Foodie Escape to Lake Como: Rustico’s Annual Italy Trip Recap
- Hannah Dewar
- 5 days ago
- 6 min read
In May, a lovely group of Rustico restaurant regulars and friends joined Michele for a relaxed, food and wine-filled escape to Lake Como. We based ourselves in the quiet town of Colico, on the peaceful northern side of the lake. It was the perfect setting for soaking up local life, strolling at our own pace, and immersing ourselves in the incredible food and wine of the region. Here is a little look at what we got up to on the trip.
Day One - Arrivals and a Proper Italian Welcome
Although the majority of our group arrived to a full IT outage at Stansted airport (4:30am on a Sunday) spirits stayed high for our Italian getaway. I have never seen so many people trying to (a) figure out what was going on and (b) physically push their way through security, all pre-coffee. After an initial flurry of updates and messages on our WhatsApp group, all but two members made the flight. Don’t worry though, Debs & John stood their ground with Ryanair staff, catching another flight later that evening, and managed to join us for breakfast and (very much) ready for wine tasting.
That afternoon, we kicked off our Italian adventure with a welcome aperitivo and a relaxed arrival lunch at our lakeside accommodation, Hotel Risi & La Briciola Ristorante. With lots of enticing flavours to choose from, the table filled up quickly with plates of colourful Italian dishes such as Valtellinese Bresaola (cured salted beef, currently on the Rustico menu), Swordfish Carpaccio with Lime, rich and tasty Porcini Risotto, Lobster Tagliatelle and King Prawn Skewers. It was a great first group lunch. Over dessert (Parfaits, Praline Chocolates with Rum, Lemon Sorbet) and a few additional glasses of wine, we spent time chatting over plans for the next few days, listening to Paul’s famous stories and taking in the views of Lake Como. The long, easy-going nature of Italian lunches is really something we should be encouraging of here in the UK.
After lunch it seemed like the perfect time to take a walk around Colico, it did not disappoint! Market stalls in full swing, vibrant gelaterias with welcoming staff, traditional wooden boats & sporty locals taking advantage of the Sunday afternoon’s breeze, all surrounded by expansive mountainous vistas and of course, the ever-stunning Lake Como.
As the first day came to a close, some of the group sensibly headed off for an early night. The rest of us? We did the only logical thing to do in Italy: we went in search of a late-night snack… and pizza was calling us. The joy of sitting around a table with great company and a cold beer is only made better by one thing, knowing that some seriously good food is on the way! Faro’s pizza offering was simple and very tasty and I liked the fact that when a member of our group showed our server a list of allergies she had, these were noted with ease. Four pizzas arrived and four pizzas disappeared. Toppings ranged from olives and deliciously salty anchovies to herby golden potato slices and regional cheeses. I opted for something I hadn’t tried before, a four-cheese base with pear and walnut. I can’t stop thinking about it. Hopefully, I’ll find it again somewhere closer to home… a little hint to Michele and the team at Rustico.
Day Two - Wine Tasting at a Hilltop Monastery
Today was a highlight and the setting was definitely reminiscent of something you might see on a Stanley Tucci series. We took a short train ride from Colico to Sondrio, where we visited Convento San Lorenzo. A beautiful monastery nestled in the slopes of the Valtellina area, which also operates as a winery and venue, now run by wine producer Mamete Prevostini. We spent the afternoon on a hillside balcony (which adjoins the main monastery) tasting and learning all about a selection of wine that Mamete produces, accompanied by platters of cured local meats, fresh bread, cheeses, and regional dishes such as Pizzoccheri alla Valtellinese - buckwheat pasta with potatoes, cabbage, melted cheese and a rich butter sauce. Not the prettiest plate but completely delicious!
As one of the most important terraced wine-growing regions in Italy, Valtellina exhibits steep Alpine slopes of Nebbiolo grapes, which have been cultivated there for centuries. The vines sit upon jagged, terraced walls that support them as they grow and make for a very picturesque view across Sondrio. Mamete and his team dedicate their time to looking after the grapes surrounding the monastery along with a small group of other wineries. Focused on sustainability, manual harvesting techniques, and future-proofing the industry, the Prevostini family has been producing wine on the terraced slopes of Valtellina since the mid-1940s. The family had originally owned a restaurant in Sondrio, for which they made some house wines from the local Nebbiolo grape variety. Read more about Mamete Prevostini here.
The wine continued to flow freely as did the conversation & after hours of taking in the scenic views, wine, and grappa, we headed back to Colico (via the train station bar!). The journey home brought another story. Unfortunately, due to a ticket mix-up, a member of our party was escorted off the train. It turned out to be a genuine mistake of course, but the ticket inspectors in Italy really mean it when they say they’ll call the Polizia… as you can imagine, this provided lots of laughs for the duration of the trip!
Post-wine tasting, some of the group explored Colico on foot, stopping at bakeries for pastries, grabbing coffee, and picking up bits and bobs from local shops. Dinner was pizza (yes again) at Front Page in Colico - a local favourite. Nothing fancy, just really good pizza, cold drinks, and good company.
Day Three - Ferry Rides and Bellagio
After a long, relaxed breakfast by the Lake and a pit stop to take in some local shops, it was time to put the ferries to the test. The majority of the group boarded the morning ferry to the famous Bellagio, to take in the sights and explore the area. The ferry ride was peaceful, fairly quick, and gave us a chance to see different towns along the way. Bellagio is a beautiful place to wander around, some parts are perhaps a little more touristy, but nothing too hectic. We started off with a prosecco in the town square (Piazza San Giacomo), served with a giant plate of antipasti, and then ventured out on a walk.
We loved the hidden alleyways, tiny built-in bars along steep steps, stunning villas, and the views out across the Lake. Some of the group also visited the well-known gardens and reported back with positive recommendations! After our extended stroll, the sun arrived, so we spent our last hour people-watching at a bar overlooking the lake & ferry terminals with a glass (or two) of wine. Perfect.
As this was our final evening in Colico, we enjoyed an aperitivo at the hotel and the whole group came together for dinner at Il Faro. Lots of food, laughs, and plenty of wine.
Day Four - Relaxed Breakfast and a Day Trip to Bergamo City
Our final morning was all about taking it easy. We enjoyed one last breakfast looking out onto the lake before packing up and heading off in different directions. The majority of the group traveled on to Milan airport, but a few extended our getaway and drove to Bergamo City for lunch and a look around ahead of our evening flight.
Thankfully we had John, the American of our group, driving us from Colico to Bergamo City, who (with aid from his co-pilot Deborah) successfully & safely navigated the Italian roads, found a city-centre car park, and shared some great travel stories along the way!
We then found ourselves heading towards Bergamo’s Old Town, Città Alta, and after a short, but exciting trip in a 100-year-old funicular, we were welcomed by cobblestone streets, lively bars, and timeless architecture. The Piazza Vecchia was unanimously elected as our lunchtime spot, it’s a beautiful area, steeped in history and surrounded by stunning buildings such as the Palace of Reason, Civic Tower (known as ‘The Campanone’), the Contarini Fountain, and the Palazzo Nuovo, home of the Angelo Mai library, which boasts such a collection that it has become one of the most important libraries in Italy!
After a delicious lunch, the pasta (and company) was fantastic, we picked up some last-minute gifts and made our way to the airport. Trying not to feel too sad about leaving Italy.
Trips like this are about more than just food and wine, though we certainly had plenty of both. They are about connection, curiosity, and sharing the places we know and love. We are already bringing back wines from the monastery & Mamete to share at Rustico, and we will have a few regional dishes popping up on the menu in due course. There might even be a Lake Como-themed wine night coming soon, so keep an eye out.
Grazie mille to everyone who joined us. And if you are thinking about coming on the next one - we’re thinking Sicily…
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