Tag: Restaurants

4 Restaurants: the best restaurant in Mantua and pumpkin tortelli – Italian cuisine reinvented by Gordon Ramsay

The “pearl” of the Renaissance, Mantua, was the final stage of the long journey of Alessandro Borghese 4 Ristoranti, who with his van went in search of the best restaurants on the French Riviera, the Oltrepò Pavese, Lisbon, the historic center of Ravenna, Ogliastra in Sardinia, Gorizia, Lucca and Monza.

Mantua, an architectural jewel of the Po Valley, between the Mincio river and Lake Garda, enjoys a strategic position which has certainly contributed to its historical importance and its commercial development. But also the Gonzagas, who held power for several centuries, participated in its cultural and artistic rise during the Renaissance. The historic center of the city is a fascinating labyrinth of medieval streets, squares and historic buildings, which justify the expression with which Mantua is often defined: «open-air museum. The Palazzo Ducale, residence of the Gonzagas, houses frescoes by a renowned artist such as Andrea Mantegna. The Basilica of Sant’Andrea is a notable example of Renaissance architecture designed by Leon Battista Alberti, and the Rotonda of San Lorenzo, an ancient Roman temple transformed into a church. Mantua, however, is also famous for its rich and varied cuisine: they can be found on the menus of typical restaurants the sbrisolona cake, pumpkin tortelli, pilot risotto and donkey stewbut also pike in sauce and Mantuan salami.

This time too, as required by the rules, four restaurateurs challenged each other to try to obtain the best ratings from colleagues and chef Alessandro Borghese, who first of all inspects the kitchens to ensure compliance with the standards of cleanliness and order. Each restaurant was evaluated for the level of hospitality, service and preparation: diners assign a score from 0 to 10 to location, menu, service and bill, in addition to the fifth category, the dish that all restaurateurs are asked to propose the same flat, the one that is considered most representative of the reference territory. They are on the Mantua tables pumpkin tortelli, an explosion of flavours in which the sweetness of the pumpkin harmonises with the saltiness of the cheese and the bitter-sweetness of the amaretti, in contrast with the spiciness of the mustard.

The restaurants competing in this latest episode of 4 Restaurants are Raw material of Giuseppe, who won the victory, The Rigoletto of Ekla, the restaurant Pumpkin yellow of Sciko and the tavern To the Gallo by Leonardo.

Let’s get to know them better in the gallery.

4 Restaurants: the best restaurant in Monza, which is the chicest? – Italian cuisine reinvented by Gordon Ramsay

From theater de The Betrothed home to the Autodromo Nazionale, Italian motorsport excellence, Monza is also one of the most productive areas in Europe. This is where 4 Ristorante stopped for the penultimate time. Last night, chef Alessandro Borghese’s van stopped in the heart of Brianzain the city of a thousand souls, full of green spaces and notable historical monuments such as the Cathedral and the Royal Palace.

Alessandro Borghese went in search of the best chic restaurant in Monza. Not a simple undertaking, because among traditional places that offer Luganega risottos, cassoeule and village cakesand cutting-edge restaurants that look to innovation, the proposal is broad and of a high standard.

The Monza risotto challenge

Four restaurateurs each invited the three competitors and Alessandro Borghese to lunch: if the chef also takes care of the inspection of the kitchens, each of the guests (including him) assigns a score from 0 to 10 for the location, the menu, the service and the bill, and also to a particular dish – which differs in each episode – typical of the area and proposed by all the restaurants competing. This time the challenge was played on Monza style risotto, prepared with luganega, a typical Lombard sausage that is added in small pieces. There are, however, different versions of the traditional recipe, which every restaurateur jealously guards.

The venues competing

In Monza, the four locals competing were Mamíe restaurant by Maria Rosaria, Silk Monza by Giorgio, The nun’s cellar by Giordano e Brown bear by Matteo, who won first place. In the gallery we get to know the restaurateurs and their proposals better.

Meanwhile, the gastronomic journey of Alessandro Borghese 4 Ristoranti, which has already explored the gastronomic proposals of the French Riviera, the Oltrepò Pavese, Lisbon, the historic center of Ravenna, Ogliastra in Sardinia, Gorizia and Lucca, is preparing tolast stop, which will be Mantua.

Alessandro Borghese 4 Restaurants: the best restaurant in Gorizia – Italian cuisine reinvented by Gordon Ramsay

In Gorizia the architecture, knowledge and cuisine of different cultures meet, from Slavic to Slovenian to Austro-Hungarian. The ideal stage for Alessandro Borghese who, in new episode of 4 Restaurants, went in search of the best venue in this North Eastern city, which was once called the “Austrian Nice”, a rich crossroads of people. The food and wine proposal reflects the varied character of this border land, where you can taste the specialties of a poor and peasant cuisine: the Goulashfamous stew, the plum gnocchiit strudel and the Gorizia rose.

The goulash challenge

Alessandro Borghese was invited to lunch by four restaurateurs. Everyone, in addition to the chef, also welcomes their three challengers into their restaurant: the four diners, from time to time, will have to taste the dishes and express an opinion on different elements, such as location, menu, service and bill. The competitors will then have to compete with a dish that is the same for everyone, which changes in each episode because it is highly representative of the territory. In Gorizia, the challenge is played on goulash, a dish originally from Hungarian cuisine, but which due to geographical proximity was adopted by the gastronomic tradition of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. It is a typical stew prepared with beef, onions, paprika and other spices which give it an intense red color and a strong flavour. The original traditional recipe is often varied with the use of different meats and spices.

The restaurants in the competition

The 4 restaurants in the competition are: Hosteria with kitchen – La Kantinetta by Mauro, Trattoria Al Piron by Antonella, Rosenbar Restaurant by Michela e Atmospheres La Sitüa by Stefano, who wins the bet. Let’s meet them all in the gallery.

Meanwhile, the gastronomic journey of Alessandro Borghese 4 restaurantswhich has already explored the gastronomic proposals of the French Riviera, the Oltrepò Pavese, Lisbon, the historic center of Ravenna, and Ogliastra in Sardinia, will continue along the entire peninsula, touching again on Lucca, Monza and Mantua.