Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Osteria dell'Oca
VALDOSTAN
€€
( 0165 23 14 19;
www.ristoranteosteriadelloca.com
;
Via E Aubert15; meals €25-32; 12.30-2.30pm
& 7.30-10.30pm Tue-Sun)
Oca
means 'goose' and there are plenty of them in this quaint perch
under an archway off Via E Aubert, both on the menu and reproduced in china around the
room. This is Valdostan food heaven. Forget your standard
primi
(first courses) and
secondi
(mains), and dig into veal stew spooned over polenta, or sausages covered in
fontina
.
Dessert cakes are displayed on the bar by the door in case you have the audacity to
think about leaving without trying one.
Ad Forum
MODERN ITALIAN
€€
( 0165 4 00 11; Via Mons de Sales 11; meals €22-30; noon-2.30pm & 7-10.45pm Tue-Sun)
Anoth-
er fantastic Aosta restaurant setting, this time in a stylish garden (and interior rooms) built
on part of the remains of the Roman forum. Conceptual dishes such as risotto with straw-
berries and Spumante, or lasagnetta with pear and blue cheese, come in generous portions,
and you get an equally tasty complimentary aperitif while you wait.
The attached
enoteca
has an excellent line-up of wines.
Vecchia Aosta
( 0165 36 11 86; Piazza Porta Praetoria 4; set menus €30-35; 12.15-2.30pm & 7.30-10pm)
Maybe
it's the French influence, but Aosta restaurants such as the Vecchia score consistently
highly when it comes to culinary creativity. Grafted onto a section of the old Roman wall,
the Vecchia's setting is sublime and the waiters are highly knowledgable. Take their ad-
vice and go for the lamb - it's a real holiday highlight.
TRADITIONAL ITALIAN
€€
Shopping
Craft shops in town sell traditional Valdostan objects made by certified local artisans.
Unique items to look out for include a
grolla
(a large wooden goblet whose name is de-
rived from the word 'grail' in reference to the Holy Grail, which is said to have passed
through the village and been copied by local artisans). Another Valdostan tradition is the
coppa dell'amicizia
(friendship cup), a wooden bowl filled with coffee, laced with citrus
