Osteria Del Mirasole - San Giovanni in Persiceto (Italy)
Some people say that @osteriamirasole is worth the drive to San Giovanni in Persiceto. Well, that could not be further from the truth as it implies that investing a little bit of your time to get there is some sort of penalti. In my eyes, it is a pilgrimage. And the restaurant is actually worth the plane ticket all the way from Brazil.
Antica Osteria del Mirasole embodies everything I love about food. There is no bullshit here. No unnecessary narrative behind the dishes there. It is a place where you feel the truth behind each bite. A restaurant that thrives in its simplicity and showcases Emilian Romagnan heritage at its finest. Where the quality of ingredients and mastery of techniques are at the level of any of the world’s top restaurants, but in a more down to earth and real environment.
They own a farm close to the restaurant, where they source many of the ingredients and produce their own cheese. Their signature dish is the tortellini in creamy sauce, obtained through the skimming process of the milk used in their Parmigiano production. This dish deserves a post of its own and it is something that any food lover should taste at least once.
The tagliatelle Bolognese was the ultimate Italian trattoria comforting food. The meaty ragu sauce, called “cortile” is an umami bomb. Differently from other places that I visited, it consists of a mix of beef, pork, chicken livers and others, paying tribute to an ancient cultural heritage from the countryside of Persciceto.
The green lasagna was another spectacular dish, with a creamy bechamel from their dairy and a hearty meat ragu, combined in thin layers that ended with a beautiful crust on top.
This is also a meat lover’s paradise. Steak and different types of meat are cooked in a stone fireplace, with smoky notes from the wood embers that burn slowly and warm up the cozy dining room.
Tiramisu for dessert was the only possible way that I found to end such an epic meal at this neighborhood trattoria that conquered the world. Upon leaving my table, I could not help but feel happiness. Until next time, Mirasole!
(Versão em Português nos comentários)