There is no need to spend a fortune to satisfy your palate at the table in Italy. The Michelin Guide, the Gotha of the most exclusive (and poorest) quality restaurants for years has been sending its inspectors around the country also looking for restaurants and trattorias where you can eat well, with satisfaction, savoring intelligent tastes, without for this … committing one's savings. These are the Bib Gourmand restaurants – a name that refers to the good-natured MICHELIN Little Man, Bibendum, as well as the Group's official mascot – capable of offering a pleasant gastronomic experience, with a full menu for less than €35.
The 2022 Guide reports 255, scattered throughout the boot, and surprisingly despite the difficulties and suffering of the sector due to the pandemic, this year they enter the list as many as 20 new venues, a sign that the sector's desire to restart is alive and throbbing.
The aim of the team of inspectors was to discover new Bib Gourmands in all corners of Italy, from large cities to small towns accessible by dirt roads. The value for money it is certainly an essential element in the selection, but priority is the passion for the table that creates the atmosphereto Bib Gourmand restaurants, where you can taste recipes often inspired by tradition. But not only.
From reading the 2022 Guide it emerges that Rome is the city that boasts the primacy of Bib Gourmand: 10 in total, including 4 new. "Among these, underlines Sergio Lovrinovich, Director of the MICHELIN Italy Guide, the new adventure of Roy Caceres at the "Carnal", a lively and modern proposal, and the MOI, a bistro with "fresh" cuisine and extensive customization, which respects the seasonality of the products and their availability in the area. And, again, the Hosteria Grappolo d'Oro and the Prati Rione Gastronomico, two simple and very different restaurant proposals, in which the first enhances tradition and the second expresses gastronomy and cuisine in two distinct environments, in a formula modern and quality.”
Statistically the regions with more Bib Gourmands they are in order: Emilia-Romagna with 35 clubs, Piedmont with 32, Lombardy (31), Tuscany (23), Veneto (22).
As a preview of the launch of the MICHELIN Italy 2022 Guide, which will be held in Franciacorta on November 23rd, MICHELIN unveils the names of the new Bib Gourmand restaurants.
Piedmont
Donatella bistro – Oviglio AL. “In the heart of the small town, the colorful room will welcome you in the cold season, but in good weather it's a rush to book a table in the internal courtyard, under the bell tower of Oviglio. Piedmontese raw materials and recipes are the pride of a simple but tasty menu”.
Ancient Evenings – Turin TO. “In a neighborhood away from the city's tourist circuits, an inn with a consolidated reputation that makes use of an attentive and cordial female service. Strictly regional proposals in a yesteryear setting, divided into three small rooms (one of which is shared with the bar counter). Cozy summer service in the back garden”.
Lombardia
From Sapi – Esine BS. “Now in its fourth generation, the Foppoli family is now a culinary reference for the area, thanks to a contemporary cuisine that has solid regional foundations, with a constant, careful search for local ingredients but not only. It all started around the ice cream shop, their great passion, to which some rooms have been added. A warranty!"
Dahlias and Beans – Manerba del Garda BS. “The chef patron Fabio puts at the service of his restaurant all the experience he learned in a journey of starred restaurants, interrupted about ten years ago to open Dalie e Fagioli: in this case the technical ability is at the service of local ingredients or local recipes, prepared with a touch of imagination and to be accompanied by a decent wine list”.
Osteria della Villetta – Palazzolo sull'Oglio BS. “For over a hundred years, a bulwark of tradition, liberty furnishings and a retro atmosphere have been the side dish for Brescian classics and family recipes: always based on seasonal ingredients, as in the case of the many vegetables from their own garden, from which the Evo oil also comes and a good bubbly”.
La Piazzetta – Montevecchia LC. “In the very pleasant upper and historic part of the town, which dominates the surrounding and industrious Brianza, a place inside a renovated building with two bright rooms for a cuisine with interesting classic and contemporary proposals. Intimate on weekdays, it becomes essential to book on holidays".
The Nine Bowls – Milan MI. “The ethnic cuisine now present throughout the boot enters into detail here, as shown by the specialties of this address which draw on the gastronomic richness of the province of Sichuan, in south-western China. Spicy and spicy dishes, indicated on the menu with the "degree" of spiciness".
tripe – Sondrio SO. “local restaurant just outside the city, managed for about ten years by Gianluca intent on enlivening mainly regional and Valtellinese proposals, with some Mediterranean cues; the offer is completed at lunch thanks to a simpler menu. But that's not all: a good selection of both cheese and local wines, which you will also find for sale at the entrance to the restaurant at take-away prices”.
Veneto
Zamboni restaurant – Arcugnano/Lapio VI. “In an imposing period building: the sober rooms on the first floor (with lift) almost stand aside to give space to the panorama of the Berici hills through the many large windows, while the kitchen, traditional and revisited at the same time, has the strength of 50 years of history. The selection of bottles is also very good, so lovers don't stop at the extract, they ask for the complete menu to indulge themselves”.
Palmerino – Bacalà in Sandrigo – Sandrigo VI. “Just outside the town, in a welcoming block along the anonymous SP 248, the Chemello family has now reached its fourth generation, conferring the role of absolute star of its restaurant to his majesty the cod! On the menu - however - there are also many other proposals and to end with something strong, the spirits list will not leave you dry".
Toscana
The Horton – Florence FI. “Basically a Tuscan-style bistro, adjacent to the Sant'Ambrogio market: simple in the furnishings and also in the cuisine offered which, in addition to a few mentions of the territory, favors imaginative preparations on Italian "themes", starting from seasonal ingredients, to which grilled specialties are added; the cellar is also interesting. Excellent prices: opting for the steak you spend a little more”.
Lazio
Carnal – Rome RM. “Carnal is the most “pop” and lively expression of the famous chef Roy Caceres: music, colorful furnishings, smart service, some dishes you can even eat with your hands! A resolutely young setting and a clearly Latin-American cuisine (tacos, chevice, mango desserts, and more). Fragrant seasonal ingredients, especially from Italy, to be paired with wine, beers and excellent cocktails in the evening”.
Hosteria Grappolo d'Oro – Rome RM. “Near Piazza Navona and Campo de' Fiori, a restaurant with a long tradition since the beginning of this century in the hands of five partners in the sector, one of whom is in the kitchen. Generous and quality classic Roman cuisine (cacio e pepe, roast lamb, Roman-style cod…) in a rustic and pleasant setting. The soundtrack shouldn't be underestimated: it gives shivers to 70's nostalgia in a rock-blues key!”
Moi – Rome RM. “Moi is a small and decidedly smart place, which, thanks to its quality, makes the Fleming area, north-west of Rome, mentioned again in the guide. With solid experience behind him, Thomas Moi cooks fresh seasonal ingredients with modern techniques, which can also change on a daily basis: meat, fish, vegetables and aromatic herbs are tastefully offered, at truly excellent prices".
Prati Gastronomic district – Rome RM. “Large multitasking place, open from breakfast to dinner, for an articulated offer that goes from the bistro to the pastry shop, from the cocktail bar to the bakery, as well as a pizzeria. Excellent cuisine: the choice is limited, but the quality is always delicious and appetizing!”
Campania
Geraniums – St. Anthony the Abbot NA. “Quality products, many of local origin, enhanced by the mastery of the chef who takes up the regional tradition with taste and personal touch, in a spacious room with modern lines. An address to immediately mark in your diary!”
Puglia
Barz8 – Bisceglie BT. “Beautiful location on the port of Bisceglie, the most authentic Mediterranean flavors arrive on the table – primarily the regional ones – accompanied by a competent and jovial service. The outdoor seating is particularly popular; better book!”
Sardinia
Josto – Cagliari CA. “In the center of Cagliari, near the suggestive Piazza del Carmine, the designer furniture of the two small rooms brighten the break by harmonizing perfectly with the chef's cuisine, which is intended to be modern, although inspired by Sardinian roots and ingredients”.
Hub – Macomer NU. “Within the Progetto H social cooperative, created in 1983 among the pavilions of an old fair and now engaged in the job placement of disadvantaged people, chef Leonardo Marongiu has found the ideal cradle for his Hub. Whether you choose the 7-course tasting menu, or the decidedly more streamlined one of the day, Sardinian flavors will not fail to set the table”.
Coxinendi – Sanluri SU. "Coxinendi ("cooking", in Sardinian) is the restaurant of a talented chef with important experiences behind him - Davide Atzeni - who here manages to revive the most authentic expression of Sardinian, ancestral and primitive cuisine".
