Trattoria Da Luigi (Bacedasco)

A rare, old-fashioned country trattoria in the hamlet of Franchini di Bacedasco Basso, on the road between Castell'Arquato and Vigoleno. Run by the same family since 1969, when Luigi and Anna Maria opened the restaurant alongside their small farm. Today their daughter Barbara runs the kitchen with her husband Giovanni, while Luigi's son Paolo looks after the family vineyard — Podere Bariano — which produces the house wines served at the tables.

The cured meats are produced in-house and include not just the classics (coppa, salame, pancetta) but harder-to-find specialities like fiocchetto, goletta and spalla cruda — exceptional quality. The menu follows the Piacenza-Parma border tradition: pisarei e fasö, tortelli d'erbetta, gnocchi with duck ragù, tagliatelle with porcini mushrooms in season, risotto with truffle. Main courses include punta di vitello al forno and costine di maiale. All pasta is handmade. The house signature dessert is a delizia al Vin Santo di Vigoleno.

The setting is simple and no-frills: two dining rooms and an outdoor terrace. Portions are generous and the value-for-money is excellent. Free parking, wheelchair accessible, highchairs available, credit cards accepted.

Indicative price: around €30 per person. Closed Fridays. Reservation recommended.