Do you ever find yourself talk about travel experiences to friends and family like they talk about their newborns or grandchildren? You realize at some point that they dont care nearly as much as you, especially after showing them some serious raw meat porn. But you do it anyway, since it feels good to relive said experiences. Such was the case with Casa Rampolina and its restaurant La Rampolina.
Rampolina towers in the mountains above Stresa and majestic Lake Maggiore, with mythical views of the lake and the Borromean islands. By mythical I mean all we witnessed during our entire rainy stay was 50 shades of gray, and at some point the views became a myth. Plenty of pictures on the internet, possibly AI generated, like the one below. I’ll believe it when I see it, Federica!
Federica and husband Davide own this jewel in a hamlet called Campino, an easy 8 minute drive from Stresa. After seeing the third penis shaped Limoncello, I was relived that we didnt stay within Stresa itself. Casa Rampolina provides ample, easy parking for its sizable 5 rooms. Comfy beds, baths, a sauna, and a superb breakfast overlooking the splendid AI generated views. The main feature is the kind of hospitality you’d expect from a family member, not a stranger.
La Rampolina, the restaurant was an unexpected doozy. When I read the reviews, I got the impression of a possible tourist trap. It wasnt very clear whether the draw was the food or the location. The confusion intensified when their parking attendant asked me to park closer to the next car in a lot bigger than the entire hotel. Are they really about to fill the entire lot? Yes they did, and then some.
Turns out La Rampolina is a local legend. Not only it was a very packed multi-room, multi-building house (imagine a large Florida seafood palace), but we were also the only tourists there, confirmed by Davide. In addition, a local celebrity chef just happened to dine there at the same time. By the end of the night the parking attendant was directing traffic like an air traffic controller.
Started with an awesome silky smooth Fassona carpaccio special with Puntarelle, and Bagna Cauda. I noticed on this trip wild mood swings on days we didnt eat Fassona. Coincidence? Egg, Toma cheese, veggies concoction was exactly what you expect. Excellent Tagliatelle with rabbit ragu. A different flavor profile than the ragus we tasted in other parts of the region.
Mrs Z and I usually share everything including mains but this time we had our clear favorites. A fine slow baked beef for Mrs Z. Fassona Hanger (Tagliata di Diaframma) for me. This was the best cooked Fassona of the trip. The waiter suggested to have it rare, and I could see why. Its much thicker than the usual Hanger, features a good amount of char, and supremely flavorful. The more you cook it, the more flavor you lose.
We even ended a mini streak of subpar Tiramisu here. My only regret was not taking advantage of the tremendous wine list and getting wine by the glass. But overall, I couldn’t have asked for a better finish to another wonderful eating trip in Italy. Worth travelling to Lake Maggiore just to eat and sleep here. Go!
Eating With Ziggy 