Some taste of sea between the hills of Monferrato: Traveling to Ovada. Piedmont region, Italy

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Wherever you start, Ovada represents a point of arrival. You can come here from western Liguria or from large northern cities, and the feeling will always be a small miracle: the discovery of a sweet and pleasant landscape, different from what we have just left behind.
Although the name might suggest Ovada grapes, this is only an impression given by the view of endless vineyards that surround it: in fact the name comes from Ovada Vadum, indicating that in Roman times the city was a transit hub and thus also of Commerce. The Stura Valley, connecting Genoa and several other municipalities across Ovada, offers a breathtaking view of the traveler: the winding road, wedged between the Ligurian Apennines and the green of the river, more or less dry depending on the season, leads through to Ovada a wild and sweet at the same time: a real thrill to experience.
But it is no less exciting to arrive in this pretty town of Alto Monferrato even from Milan, just like it happened to us during a weekend of hot and still we managed to snatch the autumn. Crossing the Po Valley with the desire to sea in the heart, just exit the first tunnel of the tunnels to feel arrived in Liguria, while still traveling in the province of Alessandria. The landscape changes here and within a few kilometers the infinite expanses of the Piedmont give way to hills and the sight of blue mountains in the distance. The monotony is pleasantly interrupted by the sight of colorful houses, castles that dominate the valleys, and lots of green. To reach the sea, it would take another twenty minutes, but the fascinating highways and tunnels made of curves can be addressed after: the urge to stop right here, coming at Ovada, and go into the alleyways of this city combining the two regions.
Ovada is rich in monuments and churches of great historical and cultural value, such as the baroque Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, with its two tall towers and the dome, designed the distinctive skyline Ovada. The city has given birth to a number of prominent personalities of the arts world, including the composer Anthony Rebora century, is dedicated to the School of Music City, the conductor Paul Peloso, painters Christmas Proto, who worked on the decoration of many buildings Ovada, and Franco Resecco, but also characters of the show as the circus or John Taffone Dino Crocco, drummer and television presenter who died recently.
If Ovada has always been a crossroads of important people in the trade and art, we wanted to crown ovadese our day with dinner at a restaurant that reflected this spirit. So, after asking a bit 'around, we booked at the Grotta Ristorante, Via San Sebastiano, almost opposite the Loggia di San Sebastiano and the Oratory of St. John the Baptist. The restaurant, now managed by Mark and Valerie, has a long history behind it. For nearly a century of family ownership Plains, and attended by industrialists, artists, politicians who also came from Milan and Genoa, was long one of the most renowned restaurants in the area. After the glorious plain management of the family, we had to wait about two to three years ago Mark, a young chef, but with great experience, gained in part to Portofino and partly in Singapore, along with his girlfriend, decides to revive the local level. And here we are, enjoy an exceptional menu that points mostly on fish dishes, as well as on a number of spicy dishes, oriental. As a starter, we start with a Singapore Chilli Crab trendy, while our friends take the starter Grottino, or marinated anchovies, swordfish and salmon. Anchovies with oregano, swordfish, strawberry, and salmon with balsamic vinegar, accompanied dall'insalata Russian fish are truly a delight. We follow these baked goodness from the linguine with seafood, and a mixed grill of fish. Our friends decided to take the big bream to Liguria, and we have already decided that our next visit to Ovada will devote ourselves to the mixed fried Mediterranean fish of the house. The wines? A surprise addition to those in the area, such as Gavi, Cortese, Dolcetto d'Ovada, there is also the Taurasi, a typical red dell'Avellinese, in addition to the Etna wines.
After this dinner we can say we have reached the sea, even down to the exotic, even before it saw between the curves of the motorway in Liguria: a culinary miracle that is really worth stopping to Ovada.

Frances Bertha

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
www.ristorantegrotta.it
www.comune.Ovada.al.it
Grotto Restaurant
Via San Sebastiano, 19 Ovada (AL)
0143/80480