Funghi at Vetricia

What better way to spend an afternoon in October than by a trip up the mountainside to the Alpino Refugio "Giovanni Santi" which sits in amongst the beech trees at over 1300 metres above sea level. We were there to sample the delicacy of the season, freshly picked porcini mushrooms specially prepared by the host and chef of the refugio, Bino.

Sliced, dusted with cornflour, a pinch of salt and lightly fried with a crisp outside yet keeping the inside succulent, moist and fragrant ... there is nothing else in this world that comes close to Porcini mushrooms from this area.

The renovated refugio only opened its door to the public in May of this year but already it is making a name for itself as a place to visit and spend some time at.

The resourceful Bino is not only the chef but also a talented woodworker as can be seen in some of the carvings, fixtures and wooden objects in and around the refugio.

You can contact the refugio by tel 347 9130493 or email vetricia@interfree.it