Two historic restaurants reopen in Golferenzo as part of village revival

Two restaurants in the village of Golferenzo, in the province of Pavia in northern Italy, have reopened in time for the summer season. La Corte and La Butega, located within the Borgo dei Gatti – a hospitality project in one of Italy’s officially recognised Most Beautiful Villages – has resumed operations under the direction of a new executive chef and culinary team. The relaunch is part of a broader initiative to revitalise the area’s gastronomic offering and attract visitors to the Oltrepò Pavese region.

The Borgo dei Gatti development was founded by Luigi Brega, who spent his childhood in Golferenzo, Lombardy, and is described as the first albergo diffuso (a unique Italian concept where a hotel’s rooms and services are spread across various buildings within a historic town or village). The reopening of its restaurants is seen as a key component of efforts to breathe new life into the village. “The hope of once again feeling life in the streets of Golferenzo was very strong, and patiently, brick by brick, we managed to recreate the atmosphere of the past,” Brega said. “In addition to hospitality, an important part of the soul of the village is for us the food and wine offering. With the reopening of La Corte, a contemporary bistro, and La Butega, once the beating heart of the village, the village is reborn in a new, more cheerful and convivial guise.”

The culinary operations are now overseen by Salvatore Iandolino, food and beverage advisor for Borgo dei Gatti, and led in the kitchen by Michaël Aldibek. Aldibek, who has worked in cities all over Europe, has returned to his roots to develop a cuisine that reflects his international experience while embracing the local setting. “After eight and a half years, I felt the need to return home, to share everything I’ve been lucky enough to see and learn around the world,” the chef said. “Copenhagen, Madrid, Barcelona, Paris and many other cities have been my home, but the emotion that brings me back to Golferenzo is different.”

La Corte and La Butega are part of a wider food and drink concept at Borgo dei Gatti, which also includes L’Olmo, a restaurant featuring a wood-fired oven, and, from September, a new fine dining establishment called Lust Arìa. Together, the venues aim to offer visitors a range of dining experiences throughout the day.

Food Desk

For further information about the culinary offerings at Borgo dei Gatti, Via G. Garibaldi, 9, 27047 Golferenzo PV, Italy, or to book, visit the development’s website here.