It was 1961 when Lidia and Guido Alciati opened their restaurant, giving life to a revolution that would forever change the face of Italian gastronomy. With dedication and sacrifice, they marked an epochal turning point: they were among the first to understand the value of the territory, passionately seeking out small niches of gastronomic excellence. Lidia, at the stove, enhanced these products with cooking that was immediate and respectful of the raw materials, while Guido oversaw exceptional service and an extraordinary cellar. Today their legacy lives on and is renewed in the sumptuous halls of the royal estate of Fontanafredda, where their sons, Ugo and Piero, continue the path traced by their parents. In the kitchen Ugo brings sensitivity and precision, while in the dining room Piero welcomes guests with experience and warmth: together they offer the best of Piedmontese food and wine, through dishes that celebrate the richness of the territory with an elegance made of authenticity and simplicity. Symbol of this tradition is the celebrated plin – the pinch with which Lidia closed her agnolotti – which has become a worldwide icon, still served today with the same enchantment: a velvety roast jus that envelops thin pasta, a treasure chest of fragrant meat and vegetable filling. And in a hall of ancient elegance, with sober charm, the modern fireplace creates an ideal bridge between past and present.