Piadina at Caffé Clerici in Luino at Lake Maggiore

Softly the wind was blowing away all the heat I collected exploring Luino. Sitting in a Cafe right by the water has been exactly what I needed for Lunch, beside Food of course. Markets in Italy can be full of people, hectic, and in the summer months sweaty and kind of exhausting. Caffé Clerici in Luino is located a nice 5-minute walk of the famous weekly market. But this does not mean that it isn’t floated by tourists. Not in Luino, and not on Wednesdays. Ever since the year 1541, a weekly market is held in this town at Lake Maggiore in Italy. Caffé Clerici is indeed a Cafe, with smaller dishes and refreshments. And of course gelato. For Pizza in Luino, you will have to look for another restaurant. Something I can recommend at Caffé Clerici in Luino especially is Piadina. With origins in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna Piadina is a crispy dough, traditionally filled with fresh spinach and cheese. Lucky me, and all the lucky tourists in Luino, Caffé Clerici is not only offering the typical Piadina, they offer it in various variations, with or without meat (for vegetarians).

Service at Caffé Clerici was friendly, but being a Wednesday in Luino at noon, the place was booming. A friend and I shared Piadina Vegetale (Spinach with Fontina cheese and mushroom sauce) and Piadina Esmeralda (Spinach with Brie cheese and cocktail sauce) and both variations were very good. If I could only eat one of both again, I’d recommend the one with Brie and cocktail sauce, as it overall tasted better. If you can, share various Piadinas to try all the tastes. To learn more about Piadina, and how to prepare it yourself, check out my vegetarian Piadina Recipe that I will share soon. A perfect appetiser or (afternoon) snack. Piadina is also great with a salad, or even as a side to a Steak. Nevertheless, I’d eat it to enjoy the creamy and crispy taste alone.
So yes, I can definitely recommend Caffé Clerici in Luino at Lake Maggiore. Also, as the price of every Piadina is just 4€, a great value!