We discovered a great new place to enjoy aperitivo not far from Bagni di Lucca, in Ghivizzano.
Eat Valley offers an excellent selection of wine and aperitivo delights. Everything was delicious. We decided to eat outside on a warm evening.
There are excellent tasting rooms inside.
There is also a well stocked shop selling a range of local products.
The restaurant specialises in grilled meats.
Thank you Vera and Ronaldo for a delightful evening.
Eat Valley
Viale Nazionale 193
(39) 370 3478099
One of our favourite restaurants in the area was Cappuccetto Rosso. We were not happy when they told us they were closing. They assured us they would reopen in a new location.
The new restaurant has opened in the historical centre of Barga. It is called Ristorante Piazzangelio, named after the Piazza where it is located.
The interior is elegant and inviting. (Valentina’s photo)
Lovely Valentina looked after us just as well as she did at the previous restaurant.
The food is excellent. We ordered shared plates of prosciutto and mozzarella with a delicious mint sauce.
The fish of the day was Branzino, Sea Bass. They had an enormous one, big enough for our party of 5.
Our desserts were great.
This was the winner.
We wish Valentina and Alfonso and the team the very best for their new venture.
Here is a photo of the official opening. Barga is lucky to have them.
Ristorante Piazzangelio
Phone…(39) 351 870 9224
(39) 0583 392907
I have revisited Il Totto in Elio Sassi in nearby Garfagnana to enjoy their version of cucina povera again. The restaurant famously served chestnut polenta and ossi salati, which translates as salted bones.
Once most of the meat has been removed pork bones are soaked in brine for a few days then boiled.
There was a large table near us and their polenta was delivered on a board and cut using a special tool.
They serve other things as well. I had ravioli with ragu and fried chicken a rabbit…delicious.
It is a lovely drive up to Elio Sassi. The views are glorious from the village. I highly recommend a visit.
Es Vedra opened recently in Fornoli. It is on the road out of town, just before the bend as you head towards Barga and set back from the road a little to allow parking in front.
As well as pizza there is an excellent taglieri.
It came with pasta fritta and flat bread.
We all ordered the spicy pizza with salami, pepperoncini and nduja. It was delicious!
The restaurant is bright and new and the young staff cheerful and helpful.
It is a great addition to Fornoli.
Es Vedra
Viale Papa Giovanni XXIII
339 4919880
A new business has opened in Chifenti. La Tinaia…Enoteca – vino sfuso and spuntineria. Wine shop, wine on tap and snack bar…the perfect place for aperitivo.
We dropped in recently for aperativo and got so much more. We ordered a bottle of Sangiovese, which turned out to be very good. We also ordered taglieri for 5. There was much more than we could eat and it was all delicious. The whole lot cost €10 each, very reasonable.
There was more, but somehow it disappeared before I could photograph it.
We met Cristian who served us well.
La Tinaia
Via del Brennero 15
Chifenti.
348 3396905
It has been a good year for chestnuts this year. Try some delicious chestnut pancakes in Montefegatesi on Sunday.
If you can’t make it on Sunday perhaps you could make your own necci.
You will need…
2 cups chestnut flour.
slightly less than 2 cups water
a pinch of salt
1 cup of ricotta (sweetened with a little sugar or honey if you wish)
Place the flour in a bowl with the salt. Slowly pour the water into the flour and stir with a whisk until the batter is smooth and there are no lumps.
Heat a little olive oil in a frypan and pour in a large spoonful of batter. Swirl the pan to spread the batter evenly. Cook until the bottom is golden then flip and cook the other side.
Stack the necci on a plate until all the batter is used.
Whip the ricotta and spread on the necci and roll up.
Eat.
Here is one I enjoyed at the chestnut festival in Lucchio last year.
It took me a while to acquire a taste for necci, but I now find them delicious.
As usual, there are great things to do in Bagni di Lucca.
In Ponte a Serraglio…Halloween dinner on 31st October at Risorante Cavalier Bruno.
Gombereto…October fun on 28th October.
Montefegatesi…Halloween fun on 31st October.
On the road from Bagni di Lucca to Abetone at Fabbriche di Casabascana you will find Trattoria Bar Topo Gigio.
I had heard it was a fun place to stop for coffee or lunch so with some friends I decided to try it.
The tables were all full, but fortunately somebody left as we arrived and we found a spot. It is always a good sign when a place is packed at lunch time.
The service is brisk and friendly and soon our lunch arrived.
We ordered ravioli with the Gigio sauce, which is deliciously spicy.
The gnocchi came with the same sauce, but there were several other we could have tried.
We all ordered the Milanese with a side order of salad and chips…all good.
Topo Gigio is a fun place to stop…I will return.
Topo Gigio
Str. del’Abetone e del Brennero 25 – 27
Fabbriche di Gallicano
347 08035582
Rifugio Fiori in Pieve di Monti di Villa has new operators and things are looking good. We went for Sunday lunch shortly after they opened.
It was a little cool to sit outside.
So we found a spot in the cosy room.
The building used to be a school.
Antipasti was pasta fritta with prosciutto.
Our first course was pasta with ragu.
Next was delicious veal and fried vegetables.
There was an excellent chocolate cake and torta della nonna.
It is great to see that Rifugio Fiori is continuing to serve delicious meals. Pieve di Monte di Villa is lucky to have this great asset.
Phone…371 3916108
info@rifugiofiori.it
The new fruit and vegetable shop opened in Ponte a Serraglio and drew a huge crowd of well wishers…and buyers.
The shop has exceeded expectations. The space is tiny and it is overflowing with great food. There is much more than just fruit and vegetables, which look amazing.
There is also a deli counter filled with delights. It was a bit crowded so I couldn’t photograph much.
There are shelves stocked with handy items for convenient shopping.
There were refreshments, of course, and a huge cake.
A young family is behind this new venture. When things settle a bit I will have a chat with them and find out a bit more…along with the opening hours.
Bella Bagni di Lucca 