Crotasc

Crotto is a little house (something like a closet) or a tiny cave where temperature and humidity are constant. In the past it was exploited in the area of Valchiavenna for sheltering food and rarely it is still used nowadays.

It was normally built close to mountain rocks and in some cases even exploiting these rocks as walls.

Must be pointed out that Valchiavenna is a valley located in the northern part of Lombardia region, close to Switzerland border and of course it is surrounded by very high mountains.

During years most of these Crotti have been transformed in restaurants, but normally it is possible to understand their origins because as said, they are built close to the mountain and rocks has been used for the building walls.

One of the most famous Crotto in Valchiavenna – Mese village – is named Crotasc. This is a clear example of an ancient Crotto transformed in a fantastic restaurant with a wine cellar that must be visited.

As a matter of fact Valtellina very close to Valchiavenna is very famous also for its wines among which the Inferno e Sforzato (Sfurzat in local dialect) reds must be mentioned.

There are evidences of Sforzato since 1500 and this red is done using only Nebbiolo grape that with a specific natural technique  is forced to mature. So the name Sforzato comes from “forced”. Instead Inferno is a fantastic red wine done by selected grape that grows up in a very steep ground exposed to the strong mountain sun during the summer. From these specific characteristics the Inferno – hell – name comes.

Coming back to the food cooked by the Crutasc schef, here below a pictures parade has been shown, and of course it speaks for itself. So no further comments are necessary for describing the deliciousness of these tasty dishes !

Only a special quote for first courses named Pizzoccheri Valtellinesi and  Pizzoccheri Chiavennaschi, that must be tasted.

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