 20th, 2023 02:39 PM

Restaurants in Turin
 
Hi yestravel, I seldom offer suggestions (I am more a lurker than contributor☺️) but we enjoyed our dining experiences in Turin last Sept. I thought I would share.
We had fantastic dinners at Birilli and PugliaMia. Both are located on the other (quieter) side of the river, just a few minutes pleasant walk from our B&B. Birilli serves traditional Piedmontese food, and PugliaMia (as you may deduce from the name) serves Apulian food. It is small, the decor is eclectic, and it is lovingly run by father and daughter. The service was friendly and welcoming, and the food was great.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...2e27ef306.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...492bb70da.jpeg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...9ead08669.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...79e528a22.jpeg

PugliaMia
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...c4f271443.jpeg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...09565eb68.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...833e7bcd0.jpeg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...22c392ffa.jpeg

ekscrunchy Mar 21st, 2023 01:20 AM


Originally Posted by milaedg (Post 17448159)
Hi yestravel, I seldom offer suggestions (I am more a lurker than contributor☺️) but we enjoyed our dining experiences in Turin last Sept. I thought I would share.
We had fantastic dinners at Birilli and PugliaMia. Both are located on the other (quieter) side of the river, just a few minutes pleasant walk from our B&B. Birilli serves traditional Piedmontese food, and PugliaMia (as you may deduce from the name) serves Apulian food. It is small, the decor is eclectic, and it is lovingly run by father and daughter. The service was friendly and welcoming, and the food was great.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...2e27ef306.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...492bb70da.jpeg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...9ead08669.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...79e528a22.jpeg

PugliaMia
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...c4f271443.jpeg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...09565eb68.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...833e7bcd0.jpeg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...22c392ffa.jpeg


Think I made a mistake posting this....looks like an add-on to the previous poster's gorgeous photos....but it's me..ekscrunchy....

Turin: Lovely city, wonderful food with many dishes new to me. My trip was maybe 10 years ago now but I am pretty sure I wrote a trip report combining Turin with Alba....if you have time, see if you can turn it up with a search. If I get some time while still in Spain, I will look for it and post. I remember posting a query here about a visit to Genoa but never actually made it there.....while there's still time, who knows!?!?!

yestravel Mar 21st, 2023 05:07 AM

milaedg-thanks! nice photos --sure make me hungry

ekscrunchy -- I will definitely give a look for your TR. Thanks for letting me know.

TDudette Mar 21st, 2023 07:22 AM

Hi, yestravel, here's where we had lunch and dinner in Turin...in 2005! It will be interesting to hear how/if things have changed:

"Upon leaving the museum, a tad disappointed, we just take our time walking and strolling toward Turin’s version of the Eiffel Tower, the Mole. The day had become very sunny and warm. Down a side street, we spotted tables and chairs placed outside a restaurant.

Filli la Cozza,

San Bernardo acqua, ¼ red
Sfashion foccacia (mozzarella, ham, tomatoes)
Speck foccacia (boar and mozzarella)


The foccacias look like pizzas and cover our entire plates! Very tasty. An accordion player plays then makes the rounds for donations.

*****

Nice desk clerk recommended La Capannina as a typical Lombardy restaurant. We walked about 15 minutes under arcades, found it, and also found that we were early so we went to a nearby bar and got a processco for DR and Johnny Walker for JR-total of 6 Euros-sometimes gelato is more expensive than that! There was also bar food but we decided to save up for dinner.

The resto:
After discussing what we like and don’t like, we put ourselves in the hands of the waiter. You can’t believe all the food they gave us:


La Capannina

Red wine-Barbera d’Alba Roche di Ferrero alba 2003

Course 1: Thinly sliced meat (veal?) with a light white sauce; Bresaola, sliced cured beef

Course 2: Plate of sautéed zucchini, eggplant, pumpkin, red pepper, small cheese crepe, and coin sized polenta

Course 3: Risotto al barola-rice in wine

Main Courses: Veal with artichokes and Veal with Mushrooms-sliced meat with light cream sauce. Creamed spinach and French fries came with it

Dessert: Tiramiso and a digestif called Amaro (from spices?)


And then they brought a plate of cookies! Lingua di gatto (choc. Covered tongue shaped cookies) and Torcetti (L-shaped cookies-almond?)"

Again, looking forward to your TR.

yestravel Mar 21st, 2023 08:39 AM

Hi TD! Thanks -- I'm finding way too many choices. But it is amazing how long many have been in business.


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