Chef, Massimo Rivetti, and Maitre D’, Antonello Bero, opened Ristorante Bandini a few kilometers outside of Asti in 2002 after working together for years as employees in another restaurant. Since then it has been praised by numerous guides and earned Slowfood recognition. It is named for Arturo Bandini, an Italo-American who is the protagonist in several novels by John Fante. Pictured here are Bero on the left and Rivetti on the right, with the motorcycle that is a decorative piece in the restaurant.
The menu features traditional food, most “zero kilometer” and organic: antipasti, beef, pork, rabbit, vegetables, porcini mushrooms, truffles, and hand-made pasta. (Fresh fish is flown in daily from Sicily) I had “Rollé” of rabbit:
The wine list is an interesting combination of outstanding local/regional and international (mostly French) artisanal producers. We had two fabulous wines.
First, an organic sparkling wine made with prosecco grapes by Costadilà: Costadilà [glossary_exclude]Bianco Frizzante [/glossary_exclude] Dei Colli Trevigiani IGT is made according to the natural/traditional way of leaving the lees in the bottle after the second fermentation and not adding any sugar (Pas Dosé). The result is a dry, crisp, lightly sparkling wine with delicate aromas and flavors. ($20-25)
The second wine, ‘Tavijn Grignolino D’Asti DOC, was from Cascina ‘Tavijn, also a natural/organic producer. When Nadia Verrua took over the family vineyards from her father, she decided to bottle her own wine instead of selling the grapes in bulk to the local cooperative. Grignolini is a native variety that produces a light, red wine. Nadia’s is fresh with delightful fruit aromas and flavors.
Even though I’m not a big dessert lover, I couldn’t resist the Bandini offerings. The cover photo above is the Meringue dessert with ice cream and orange,and this was the chocolate temptation: Bonêt Astigiano.
Ristorante Bandini:
Ristorante Bandini is closed on Mondays.
Via Cornapo’ (=Strada Provinciale 38), n.135
14037 Portacomaro, AT
Tel: +39.0141.299252
E-mail: ristorantebandini@hotmail.it
