Christian e Manuel — Restaurant in Vercelli

We booked this place after watching Stanley Tucci’s show about Piedmont, and omg we are so pleased we did! Whoever did the research for Stanley is genius! But probably not as genius as the Costardi brothers! We ordered a tasting menu of three risottos: with mushroom and parsley, oil-garlic-chili and of course the infamous coffee-beer reduction risotto which Stanley had. All three were perfectly cooked and were absolutely delicious, but the coffee-beer one was out of this world! Honestly, it sounds so strange and it smells like a shot of espresso when it’s brought to your table, your brain just thinks “this cannot be right”. But it’s the most wonderful risotto I’ve ever had in my life. Coffee-beer-cheese combo just work so well that when you put it in your mouth , you realize there is nothing strange about it - it’s so clever and delicious. It’s also served in those cute customised tins which totally adds to the overall experience. The service was immaculate and the ladies serving our dishes were incredibly friendly and professional. They really made me feel like home but also very special at the same time. We were also given a complimentary aperitivo (again delicious), the smoothest and most gorgeous starter (baccala mantecato with mash potatoes), and some biscuits and chocolates with coffee. We were so full but we could not leave without trying their “winter rice field dessert”, also featured in Mr Tucci’s show. It was …. surprise surprise… delicious! But the theatre and creativity around it beats everything: the idea of foggy frozen yoghurt on top of rice-puff-chocolate soil is beyond me. Hats off to the chefs and the staff for making our lunch so special and a once in a lifetime experience. We are definitely coming back next time we are in Torino....

Well, well, well, that was a surprise and not a pleasant one. We have just come off 10 days of gastronomy in Piemonte and some of the best restaurants we have eaten at in Italy. And now we end our road trip with this abomination. It is a huge disappointment. In over 20 years of eating and drinking Italy, from 3 stars to no stars, super sophisticated to very simple local fare, this is absolutely the biggest rip-off that we have had the great displeasure of coming across. It didn’t feel right coming in so we can only blame ourselves for staying. We had an entrée which was exactly one scallop (muscle) and some shavings of dried veal, a first risotto with one red shrimp and one mushroom risotto made with “extraction of mushroom”. The risottos measured about one centimeter high and ten centimeters in diameter, in other words almost nothing. That was priced at 120€, probably for a cost of ingredients of 10€, no desert. There is no menu, just a set of plying cards portraying foodstuff and then you are in the hands of these less than impressive chefs.

The one semi-redeeming feature was that we drank Annamaria Clementi 2009. Excellent bubbles for those who know them. Price of course was way over the top and double what you would normally pay for it. We finished our meal, paid and basically exited thereafter without anyone coming to say goodbye. Probably just as well. As we are fond of saying: that was a total waste of space. To be avoided...

Okay, folks, listen up! If you're ever roaming around Piedmont with a hankering for risotto that'll make your tastebuds sing, drop everything and head straight to Christian e Manuel. This place isn't just some stuffy, Michelin-star joint – it's a risotto paradise with a serious dose of charm. We stumbled upon this gem thanks to our main man Stanley Tucci (you know, the guy who makes you want to book a flight to Italy every time he's on screen). Turns out, this place is run by two brothers with a passion for risotto that's downright contagious. Their story alone is enough to warm your heart, but wait till you taste the food! Forget everything you thought you knew about risotto. These guys are serving up a symphony of flavors that'll blow your mind. We're talking creamy, dreamy concoctions with everything from classic Parmesan to – get this – bone marrow! Yeah, you heard me right. Bone marrow. And trust me, it's divine. The service? Top-notch. Think professional but with a wink and a smile. These guys know how to make you feel like royalty without all the stuffy formalities. So, ditch the diet, grab your appetite, and prepare to be wowed at Christian e Manuel. Just don't blame me when you can't stop dreaming about their...