 By Eve Hartridge
Follow Eve on Twitter Here
If you’ve enjoyed 48 hours in Milan, why not extend your Italian stay for another 24 hours and visit The magical Villa Crespi? Traveling Actuary, Eve Hartridge tells us why.
Villa Crespi is located around 45 minutes from Milan Malpensa airport, on the banks of the stunning Lake Orta. This hotel is a real find and a total treat regardless of the season, as it’s within easy reach of the ski slopes in the winter and the lake is a matter of metres away to enjoy in the summer. Visually, Villa Crespi is beautiful, the Moorish architecture is perfectly complemented by lush gardens and luxurious furnishings. Once you check in you feel as if you’re somewhere very special, and that’s before dinner.
Italian food is world famous, it’s a real passion, and many signature dishes are re-created daily around the world. It is an assumption and a sweeping statement to say that Italian cuisine is the world's best, but the restaurant at Villa Crespi is the best I have ever experienced. I love food, and I love Italian food. However, the fine dining at Villa Crespi is world class. The Head Chef is Antonino Cannavacciuolo, who has been awarded two prestigious Michelin stars, and has maintained this high standard for a number of years. I thoroughly recommend the North to South tasting menu, which takes your taste-buds on a gastronomic tour of Italy. The Villa also has an extensive wine cellar, which is constantly evolving - if you are very lucky, it is possible to tour the cellar and sample the latest suggestions and additions. All menus have a well planned wine accompaniment, and it is well worth experiencing the two together as this really is one of the best that Italy has to offer.
Villa Crespi is a perfect venue for any special occasion, and a dinner bed and breakfast stay is a wonderful gift. However, it is possible to take your fine dining experience to another level. Antonino and his team run a number of cookery classes throughout the year, where you can learn from the master! Courses run in the morning, and then you are able to enjoy lunch at the restaurant- maybe something that you even created! Antonino is infectious in his enthusiasm, and it’s a great place to learn as the master chef is also blessed with patience, which is a key virtue with my awful cooking!
The North to South tasting menu starts at 120 Euros per person .
|
