Sleeping among the olive trees is an exciting and regenerating experience, especially for those accustomed to city life, but sitting down at a beautiful table surrounded by the majesty of these trees is no less so. Especially if you are served appropriately and have the opportunity to immerse yourself in dishes that appropriately tell the story of a territory or provide an imaginative and creative gastronomic experience. Here are some addresses scattered around Italy where the olive tree is the protagonist along with the cuisine to ensure that diners experience a special moment of pleasure and relaxation.
Eating among the olive trees
Tre Olivi of Hotel Savoy Beach
The Pagano family is involved in many activities, from hotel hospitality to the production of wines, extra virgin olive oil, yoghurt, jams, mozzarella, and catering, all with one denominator: quality. Here you eat amidst the beautiful olive trees inside the restaurant, which create a relaxing atmosphere while giving it a unique touch of elegance. In the kitchen is chef Giovanni Solofra, who has brought the restaurant to be one of the spearheads of Campania's restaurant scene.
Tre Olivi dell'Hotel Savoy Beach - Capaccio Paestum (SA) - via Poseidonia, 41 - 0828 720023 - savoybeachhotel.it
Salvo Cravero Ristorante at Olivo Country Club
A charming house in the countryside of the Tiber Valley, in a resort that the hand of Alessandra Boselli has transformed into a true corner of paradise, lies the kingdom of chef Salvo Cravero. A relaxing space, immersed in the greenery of olive groves, with indoor and outdoor spaces cared for in every detail. Here the chef proposes dishes closely linked to Tuscia in culture and raw materials, from the sea of Tarquinia to the Cimini mountains, from the Viterbo countryside to the volcanic lakes, the result of studies, recipes, interpretations tried and tested and recounted in years of field research.
Salvo Cravero Ristorante all'Olivo Country Club - Bassano in Teverina (VT) - via Pantanetta - 0761 407253 - salvocravero.com
La Casa degli Ulivi - Fonte di Foiano
The company was established in the late 1970s, when Michele and Marina Di Gaetano left Milan and chose to move to Tuscany to start a new activity in the agricultural field. The work began with the restoration of a centuries-old olive grove and continued with the renovation of others and the planting of new ones, until they reached the current 30 hectares with around 10 thousand trees of the most common Tuscan varieties, all managed by their sons Paolo and Simone. It is in this splendid context that the restaurant La Casa degli Ulivi, coordinated by Beatrice Di Gaetano, was born. The restaurant aims to exalt the oil as a protagonist ingredient, choosing a well-crafted vegetarian cuisine prepared with garden produce, zero kilometre and possibly organic.
Fonte di Foiano - loc. Fonte di Foiano, 148 - Castagneto Carducci (LI) - 0565 766043 - fontedifoiano.it
Masseria Il Frantoio
An artfully restored Masseria is the setting for a local cuisine revisited with intelligence and skill. The flavours of the zero-centimetre vegetable garden mix harmoniously with wild flowers and herbs, depending on the season, and create fun proposals that end up on the table. A corner of paradise located in the heart of Alto Salento, a few kilometres from the sea and the Dune Costiere Regional Park, managed by Maria Ciannamea who has turned it into a reference point for what we call experiential tourism. The organic farm comprises 60 hectares of olive groves with 4,000 trees, many of which are centuries old.
Masseria Il Frantoio - Ostuni (BR) - s.s. 16, km 874 - 0831 332441 - masseriailfrantoio.it
Mandranova
A modern 180-hectare estate, a short distance from the town that inspired Tomasi di Lampedusa's famous 'Gattopardo', run with admirable enthusiasm by Giuseppe and Silvia Di Vincenzo, set in a hilly landscape of extreme scenic charm, with very intense, almost dazzling lights and colours. Hospitality, a high-level farm, but also attention to catering with a fixed-menu dinner proposal, consisting of four courses that change daily, always focusing on traditional Sicilian cuisine, revisiting it also in a modern key.
Mandranova - Palma di Montechiaro (AG) - s.s. 115, km 217 strada di servizio - 393 9862169 – mandranova.com
Fattoria Lavacchio Bio-Winery - Cucina di Casabella
Faye Lottero manages this estate with passion and professionalism. Its history dates back to 1700, when the property belonged to the Florentine nobles Peruzzi. Today, the farm covers 120 hectares, 40 of which are dedicated to the olive grove with 6,000 trees. In addition to oil, wine, fruit, vegetables, pork products, ancient grains, juices and vinegar are produced. In this splendid setting is the Cucina di Casabella, a restaurant that emphasises local products through well-executed regional recipes that follow the seasons.
Fattoria Lavacchio Bio-Winery - via di Montefiesole, 55 - Pontassieve (FI) - 055 8317472 - fattorialavacchio.com
Dattilo
Caterina è tra le perle della nuova generazione di giovani donne del Sud che sanno esaltare le ricchezze del territorio con freschezza e radici nelle tradizioni locali e familiari. Lei opera in un bellissimo edificio rurale del 1600, dove il ristorante è ricavato in un vecchio frantoio e circondato dall’azienda agricola che papà Roberto Ceraudo ha creato, e che oggi curano i figli. Vigneti, agrumeti, uliveti, orto forniscono le materie prime "verdi", il vicinissimo mare di Crotone il pesce. Caternia è cresciuta alla corte di Niko Romito, dal quale, tra l'altro, ha raccolto l’amore per i pani e i lieviti fatti in casa. Servizio molto curato e ambiente accogliente, caldo e raffinato.
Dattilo - c.da Dattilo, loc. Marina di Strongoli - Strongoli (KR) - 0962 865613 - dattilo.it
La Foresteria Planeta Estate
This beautiful resort, surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, in a panoramic position in the hills of Menfi, encapsulates the Planeta family's concept of hospitality. The Foresteria is the jewel in the crown of this estate, with the hotel's table (14 suites) boasting ample resources such as wines and oils, as well as the vegetable and herb garden right in front of the dehors. The cuisine brings out the best of Sicilian tradition without renouncing pleasant creative touches. The rest is taken care of by the careful selection of raw materials and the skilful hand of the chef who moves with technique and experience.
La Foresteria Planeta Estate - c.da Passo di Gurra s.da prov.le 79, km 91 (ex s.s. 115) - Menfi (AG) - 0925 1955460 - planetaestate.it
Madonna delle Vittorie
We are north of Lake Garda, on the hills of Ceole and Deva, on the slopes of Monte Brione. The farm, which is predominantly wine-growing, takes its name from an ancient chapel dedicated to the Madonna, located in the immediate vicinity and built at the beginning of the 16th century to celebrate a victory of the Counts of Arco against the Austrians. The olive-growing part of the farm consists of a specialised olive grove of 1,400 trees spread over about 4 hectares. The agricultural activity is complemented by the restaurant, which is characterised by its local cuisine with homemade pasta and desserts, meat from home-bred steers and cured meats and cheeses from small local producers.
Madonna delle Vittorie - via Linfano, 81 - Arco (TN) - 0464 505432 - madonnadellevittorie.it
Tenuta San Giuseppe - Locanda Belvedere
Last year, Francesca Casadei decided to take over the family farm and put her face to the labels of the extra virgin olive oil that comes from the 3,000 trees housed in the 12 hectares of olive groves. The work in the field is combined with the work behind the cooker, as the estate also offers an excellent table, with a cosy and welcoming ambience, where local recipes are interpreted in a contemporary key with technique and flair.
Tenuta San Giuseppe - via San Giuseppe, 736 - Saludecio (RN) - 339 6201267 - belvederesaludecio.it