Ristorante "El Brellin" - Vicolo dei Lavandai angolo Alzaia Naviglio Grande, 14 - 20144 - Milano TEL: +39 02 58101351 / +39 02 89402700 www.brellin.it

A dip into a Milan of the past...
Fairs are not only an important event for acquiring new customers and promoting our beautiful country, but also a great occasion for having a good dinner with friends and colleagues.
During the 2011 BIT in Milan, the team of Locali d'Autore and Sunland Travel & Tourism did not lose the opportunity to seek Milan's once-vaunted tastes and atmosphere.
Thanks to our concierge's invaluable advice, we decided to dine at "El Brellin" restaurant, located along the Naviglio Grande, in the picturesque "laundresses' alley", whose name derives from the beautiful XVII century wash-house that can still be admired. During the past, on this side of the Naviglio Grande, the kneeling laundresses used to wash their clothes on the stone "brellin".
The restaurant is set on the first floor of an ancient XVIII century grocery store, where the laundresses bought soap and warm water. On the ground floor, there is an intimate coffee, perfect for happy hours and cocktails.
The interior of the restaurant is rustic but elegant, with large coffered ceiling, a fireplace, soft colored walls decorated with original vintage paintings, depicting the laundresses and the wash-house.
The menu: a rich and refined paper, based on traditional dishes, many of which are prepared according to the original dictates of the DeCA brand (Ambrosian Cooking Denomination), using high quality ingredients and on a side of the menu there is the list of the suppliers of the raw materials.
We decided to have the two tasting menu: the Vintage Menu (38 euro per person) and the Tradition & Creativity Menu (45 euro per person).
The first courses were "Chicche with gorgonzola and nuts" and "Raviolacci alla cazzoeula with butter and Grana Riserva, steamed with grappa". The "chicche" are small and delicate green dumplings , with a tasty gorgonzola (blue cheese) creamy sauce sprinkled with nuts: delicate flavors that nicely blend together. The "ravioli" are prepared with a very thin sheet, filled with pork meat, on a delicious bed of cabbage. A real treat!
The second courses consisted in a portion of "veal with mashed potatoes and artichokes" - a well prepared traditional dish, perfect fusion and harmony of flavors - and one of "tempura of mixed boiled meat" - boiled beef, veal, chicken and sausage, perfectly fried in a light and crispy tempura.
For dessert we had mini profiteroles filled with cream - simple and tasty - and "pera martin-sec giulebbata with vanilla ice-cream and chopped pistachios" - a real delight!
The all sipping a glass of Sassella Valtellina Superiore 2007 and "seasoned" by a discreet and professional service and the friendliness of the owner.
"El Brellin" restaurant is, no doubt, a place to remember during our leisure or business stays in Milan!