Supermarkets, Food Shops, Fast Food In Stresa

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Supermarkets, Food Shops, Fast Food In Stresa

9:05 PM |

Dana Kaplan, Stresa Sights |

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UPDATED 2018

A reader recently asked a very practical question:

Q: We don't want to eat in restaurants every meal. Is there a supermarket in Stresa?

A: There is indeed a supermarket in Stresa; a small branch of the Carrefour chain, and there are several other smaller market choices as well (continue to bottom of post for list). While it is not huge, it has a really good selection of fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, and breads. If you don't have access to a kitchen you can ask for prosciutto, buy yourself a loaf of bread and some cheese, and have easy sandwiches for a picnic along the lake. Estimate about 100 grams of meat per sandwich when you order. If you do have a kitchen, there's everything you'll need, including some fresh pasta in the back of the store, jars of ragu, or packaged tortellini in flavors much more special than our American 'emergency' food. There's also a nice selection of wine...

The store is right in the center of town, but you'll never see it unless you know what to look for. The market has entrances on both Via P. Tomaso and Via Roma, and is just one street further into town than Piazza Cadorna. If you are walking away from the lake on Via P. Tomaso, the entrance is on your right. On both streets the entrances are recessed, and the signage outside is a small Carrefour sign extending from the building. Here is the entrance to Carrefour on Via P. Tomaso:

As you can see, you really can't see the entrance to the Carrefour market unless you look for it.

Although hidden outside, inside the store is surprisingly large enough and well enough stocked.

For example, there is packaged tortellini in flavors I'm almost certain you are not used to. These packages are of tortellini al tartufo bianco, and agnolotti al brasato.

There are two checkouts at the front of the store. You'll be asked if you want a sachetto, a bag, for your groceries. There is a few euro cents charge for the standard plastic bag. Or, you can do what I did and buy the reusable burlap shopping bag. It makes a nice souvenir, it's strong, and, not bad either that it will remind you of Stresa every time you use it.

Stresa has some other smaller markets as well, which may be convenient depending on your location or if you are looking for something different:

Alimentari di Gloria is located in the center of the Carciano neighborhood part of Stresa, just next to the church. It's also called a Carrefour Express, part of the family of small, privately owned Carrefour markets. It is a very small market; but you'll be surprised to see just how much is packed into that small space. Toward the back is a meat and cheese counter, which also sells prepared foods that change on a daily basis. They are very accommodating in this shop; should you need large orders for catering they can do that. Their Facebook page shows the types of foods they are preparing and more information.

https://www.facebook.com/aesseg.carciano

Carrefour Express; Piazza San Carlo, 1 28834 Stresa

The exterior of the Carrefour Express, Alimentari di Gloria, in Carciano

More information about this market can be found here:

https://www.google.it/search?rlz=1C1JZAP_enUS681US682&ei=AC5bWuDrCMjsUo2vqYgO&q=carrefour%20carciano%20di%20stresa%20indirizzo&oq=carrefour+carciano+di+stresa+indirizzio&gs_l=psy-ab.3...59174.61240.0.62153.9.9.0.0.0.0.134.1111.0j9.9.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..0.0.0....0.TiZ7wQtkkos&npsic=0&rflfq=1&rlha=0&rllag=45884807,8530723,661&tbm=lcl&rldimm=18199318867248547124&ved=0ahUKEwiombjznNfYAhVEOBQKHQWmBYEQvS4IRzAB&rldoc=1&tbs=lrf:!3sIAE,lf:1,lf_ui:4

Gastronomia I Salti in Bocca is located in the center of Stresa on Via A.M.Bolongaro, very near to the post office. This small walk-in shop sells prepared items that are cooked fresh daily. So, it's like having your own private Italian cook prepare you traditional foods in traditional ways. The menu changes daily, specials are posted on the door and windows, and you can prepare in advance by taking a look at their Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=gastronomia%20i%20salti%20in%20bocca

Food from here is a really nice alternative to making yourself meals in your apartment. Just pick up a bottle of wine and you're good to go!

Le Fantasie della Pasta

This pasta shop is located on Via P. Tomaso, 85. They prepare fresh pasta and ravioli daily, in a variety of shapes and sizes. Pasta lovers, this should be your first stop. More information about them is here:

https://www.google.it/search?rlz=1C1JZAP_enUS681US682&tbm=lcl&ei=Zy5bWpeYG8jxUr7brOgJ&q=fantasie+delle+pasta+stresa&oq=fantasie+delle+pasta+stresa&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0i22i30k1.798612.805377.0.805555.27.25.0.2.2.0.284.3198.0j23j1.24.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..1.26.3212...0j0i67k1j0i10k1j0i19k1j0i22i30i19k1j0i13k1j0i13i30k1j0i22i10i30k1j33i22i29i30k1j0i13i5i30k1j0i8i13i30k1.0.UT5jpEwo_Yg#rlfi=hd:;si:7547033612303422150;mv:!1m3!1d336.33241118108504!2d8.5386569!3d45.8822157!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i743!2i372!4f13.1

The exterior of Le Fantasie della Pasta, on Via P. Tomaso, 85

Fast Food

Now, in addition to these markets, you can also pick up fast food from several places, and there is overlap, as the supermarkets in Stresa are beginning to offer more "fast-food" takeaway options.

Start with these choices, in this post:

https://stresasights.blogspot.it/2013/09/food-five-fast-food-options.html#more