• Food & Wine

Il Butalà

A dish from the Pavia Apennines featuring Deco Brallo potato gnocchi and Menconico black truffle.

Butalà: The Gnocchi of Alta Valle Staffora

Butalà is the dialect name for gnocchi in Alta Valle Staffora, a region of Oltrepò Pavese.

The term Butalà in Italian means "thrown there", an expression that reflects the simplicity of this dish. Yet, despite its humble origins, it embodies a sophisticated and innovative soul.

This gastronomic specialty perfectly represents the fusion of tradition and modernity, a balance that tells the story of Oltrepò Pavese—one eye on its roots, the other on the future.

The ingredients used are locally sourced and deeply rooted in tradition, but Oltrepò Pavese reinterprets them with an original touch, creating a new, exciting flavor capable of captivating an ever-growing and curious audience.

A Dish That Tells a Story

Butalà is a tribute to its land—to the rolling hills alternating with sunlit valleys, to the forests and cultivated fields that shape the landscape under the watchful eye of the mountains. From this generous land come the key ingredients of this dish:

  • Brallo De.Co. potatoes, carefully grown at high altitudes.
  • Menconico truffle, a true jewel of local gastronomy.

These two elements come together to create the Lombard Butalà—a unique ridged gnocchi filled with Brallo potatoes, eggs, flour, and Menconico truffle, then delicately coated in a fragrant blend of butter and truffle.

The Variants of Butalà

This distinctive dish can be enjoyed in two variations, both tied to the authentic flavors of the Pavia Apennines:

  • With Molana, a typical local cheese.
  • With Varzese cattle reduction, made from a rare autochthonous Lombard breed.

Thus, Butalà becomes a true symbol of local cuisine, encapsulating the finest regional ingredients and transforming them into an unforgettable culinary experience.

Oltrepò Pavese: A Land That Captivates

Oltrepò Pavese attracts visitors for two main reasons:

  1. Its historical and natural heritage, with vineyards, castles, historic residences, and breathtaking green landscapes.
  2. Its gastronomic excellence, because people always return to places where they have eaten well.

The Butalà fits perfectly within this philosophy, offering a new way to tell the story of Oltrepò Pavese—through the flavors that best represent its authentic soul.

Take me here: Il Butalà

On the same topic

Il Polentone di Retorbido

The beautiful spring festival dedicated to the wise farmer Bertoldo
  • Food & Wine
Polentone di Retorbido

Flavors on the lakes: Como and Varese

Lakes and mountains. Tasty dishes, heritage of rural culture
  • Food & Wine
Flavors on the lakes: Como and Varese

Polenta e Bruscitt Recipe

Typical dish of Lombardy made with polenta and stewed beef strips
  • Food & Wine
Polenta e Bruscitt recipe, a specialty from Busto Arsizio

IGP Apples of Valtellina

This type of apple has all the characteristics of mountain apple: crunchy, fragrant, aromatic and juicy
  • Food & Wine
Apples

Wine and Flavor Trail Franciacorta

Among rows of vines with perfect geometries that cross small villages rich in history, traditions, farms, cellars and signs of human activity: discover Franciacorta
  • Food & Wine
Wine and Flavor Trail Franciacorta,

Eating Lombardy

Lombardy shows its excellence with the unique and traditional flavors of each single territory, but it is also international cuisine
  • Food & Wine
Suggestions for eating in Lombardy: restaurants, international and local dishes

Wines of Valtellina

The extreme variety of the Lombardy territories is reflected in a very wide range of absolutely fine and famous red and white wines all over the world
  • Food & Wine
Discover and savor the wines of Valtellina

Mushrooms

Valtellina
  • Food & Wine
Mushrooms

At table with traditional Lombardy food recycling recipes

Traditional Lombardy cuisine recipes using leftover bread, meat, cheeses and vegetables - transforming them into tasty new dishes.
  • Food & Wine
At table with traditional Lombardy food recycling recipes

Carnival sweets in Lombardy

Carts, masks, confetti and fun, Carnival is coming to Lombardy!
  • Food & Wine
@inlombardia - Carnival Sweets in Lombardy

Milanese risotto recipe

One of the most typical and well-known dishes in Milan
  • Food & Wine
Milanese risotto recipe, simple and tasty

Risotto e rane

Risotto with frogs, a symbolic dish of the Lomellina tradition
  • Food & Wine
Risotto e rane

Delicious Bergamo!

  • Food & Wine
Tagliere di salumi bergamaschi

Il Butalà

A dish from the Pavia Apennines featuring Deco Brallo potato gnocchi and Menconico black truffle.
  • Food & Wine
Il Butalà

Tasting your way around Monza and Brianza

Wild garlic pesto, pink asparagus from Mezzago, white potatoes from Oreno: discover all the local flavours of Monza e Brianza.
  • Food & Wine
Tasting your way around Monza and Brianza

Wine and Flavor Trail Valtellina

A scenic road through the terraced vineyards
  • Food & Wine
Strada vino e sapori Valtellina, percorriamola insieme

Bresaola

One of the symbolic products of Valtellina, obtained through the method of preserving meat by salting and drying.
  • Food & Wine
Bresaola

Pane di San Siro

I San Sirini: a typical sweet of the feast of the patron saint of Pavia
  • Food & Wine
Pane di San Siro

Culinary Ideas for Winter

Six gastronomic ideas to enjoy the typical traditional flavours of Lombardy, with convivial recipes and delicious tasting experiences
  • Food & Wine
Culinary Ideas for Winter

Miccone

The *miccone* is a traditional bread from Oltrepò Pavese with a crispy crust and a dense yet soft crumb.
  • Food & Wine
Miccone di Stradella