Chester is such a lovely place to visit and His & Hers has been fortunate enough to review several delightful Chester restaurants. One enduring memory is that of attending the re-launch of Da Noi. It is a small establishment with a big heart. The offering is regional Italian food that is both authentic and of the season. The owners deliver fine dining to guests and celebrate a food culture they love, which was familiar to them growing up in Italy.

Feature by Jean Hill

We enjoyed great food, beautifully prepared with impressive attention to detail. It was accompanied by fine Italian wines that were perfect matches for each course. We met the chef Valentina, and thoroughly enjoyed listening to her talking about her passion for Italian food. I just remember how charming she was and how inspiring it was to talk with her.

The Michelin-plate restaurant has launched a new winter menu from January 2022.

With a focus on seasonal produce, the menu celebrates comfort food in all its splendour,  showcasing the ‘tastes and textures of winter’.

Starters include a rich, creamy Velouté of pumpkin, taleggio PDO cheese and toasted almonds. Guests can then choose from a host of quintessentially Italian pasta dishes. These include: Maccheroni (red cabbage maccheroni, Burrata PDO cheese and pistachios) and Pizzoccheri (buckwheat ribbons, Bitto PDO cheese, potatoes and savoy cabbage).

Guests can look forward to a rich pheasant breast with  butternut squash, chestnuts, blackberries and pancetta.  (Chestnuts and blackberries are such a heart-warming combo). You can opt for sea bass fillet encrusted in Lavazza ground coffee, paired with caviar sauce, cauliflower puree and roasted chestnuts.

There is a host of classic Italian desserts, including Da Noi’s famous Bunet – a creamy, piedmontese pudding made with cocoa, amaretti and caramel. I can personally recommend this: a burst of stunning, artfully blended flavours that makes a person grateful for such treats.

Chef and co-owner of Da Noi, Valentina Aviotti, comments: “In Italy, eating seasonally is a way of life. Quality dishes start with quality produce; nothing beats fresh ingredients at the height of their flavour. It’s one of the secrets of great Italian cuisine – and one that we treasure dearly at Da Noi. The long nights and crisp January air call for warm, hearty, flavourful meals to keep the winter blues at bay! We’ve loved the feedback so far and are glad our guests enjoy the dishes as much as we enjoy creating them.”

Da Noi is open Wednesday to Sunday. For more information and to book, visit: https://www.danoichester.co.uk