Abruzzo Food
Most of a restaurant's clientele will be local, so it has to serve good food at good value for money.
If it doesn't, it won't survive, because people will just go somewhere else. It's as simple as that.
So you'll enjoy a taste of the real Italy when you're eating out in an Abruzzo restaurant - and for much less than you're probably used to paying at home.
You'll also be spoiled for choice. So to help start you off, we've put together a list of our best restaurant and bar recommendations.
We’ve updated and revised these for 2011 and have sampled them all.
So you'll enjoy a taste of the real Italy when you're eating out in an Abruzzo restaurant - and for much less than you're probably used to paying at home.
You'll also be spoiled for choice. So to help start you off, we've put together a list of our best restaurant and bar recommendations.
We’ve updated and revised these for 2011 and have sampled them all.
Many - especially those local to your Abruzzo villa - are places you wouldn't normally come across.
We've also added one we haven't tried - the ultra-deluxe (and ultra-pricey) Il Reale in Rivisondoli which has earned two Michelin stars, making it the 'best' restaurant in Abruzzo.
Such is the sheer choice of Abruzzo restaurants, we’ve hardly scratched the surface of good places to eat and drink. If you come across one we haven’t mentioned, please tell us. We’d love to try it !
Eating Out Locally
Our two personal local favourites are Lu Piccione in Sant'Eusanio and Villa Maiella in Guardiagrele They couldn't be more different. Lu Piccione is our nearest bar/trattoria, run by our good friend Paolo. All our guests love it.
In contrast, Villa Maiella is where to go locally for a really special meal. It's smart - but not too dressy - and you'll eat wonderfully good Italian food with a modern twist.
Dal Ghiottone in Piane d'Archi serves the best local pizzas in the nicest atmosphere. Not too far behind (and a bit nearer) is Il Bosco delle Meraviglie - World and European Pizza Champions in 2005 (honestly !) - in Selva di Altino.
You’ll get good Abruzzo food at La Quercia in Piane D’Archi - our best local traditional agriturismo. In summer, La Taverna on the shores of Lago di Casoli is good for lunch and does excellent (though pricey) char-grilled meat in the evening.
Also great for lunch - and at a fixed-price €10 each including wine, it can't be bettered - is La Bucaniere, just a few minutes away from us.
In Guardiagrele, we recommend the relaxed ambience and above-average food at Santa Chiara, or for a taste of the real Italy, head for the quirky Cantina Trippio nearby.
Special Favourites
Lanciano’s only about half-an-hour away from us – and so is the coast with its huge choice of seafood restaurants – including our pick of the bunch, La Sirenella in Fossacesia Marina.
Top of the list has to be the marvellous Ai Vecchi Sapori in Lanciano. It's our very favourite Abruzzo restaurant. Inside, it's all open-plan, so you can watch chef Davide Rapino cooking your meal ! The hot and cold antipasti misti alone are worth the journey.
For traditional Abruzzo food, the Agriturismo del Sole - a little over 30 mins away in Torino di Sangro - is easily the best agriturismo we've tried so far. The downside is they're only open Thursday dinner - Sunday lunch.
Worth the Trip
Pescara’s an hour north of us – maybe a bit far to go just for a meal, but if you’re having a day out here, couple it with a visit to one of the places we recommend.
Start by spoiling yourself with an award-winning cocktail at Berardo or a spot of retro nostalgia across the road at Camplone, before continuing the retro theme at Taverna 58 in Pescara's old town.
Or just round the corner from Taverna 58, in Via delle Caserme, is La Lumaca, with their own updated take on the Italian 'slow food' tradition.
In the opposite direction to Pescara, Pescocostanzo is an hour south of your Abruzzo villa. Il Reale in Rivisondoli is close-by - but we'll stick by our two choices in Pescocostanzo - which give you two distinct options.
La Corniola - restaurant of the 5-star Relais Ducale Hotel. Smart, classy, pricey (but no probems just ordering some wine and pasta); and Da Paolino - everyone's idea of what a really great Italian restaurant should be like. So popular in fact, that they've now opened an annexe across the way from their original bustling, friendly, vibrant place.
Both are particularly good for lunch.
And you can't leave Pescocostanzo without a coffee and pastry, (or a drink - perhaps one of their incredible range of Scotch whiskies), at the American Bar in the Piazza Municipale.
We've also added one we haven't tried - the ultra-deluxe (and ultra-pricey) Il Reale in Rivisondoli which has earned two Michelin stars, making it the 'best' restaurant in Abruzzo.
Such is the sheer choice of Abruzzo restaurants, we’ve hardly scratched the surface of good places to eat and drink. If you come across one we haven’t mentioned, please tell us. We’d love to try it !
Eating Out Locally
Our two personal local favourites are Lu Piccione in Sant'Eusanio and Villa Maiella in Guardiagrele They couldn't be more different. Lu Piccione is our nearest bar/trattoria, run by our good friend Paolo. All our guests love it.
In contrast, Villa Maiella is where to go locally for a really special meal. It's smart - but not too dressy - and you'll eat wonderfully good Italian food with a modern twist.
Dal Ghiottone in Piane d'Archi serves the best local pizzas in the nicest atmosphere. Not too far behind (and a bit nearer) is Il Bosco delle Meraviglie - World and European Pizza Champions in 2005 (honestly !) - in Selva di Altino.
You’ll get good Abruzzo food at La Quercia in Piane D’Archi - our best local traditional agriturismo. In summer, La Taverna on the shores of Lago di Casoli is good for lunch and does excellent (though pricey) char-grilled meat in the evening.
Also great for lunch - and at a fixed-price €10 each including wine, it can't be bettered - is La Bucaniere, just a few minutes away from us.
In Guardiagrele, we recommend the relaxed ambience and above-average food at Santa Chiara, or for a taste of the real Italy, head for the quirky Cantina Trippio nearby.
Special Favourites
Lanciano’s only about half-an-hour away from us – and so is the coast with its huge choice of seafood restaurants – including our pick of the bunch, La Sirenella in Fossacesia Marina.
Top of the list has to be the marvellous Ai Vecchi Sapori in Lanciano. It's our very favourite Abruzzo restaurant. Inside, it's all open-plan, so you can watch chef Davide Rapino cooking your meal ! The hot and cold antipasti misti alone are worth the journey.
For traditional Abruzzo food, the Agriturismo del Sole - a little over 30 mins away in Torino di Sangro - is easily the best agriturismo we've tried so far. The downside is they're only open Thursday dinner - Sunday lunch.
Worth the Trip
Pescara’s an hour north of us – maybe a bit far to go just for a meal, but if you’re having a day out here, couple it with a visit to one of the places we recommend.
Start by spoiling yourself with an award-winning cocktail at Berardo or a spot of retro nostalgia across the road at Camplone, before continuing the retro theme at Taverna 58 in Pescara's old town.
Or just round the corner from Taverna 58, in Via delle Caserme, is La Lumaca, with their own updated take on the Italian 'slow food' tradition.
In the opposite direction to Pescara, Pescocostanzo is an hour south of your Abruzzo villa. Il Reale in Rivisondoli is close-by - but we'll stick by our two choices in Pescocostanzo - which give you two distinct options.
La Corniola - restaurant of the 5-star Relais Ducale Hotel. Smart, classy, pricey (but no probems just ordering some wine and pasta); and Da Paolino - everyone's idea of what a really great Italian restaurant should be like. So popular in fact, that they've now opened an annexe across the way from their original bustling, friendly, vibrant place.
Both are particularly good for lunch.
And you can't leave Pescocostanzo without a coffee and pastry, (or a drink - perhaps one of their incredible range of Scotch whiskies), at the American Bar in the Piazza Municipale.
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You can't go home from your Abruzzo holiday without eating a pizza ! The best are cooked in a traditional wood-burning oven. Our two recommended pizzerias both cook their pizzas this way. Taste the difference !
The Adriatic coast is lined with seafood restaurants serving typical dishes like Linguine with Frutta di Mare - though there'll be infinite little variations in sauces and types of fish and pasta used to ensure that the version you eat will be 'unique'. No grated parmesan with this pasta dish as Italians consider that parmesan and fish don't go well together !
Risotto's an all-time Italian home-cooking favourite - but not found on many restaurant menus as it's a labour-intensive dish to prepare. However, you will find it on the menu at our local recommendation La Cena.
An Abruzzo staple - char-grilled meat. Always a choice of steak, veal, lamb, pork and Abruzzese sausages. Or if you're really hungry, the full works in a mixed grill.