Il Ponte Cossignano

Il Ponte Cossignano

Situated between the nearby mountains and the sea, in the Piceno Hills of the Marche you will find a generous open landscape full of seductive vistas. Between the hills, in the valley of the river Tesino near Cossignano, you can take a break from wine tasting for a well-deserved meal at Il Ponte, as recommended to us by Marco Santori of Tenuta Santori. The Italians have a word, casareccio, for this style of restaurant. This is normally translated as homemade but it means much more than that. It suggests local specialities prepared with care and love and this is what Il Ponte provides. 

This is a locals’ restaurant and their presence alone means that you can be assured of eating well. Italian cooking is not a complex art but its success depends on both the quality and the freshness of the ingredients as well as the skill of the chef. Here, in the countryside, the freshness is assured and the cook makes sure of the quality.

At this point I will make a plea on behalf of antipasti, a part of the menu that many new to eating in Italy overlook. Yes the offerings are generally more expensive than the pasta course but that is because of the ingredients. Enjoying cuts of prosciutto crudo and a selection of local cheeses together with bread and local olive oil while the cook prepares your pasta is time and money well spent. At Il Ponte, be sure to try the local speciality, olive ascolane, olives stuffed with a mixture of minced beef, pork and chicken, dusted in breadcrumbs and deep fried.

Whatever you choose, enjoying a leisurely lunch whilst sitting in the welcome shade of a protective parasol is one of life’s great pleasures. Lunch in Italy is not to be hurried but rather to be idled over and Il Ponte is just the place to do it.

You will find the restaurant at 63067 Ponte Tesino, Province of Ascoli Piceno, Italy. The opening hours are 12:00 to 14:00 and 19:30 to 21:00.