Luca, one of the two piccioni, pigeons, at Trattoria Due Piccioni, told us that on rainy nights he is always even more busy than usual. This is because tourists and locals alike come to him when rain prevents them from sitting outside to eat. Coincidentally only, it was raining when we recently ate there, and the main restaurant was completely filled. We sat instead in the small, intimate, reception area in which there are only three tables set up. It was like being in a tiny private inn. The main dining room, by contrast, is a mix of traditional design and contemporary touches. For traditional there is a high brick arch supporting the center of the room and old wooden beams on one part of the ceiling. To modernize, the beams are balanced with wide, horizontal taupe stripes along the wall, and tiny twinkling lights add a bit of romance here and there. In sum, it has a light, spacious, and casually elegant feel.   ( Continued .... )

The menu changes with the seasons, and don't be fooled by this casual elegance, the prices are not different from many of the much more simple restaurants in the piazza. 

 The menu on this night. (Click on the photo to enlarge it to see it better).

The menu is, what I have come to call, whether it may be entirely correct or not, regional cooking. I think that what I really mean when I say this, is that the dishes are not just the usual touristic fare of pizzas and pastas. Here we have an interesting selection of ingredients and animals, combined and presented in ways that show the creativity of the cook, the restaurant, and the region. I happen to be a great fan of trying interesting animals on menus, things that I don't normally eat or see offered in the States. So, what did we have this night:

And this is the Terrina di coniglio con salsa ai mirtilli. A terrine of rabbit, like a pate', served with a blueberry sauce. Interesting, no?

Trattoria Due Picciono is located on a little corner of via P. Tomaso and Piazza Possi, just a minute from Piazza Cadorna. Since one of my desires for YOU, while you are here, is to try some foods beyond the pizzas and pastas (although you MUST eat those too!) I hope you find the time to visit the Due Piccioni, and not only when it's raining! 

Trattoria Due Piccioni

Principe P. Tomaso, 61, 28838, Stresa

PH: 0323934556  

Website:  duepiccioni.it

Trip Advisor review: tripadvisor.it/Restaurant_Review

all photos are property of Stresa Sights, except restaurant interior, which is courtesy of Trip Advisor.