History
Looking out from the terrace of the restaurant “Guido da Costigliole” means diving into the Langa hills, on that portion of the territory of Santo Stefano Belbo cultivated with Moscato d’Asti that immediately recalls the delicate aromas of the homonymous wine. The walls, those of “Guido da Costigliole”, convey the solidity and warmth of family management and it could not be otherwise with a tradition such as that of the Alciati family. Their first restaurant was built in 1961 in Costigliole d’Asti thanks to Guido, his mother Pierina and his wife Lidia. Then, one of Guido’s sons, Andrea, moved to Santo Stefano Belbo where he gave rise, together with Monica Magnini and the chef Luca Zecchin, to the restaurant “Guido da Costigliole”. The location is one of those out of the ordinary: in addition to the terrace with a view of the vineyards, there is an interior a space where the ancient and the contemporary blend harmoniously giving life to a “unicum” of strong impact visual: soft lighting, brick vaults, collections of contemporary paintings and designer elements… Everything contributes to make the atmosphere elegant and at the same time relaxing. In the kitchen there is Luca Zecchin, a pupil of Lidia Alciati, a chef who marries contemporary suggestions with the classics of the Piedmontese tradition, dedicating himself with passion to the pursuit of excellence both in the raw material and in the cooking techniques. Plating means to create small great works of art that pay tribute every day to the story of “Guido da Costigliole”.
Philosophy
The cuisine is typically Piedmontese with Mediterranean echoes and contemporary experiments that make it international enough to satisfy the demands of many foreign tourists, without for this reason failing to respect absolute tradition and the raw material that comes almost exclusively from the surrounding areas, unique in the world for biodiversity and quality. From the generous hills of the Langhe comes most of the wines, about three thousand labels, divided into three volumes: Piedmont, France, the rest of the world. Among these, about 80 types are available by the glass, not only a rare choice, but also a very reasoned one that allows patrons to range between a more than ever wide variety of wines to combine with the “tasting” or a la carte proposals.
Creating, interpreting, discovering … These are man’s great abilities that make up the difference. And, as such, also in the culinary art. It is perhaps following an instinctive inclination that the “team” of the restaurant has “invented” this magical place … For the subtle pleasure of unleashing the imagination in the kitchen. For an ideal of perfection impossible to achieve, but pleasant to pursue. «The enthusiasm is alive thanks, above all, to the continuous exchange of opinions with the guests», say the managers of the venue. «Remember, therefore, that when you will come at “Da Guido” (a somewhat improper name, by the way, because by now the whole family, together with Monica and Luca, is dedicated with equal love and passion to this work), if after the dinner you feel satisfied, you can praise us, but next time, even yourself … »
Il Ristorante Guido da Costigliole – Regione San Maurizio, 39 12058 Santo Stefano Belbo (Cn) Tel. +39.0141.844455 – www.guidosanmaurizio.com