La Braja — Restaurant in Montemagno Monferrato

A group of 8 of us and a baby were here for a Sunday nite dinner, or should I say feast? We heard about it from our friends who live in town but travel the world. Our other friends and us are foodies. My wife is into technique, moistness of the food, balance of spices, etc. Me, I am interested in quality, combination of spices, taste and "can i cook it or not?" (I am not a chef, but my friends really compliment my cooking.). To make matters more interesting: 3 of the group were vegan! We called a day earlier to arrange the adjustment.

In Summary - Fantastico. We had the owner pick our fleet of dines for dinner. we had 5. There were 6 or 7 course, excluding the sorbet pallet cleanser. We each chose our own course, Presentation was excellent. We shared tastes! The 2 spoon rice and onion starter was tasty. way to reset the pallet. The zucchini flower thimbale (?) subtle and wonderful. Saffron - Zoiks! The beef tartar was great and equal to my later tartar orders in Paris. The main dish, with the shaved truffles, was my first time with fresh, voluminous shaved truffles and similar to a first love, was remarkable. Dessert - a picture is the best description. And the food kept coming.

This is old school culinary art coupled with intuitively brilliant wine choices. And the service was attentive and spot on with the waiter moving in and out of the table like a dance. The last time I had a meal like this with service like this, where I was continuously awed over the food, was in Munich where we had a Michelle grade meal with 3 waiters per guest.

Our Hawaiian friends, who a week before were visiting their Swiss friends, mentioned their Swiss friends just had dinner at La Braja a month earlier. And we saw the pic.

Anyhow, it is worth changing plans and making this a destination. Plan to eat slowly. Make it an experience. Try your Italian. Let the owner pick the wines. Ask about the art. Babies welcome! Oh, and interesting to note, when I asked to look at the kitchen, the main chef was out for the evening so the back-up chef was cooking. LOL - I can't imagine how it could be better!!! ...

The owner welcomed me as a reservation for one... not ignored or devalued but treated as graciously as a bustling table of 6. The evening started with a gentle Sommelia introducing the local varietal with amuse bouche. Then the elegant chefs choices and pairings. After one dinner in Montemagno at La Braja I knew I found the magic of the talent of the villages of Asti. A place that makes you so happy you took time to reward yourself and have a spectacular evening out in a quiet...

These guys cooked for the Pope and we sat at the table where they entertained the President of Albania. The most amazing and sensually satisfying meal we have ever experienced. It was not just “food and wine”. It is a peak experience of our lives. Antonio (the papa) and Christian (the son) and Joseph (the Chef) served us and taught us and guided Us. Life changing meal. Amazing value. Served us and told us about themselves and the food and we spent almost four hours at...