Spinella Geneva

Hidden on a side street in the Charmilles neighborhood, Spinella is one of the best new entries in Geneva. Three brothers from Sicily created this jewel, bringing the most delicious dishes from that magnificent island straight to my city. I rejoiced. Then I tried it, and rejoiced even more.

The menu is not long; it only has a few dishes, but all are freshly homemade the same day. The Planche Degustation, which comes on a pine wooden tray carved in the shape of Sicily, is a wonderful selection of cheeses, Sicilian olives, and the best cold cuts I had dreamed about for so long: spicy salami, cooked ham cured with herbs, mortadella with pistachio... A mountain of arugula salad topped with salami represents the Etna volcano, now in eruption.

The main dishes taste as if they were coming straight from Grandma's oven: the eggplant parmigiana, the lasagna, the beef burger with mozzarella di bufala and caramelized onions. And the piadina? At least, I won't need to rush down to Milan each month: it's the real one, I swear on my Italian honor.

Italian wines flow throughout the meal, tiramisu' comes to remind you it's dessert time, and a small glass of liquor made with nuts completes the magic.

I predict big success for Spinella: the combination of warmth, good service, and great authentic food is not easy to find. Go, and let yourself be dazzled.