Petals of egg pasta frame slices of guinea fowl caramelised in honey saffron; silky tortellini are stuffed to bursting with pumpkin, nutmeg, cinnamon and candied mostarda (fruit in a sweet-mustard sauce). You practically eat the Mantuan countryside in Nadia Santini’s internationally acclaimed restaurant.
What’s even more surprising is that the triple-Michelin-starred chef is entirely self-taught and has only ever cooked here, in what was originally the modest trattoria of her husband’s family. Beneath the tutelage of her mother-in-law, who still cooks in the kitchen, Nadia learnt to create Mantuan cuisine deftly and creatively. Despite a background in food science, her food isn’t remotely high-tech, but rather quietly brilliant, focusing on the essentials and balancing simplicity with the very finest natural produce.
The restaurant is located 40km west of Mantua in a green glade beside the Oglio river. Nearby, 9 Muse B&B provides elegant and charming accommodation.
