Capra e Cavoli

How beautiful is entering a place that awakens certain memories of home and tranquility. For me, Capra e Cavoli was undoubtedly one of these places. It’s an enchanted Spring garden in the area just between Isola and Garibaldi.

Capra e Cavoli might at first seem pretentious, with a menu that is not full of dishes with strange names, that aren’t organised by courses. You might doubt that the dishes you order will arrive at your table exactly as they appear in the menu. Between plants and umbrellas and swings, sits a kitchen that customers can look into, something particularly appreciated in the age of #Masterchef.

Worth mentioning is a dish called ‘Story’, which combines the Capra (in the form of goat’s cheese) and Cavoli (in the form of dried cabbage), a persuasive and amazing course. You fish for rice noodles and lupini beans amongst a foam of goat’s cheese. There is a decisive taste of cabbage, which gives some real character to the dish. Having grown up in high altitudes tasting local produce and local cheeses, I think I probably deserve an honorary degree in Genuine Flavors. If you don’t believe me when I say this dish is amazing, you can try it yourself when you find yourself in via Pastrengo 18.

My preferred dessert from the puddings on offer was called the ‘crème de la crème’, consisting of chocolate cream and orange and flaked almonds. It’s delicious, but to be fair, I’m not entirely neutral, given that childhood memories were invoked of using long spoons to mix together milk and mint at the bar.

Bread is brought to the tables in wicker baskets and placed on the typical red and white checkered cloth, a detail which reminds us of picnicking, and convinces us that we really are in a garden of yesteryear.

At first glance, I thought Chef Luca Papparlardo was a demanding man, but proud of his creations. I remember that he noticed me and my friend at the bar, reading the sweet, inspired lyrics of ‘Lipstick and Chocolate’, by Vanoni, and offered two edible ‘lipsticks’ which not only colour our lips, but are also filled with delicious raspberries.

The underlying theme of the restaurant is vegetarian and vegan friendly food (excluding a handful of fish dishes. Capra e Cavoli aims to please everyone by placing an amazing taste experience in a provincial and romantic setting. It’s a perfect remedy to Milan’s occasional greyness.

“Waiter, a raspberry lipstick, please!”