It was to be our last dinner in Piedmont, so the choice of restaurant was very important!
There were still a few fabulous restaurants on our list that we had not been to but in the end we chose Il Cascinalenuovo in Isola d’Asti, about a twenty minute drive from La Villa.
Chef Walter Ferreto and his brother Roberto, run this family restaurant and hotel. Roberto is the wine expert whilst Walter runs a very slick kitchen. He also loves to pop out for a chat and to check that everyone is enjoying their food
The restaurant is in a very ordinary hotel on the side of the main road that joins Asti and Alba but once inside, this is forgotten
This year, a new outside area was opened overlooking the garden and the pool. It also incorporates L’ Altro Cascinale, a casual bistro serving pasta, burgers, pizza and grills
 Now for dinner….and the wine list!
We were presented with the wine list with it’s fabulous cover. With so many wines on offer, my husband enjoyed his chat to Robert about which one to choose. Whilst this was happening, a plate of appetisers appeared.
And still the appetisers kept coming!
We both ordered the homemade tajarin of pepperoncino, garlic and San Marzano tomato as a first course
One of the main course choices was  ”Tataki di Ricciola del Mediterraneo, couscous e vedure al fruitto della passione’. Walter explained that ‘tatki’ was a japanese cooking method he had picked up over the years from the japanese chefs that were working for him. He taught at a nearby culinary school where a lot of Japanese chefs trained and had been able to pick the best chefs to work for him.
The fish, in this case ricciola or amberjack, was seared very quickly on all sides and then finely sliced and seasoned with a sauce. It was very tasty and the flavours of the sauce mixed with the couscous and vegetables, was a treat.
My husband loves steak tartare so he ordered the piemontese version with raw veal, fresh vegetables and extra virgin olive oil from Maurizio Menichetti.
A warm chocolate pudding with rasberries and goat’s milk gelato was tempting but after seven weeks on the road and all the divine appetisers we were offered, we reluctantly passed on dessert. Of course we didn’t say no to the small pastries!!
Ristorante Il Cascinalenuovo
Statale Asti-Alba 15
Isola d’Asti
Tel:+39 0141 958166
Il Cascinalenuovo
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This looks absolutely amazing. I am definitely going there when we go to Piedmont next time.
Thanks Debra. It was pretty special. Certainly one for the list!!
Hello, I just discovered your blog and wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your post. Your meal looks and sounds delicious. Just the way my husband and I like to eat.
Thankyou Karen. It’s great you enjoyed the post and nice of you to say so. We had some amazing meals in Piedmont- it’s one of the main reasons we keep going back there. Your dinner in Ortisei looked fabulous too. I’ll have to add it to the list. We’ll always make a detour for a fabulous meal!!
Hello, absolutely fantastic, we visit this place in July 2012 and we enjoyed it very much. I will highly recommend this!
Thanks Tommy. It’s a fun street isn’t it, with its many temptations!
It’s a great restaurant isn’t it Tommy. If you ever return to Piemonte, there are a couple of other restaurants mentioned that are just as fabulous! It’s my favourite area of Italy!